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Note: 1870 Census The town of Utica, Winnebago Co., Wisconsin image 25 PO Waukau 191-188Pierce, Robert27Farm Laborer120Wales Sarah26Keeping HouseWales William 1Wis 1880 Census Columbus City Twp., Louisa Co., Iowa image 18 Pierce, Robert37LaborerWalesWalesWales Sarah37Keeping houseWalesWalesWales William11At homeWI Maria 8WI Elizabeth 6IL Ann 3IL Sarah E.11/12 AugIA 1885 Census Rock Falls Precinct, Phelps Co., Nebraska Robert Prerce41Wales Sarah40Wales William R.16WI Maria13WI Lezzie10IL Annie 8IL Sarah E. 5IA John 1IA 1900 Census Union Twp., Phelps Co., NE image 9 79-79Pierce, RobertNov 1842 57WalesWalesWales SarahAug 1843 57WalesWalesWales John A.Aug 1883 16IAWalesWales Martha S.May 1886 14NEWalesWales District of New York Port of New York I, John MeCaulay, Master of the S. S. Samaria do solemnly and truly declare list of all the passengers taken on board of the said vessel at Liverpool via Queenstown has now arrived; I that on said list is truly designed the age, the sex, and the occupation of each of said passengers, the part of the vessel occupied by each during the passage, the country to which each belongs, and the country of which it is intended by each to become an inhabitent and that said list and Manifest truly sets forth the number of passengers who have died on said voyage. Sworn to this so help me April 8, 1869 John MaCauleyBurden 1694 Passenger ListAgeSexOccupationCountry FromCountry To Where on Ship Robert Pierce26MLabr.G. BritUSA Steerage Sarah Pierce25FWifeG. BritUSA " Landing at Castle Garden, New York In1869 Robert and family moved to America, settling in Oskosh, Wisconsin. There Mr. Pierce become a lay preacher. They moved to Braidwood Illinois in 1874. From there they moved to Columbus City, Iowa, an 1878. Here Mr. Pierce was ordained to the Congregational misistry June 11, 1884, the last sunday he spent in Iowa. The family moved to Nebraska, settling on a homestead ten miles west of Holdrege. Have death certificate for Robert and Sarah. Was on passenger list S.S. Samria (Steerage) April 8, 1869. Have another spelling for vessel they came over on S. S. Samaria sailed from Liverpool, Marth 27, 1869, arrived in New York April 6, 1869 with Master J. MacAuley. Naturalized Will Co., Illinois. On Flint Wales English Census 1851 and 1861.Utica, Winnebago, Wisconsin Census 1870, Columbus City Louisa Co., Iowa 1880 and Rock Falls Phelps Co., Nebraska in 1900. 1885 and 1895 state census, Rock Falls, Phelps Co., Nebraska. Books and Printed Sources, Loomis Sentinal- Life Sketch of Robert, Congregatial Nebraska, Bertrand Independence Hearld Obituary. Church Records, Welsh Cong, Church. Long Creek, Louisa Co., Iowa, Mortgage of Cong. Urbana Church, Phelps Co., Nebraska, Congregational Church, Holdrege, Phelps, Co., Nebraska. History of Urbana Urbana was so named because George Wilcox, the first settler in the community, came from Urbana, Illinois. Mr. Wilcox had a post office two miles south and two miles west of Loomis. But Loomis was not yet a town and the mail was brought by horseback from Holdrege, Nebraska. A few years later more settlers began to arrive. The people were mostly Welch. In 1883 there were only two houses between this community and Holdrege, Nebraska. Oxen were used to break the sod of all of section thirty-five. Urbana Church was built in 1890 with Rev. Robert Pierce as pastor. Mr. Swartz built the first frame house in the communiy which is now the Lloyd Parriet Ranch. Urbana is not a town or village in Phelps County, but a community. Ubana Post Office, Postmasters; Ario P. Wilcox, appointed Oct 7, 1885, Israel Hessig, appointed Jan 11, 1887, Robert Pierce, appointed April 2, 1889. The Post Office was discontinued Nov 4, 1889, mail to Loomis, Nebraska. The Ubana Cemetery earlist markers date back to 1892 when J. Albert Smith and Lucinda Shaw were buried. The lates burial is in 1945. The Phelps County Roads Department takes care of the cemetery. We have been unable to find any cemetery records for this cemetery. There are several unmarked graves. We have record of 19 burials. Ubana School records show that the District # 43, Urbana School was formed Feb 18, 1884. The teachers in 1892 were as follows: Alice Gainsforth, taught for 2 1/2 months, wages $32 a month. W.R. Pierce, taught one montht, wages $30 a monthe. Billie Donaven, taught two months, wages $30 a month. Condition of the school reports(information for the school superintendents office). Dec 16, 1890- The school district 43 was visited. Mrs. Mary Best, the teacher had seventeen pupils enrolled. Thirteen present. Good instruction was shown. Jan 9, 1893- Visited school district # 43. George Marshal was the school teacher. Poorly organized and pupils too far advanced to do good work. Jan 22, 1896-My visit to the school was by reguest of a patron. The teacher was young and inexperienced. Her order was not good but the pupils seemed interested. They are mostly Welsh parentage. The school needs a dictionary, maps etc. Anna Pierce is the teacher. Early settlers of the community included several Welsh families. There were David Griffith, Richard Griffith, Joseph Edward, Davey Jones, Rrv. Robert S. Pierce and John Pierce. The Rev. Robert S. Pierce and his family came here in 1884 from Louisa County, Iowa. They had previously lived in Wisconsin and Illinois. They first lived in a dug out in the canyon and then in a sod house. Frv. Pierce started a Welsh Sunday School in his home. The second Sunday so may came who could not understand Welsh that it was changed to English. At that time there were no churches in Bertrand and Rev Pierce preached in an elevator, he also preached in Loomis. Sunday School was held in the Sunn Side Schoolhouse in the morning and at the Urbana School house in the afternoon. Services were also held in the Rock Falls School house. The Urbana Congregational Church was built in 1892-1893. At the dedication services Viola Pierce and Will Griffith were baptized. Rev. Pierce Preached from 1893 until 1907 when he retired and he and Mrs. Pierce moved to Holdrege. It is interesting to note that in these days of great hardship that Rev. Pierce gave three of his daughters and one son college educations which was very unusual at that time. 520 Maberly, Holdrege, Nebraska. Robert and Sarah's home when he retired from being an active minister. (Congregational Church). The Urbana Church bldg is now moved into Holdrege and is the 7th Day Adventist church (10th & Sherman). The building is 100 years old. Source: Jeanie Norman Obit Rev. Robert Pierce died last Thusday Aged Minister Meets with Fatal Accident at Son's Home Last Week Robert Pierce, well-know and beloved retired minister of the Congregational church died last Thursday at the home of his son east of Holdrege the result of an accident sustained that morning. Mr. Pierce, who was 77 years old the third of this month, mistook the door leading into the cellar for one to the upper part of the house and fell to the bottom of the steps. His son-in-law went to his assistance but the old gentleman seemed not to have suffered greatly from the fall and required but little assistance to ascend to his bedroom. He complained very little of his suffering and his relatives had little reason to suppose that his hurt was serious. Shortly after retiring he passed peacefully away, presumably from the shock sustained when he fell. Robert Pierce the son of Deacon Wm., and Ann Pierce was born on Sept. 16, 1842, in Rhysy Cay, Flintshire, North Wales. The home was one noted for it's religious atmosphere and all the children became noted for their interest in religious work. Robert, in his childhood received several prized for memorizing scriptures and for essays on religious subjects. On Feb. 12, 1862 his father and fifteen others were drowned in a mine disaster. The father leaving a widow and seven children, the care of the family devolved largely upon Robert. This made it necessary for him to change his life plans. He had planned to fit himself for foreign missionary work. He was married to Miss Sarah Edwards Feb 12, 1868. To this union nine children were born, two dying in imfancy. The other 7 are Rev. W.R. Pierce, Pastor of the Congregational church at Petersburg. NE; Miss Marie Pierce, a teacher in the A.M.A., schools who died in 1903; Mrs. Wilmot, Hudson, CO,; Mrs. Anna McQueen, Holdrege, NE,; Mrs. sadie cannon, Sacramento, NE,; Mr. John Pierce, Loomis, NE,; Mrs. Mattie Meddlar who died a year ago. In 1869 they moved to America, settling in Oskosh, Wisconsin. There Mr. Pierce became a lay preacher. They moved to Braidwood, Illinois in 1874. From there they moved to Columbus City, Iowa in 1878. Here Mr. Pierce was ordained in the Congregational Ministry June 11, 1884, the last Sunday he spent in Iowa. In 1884 the family removed to nebraska settling on a homestead ten miles west of Holfrege. He organized a Welsh Sunday school and church and for two years preached in the Welsh language. He preached his first English sermon after he was 42 years of age. The church held its meeting in the homes of the members until the school district built a sod school house in 1891 When the village of Bertrand was started he delivered the first sermon preached in that village in the unfinished elevator of Wirt & Barber. Later a Sunday school was organized, also a church. He traveled from his homestead to Bertrand each Sunday afternoon preaching in the evening and returning home nine miles in a lumber wagon. Later, Rev. Hustis was called and when he was relived of the work at Bertrand he gave his attention to Loomis. He continued his work there until a church was established. He preached in the school houses at Keystone, Rock Falls also southwest of Loomis. The church was active during his ministry at Urbana. They had at one time the largest Senior and Junior Christian Endeaor Society in the country and also at one time the largest Sunday School among the Congregational churches of the county. During his ministry of 24 years more that 200 united with the Urbana church. In the dry years of 1890 and 1894 he took a very active part in providing food and clothing for the destitute. Failing health compelled him to cease his activity and move to Holdrege in 1908 where has since lived. His earthly careen was ended at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Cannon Thursday evening Oct. 23, 1919. Besides his aged and loving wife and the five mentioned above, he left twenty seven grand children and two great grand children. The funeral was held Monday afternoon from the Congregational church at Holdrege and was in charge of Rev. Wm. Richards of David City, a former pastor of the denomination of Holdrege, now of David City, who was assisted by Rev. W.S. Hampton, Rev. J.R. Mckeith of Wilcox and Rev. Jas Douglass of Holdrege. Internment was made at Prairie Home Cemetery.
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