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Note: 20 May 1897, Crittenden Press (Marion, KY), page 3: A fishing party composed of Misses Dora and Dedie Clement and Dixie Givens, and Messrs. Rob't Cook and Ira Pierce left this place Wednesday morning bright and early for the Walker ponds, where they were joined by Mr. Ed Moore, and the party spent the day in a jovial manner.
5 Jan 1899, Crittenden Press (Marion, KY), page 3: Mr. Ira Pierce left the first of the week for Louisville, where he will enter a dental school. Ira is an excellent boy with plenty of energy and a level head and will succeed at anything he undertakes.
12 Jan 1899, Crittenden Press (Marion, KY), page 3: Mr. Ira Pierce came home sick from Louisville. He has a severe case of the grip.
10 Aug 1899, Crittenden Press (Marion, KY), page 3: Messrs. A.C. Moore, D.B. Kevil and Ira Pierce are at the Madisonville fair this week.
1900 census, Crittenden Co., KY, Marion: living with Jas. P. Pierce father, step mother Ella, Cortis, Berna and Miriam.
10 Apr 1902, Crittenden Press (Marion, KY), page 5: Misses Lena McNeely, Pearl Daniel, Neil Cosset and Clara Taylor; Messrs Ira Pierce, Ollie Tucker, Frank Doss, and Mr. and Mrs. Louis Clifton spent Sunday afternoon in the thriving little city of Sturgis.
18 Sep 1902, Crittenden Press (Marion, KY), page 4: Off for the Cave. In the Days When We Went Gypsying a Long Time Ago.
Tuesday morning a large party of prominent people from this section left Marion bound for the Mammoth Cave, and also bound for lots of fun on the way. They carried with them a complete camping outfit and will spread their tents and cook their meals in true Romany or Gypsy style. Should the weather prove propitious they will doubtless have a delightful time. The following comprises the personnel of the outfit: Dr. J.N. Todd and wife of Fredonia, Mrs. Compton and Miss Nar Nunn, of Madisonville; Mrs. Dr. Richard Clement; Misses Fannie Spencer and Della Barnes; Mrs. R.F. Haynes; and Messrs. Creed Taylor, Ira Pierce, W.D. Baird, John W. Wilson, and Dave Yandell, or this place.
9 Oct 1902, Crittenden Press (Marion, KY), page 10: Sherlock Holmes. This Great Detective Takes Up the Hayseed Clue. Tracing the Missing "Cave" Party Through the Mountains - Moonshine Whisky and Mystery. Madisonville, Ky. [By cable delayed, in transmission.
I have solved the mystery of the Captain's disappearance; no one but I, Sherlock Holmes, could have accomplished it. It was simple to a man of my superior detective skill. You must have read of my wonderful doings. To resume. The Captain was missing at Nebo; I studied his characteristics; he was most of all a tobacco man; I found that out by noticing a field of tobacco growing nea the hay wagon. Simple, of course, but that's Sherlock Holmes' wonderful detective skill. Again, he was distinctly argumentative. I caught his last words on the morning air. The morning air was damp and held the words until I caught them; I caught them in a mosquito net; I have the words written in my detective series, page 97, volume 40. They were: "I don't agree with you." A great detective always notices things, He was missing at Nebo. I studied the word; it is not an ordinary one. Nebo. I transposed it. Oben. I put it in cryptogram shape. Obet. It was O B E T; "out buying early tobacco." Captain Baird was found. It was I, Sherlock Holmes, that did it. At once Ira Pierce and Creed Taylor fell on my neck, one on each side. I unclasped this necklace and resumed my normal position. I shall call the roll at 9 a.m. and see if the Innocents are all accounted for. The Roll Call: Mrs. R.F. Haynes, Mrs. J.N. Todd, Mrs Compton, Mrs. Clement, Miss Nunn, Miss Spencer, Miss Barnes, Dr. Todd, Dr. Clement, Mr. Creed Taylor, Mr. Ira Pierce, Mr. Dave Yandell, Mr. John Wilson, Capt. Baird, Two wagons, Eight horses, some of which are mules.
All answered "Yes" except the Captain and the horses, who neighed. I expected this. I expected it because 13 of the party said yes, so it was a dead moral certainty that the Captain would reply :No." I sprang to his side and hissed, "Are you not Captain Baird?"
"You give it the wrong accent, Sherlock," said the Captain; "you must live up in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, calling a man Baird, it's just Bard, plain Bard. No frills, Sherlock; they don't go even if I am going to open the best hotel in Western Kentucky," calmly replied the Captain.
I cryptogramed the word Baird, eliminating the letter "a". He's a "bird," the Captain is; a regular humming bird. It was I, Sherlock Holmes, that discovered it; no one else knows it.
Reception at Madisonville. The Crittenden Springs Hotel band met the Mammoth Cave party on their arrival in that city. They played their celebrated "two step." This peculiar piece of music seems to be their favorite. No has ever heard them play anything else. Anyhow, it was perfectly familiar to the entire party. Even the horses drooped their ears as if tired of two steps; but it was two steps or nothing.
The "Hustler" has issued an illustrated edition, in colors in honor of the cave party. They were black and white. The "Hustler" was eagerly purchased by nearly everybody who could read. The party stopped at the Hustler office and each one subscribed and paid a year in advance, something they have never done at the Press office. They say the "Hustler" is a good newspaper.
Preceded by the two step band, they drove to the residence of our next Appellate Judge to pay their respects to a former resident of Marion, Judge Nunn. The Judge was somewhat in doubt at first whether the party belonged to the Salvation Army or were a band of perfectionists, but in looking them over decided it was part of a stranded circus, and addressed them accordingly. He said in part: "My friends; I am glad you have reached Madisonville safely. You no doubt have had a hard time. You all look it. You can send one of your number back to the kitchen and the cook will fill your baskets with food. You must be hungry. You certainly look so. You keep right straight ahead on this road and you will soon be out of the limits of Madisonville. The air will be better for you away from the crowded streets, and you better start at once," and Judge Nunn carefully closed and locked the front yard gate and re-entered his home.
A lurid silence fell upon the party as they watched the retreating form of the Judge, finally broken by Dr. Clement, who said, "Now wouldn't that jar you?" Dave Yandell said, "It's all on account of that two step band and these tests we are toting along." Ira Pierce allowed that they better fight shy of Hopkinsville, on account of the lunatic asylum being located there, while John Wilson said he wished he was in Texas.
The Alexander Ball. "And the band played on." A charming scene was the opening march at the Alexander home. The Cave party resplendent in toilettes that would have graced on of Queen Alexandra's drawing rooms were in high spirits. The ladies especially seemed to have forgotten the unpleasant incident that had to some extent marred their journey and wore their brightest smiles.
Mrs. R.F. Haynes, the chaperone of the party, was gowned in black velvet with traceries of silver embroidery and diamond ornaments.
Mrs. Dr. Todd was charming in a garnet silk costume made en train, rucheings of belgian lace and ruby ornaments.
Mrs. Compton wore an all-over of duchesse lace, lilly of the valley pattern, and carried an elegant Chinese carved ivory fan.
Mrs. Dr. Clement, petite and winsome as ever, was in plain blue mousseline de soie, pinked out with blue bells, and wore a necklace of pearls.
Miss Nunn of Madisonville, tall and graceful, was gowned in heavy ivory satin, with flounces of rare old lace.
Miss Spencer's costume was composed of a rich colored gold satin, with demi-train, caught up here and there by opals. Opal jewelry.
Miss Della Barnes looked quite divinely in a perfectly white costume, with a plumed hat of the same color, and string of pearls for ornaments.
The gentlemen were of course in ordinary evening dress.
It was a late hour when the Captain announced that it was time to "tent."
A Shaker Episode. South Union, Ky. [By undergraound railroad] This is the home of the Shakers, those pleasant faced men and women to whom thee and thou mean much.
Ira Pierce and Creed Taylor brought their worldly arts into play and the hearts of Ruth and Bessie are somewhat shaken in consequence.
The following telegram has been received:
Upon leaving South Union the Cave Party unfortunately mistook the road and headed for Butler county. It is supposed the Captain got hold of some moonshine whisky and is making for a moonshinery.
Later, by Wireless - Cave party captured by moonshiners and held for ransom money. They offered to leave the Captain as a hostage but the moonshiners would not consent. They say they want money or blood, and they repeat the latter word in a manner that sounds bad. John Wilson offered to send the stockyards and have a shipment of blood expressed them but they scorned the suggestion.
Second Telegram - Moonshiners threaten to hang three of us, to be decided by drawing lots, if money not paid by Saturday. Another Telegram - Where is Sherlock Holmes? [Moonshiners probably cut wires. We have put Sherlock Holmes on the trail. - Ed. Press.
16 Oct 1902, Crittenden Press (Marion, KY), page 8: In the Mountains. The Marion Mammoth Cave Party Escape from the Mountains (continued from previous week)
18 Jun 1903, Crittenden Press (Marion, KY), page 1: The Crittenden Springs Hotel register showed a very large arrival list at that famous summer resort, Sunday last. Fully twenty ladies and gentlemen from various sections of the United States, reached the hotel that morning. Major Ira Pierce did the honors in his usual affable style.
5 Feb 1905, Crittenden Press (Marion, KY), page 5: Mr. Ira Pierce, who is employed at Salem, was very ill last week.
1910 census can't find.
1920 census, Crittenden Co., KY, Marion: Flynn, John W. 41; Berna 35; mother-in-law Ella C. Pierce 55; Ira Pierce 44; Miriam E. Pierce 21.
Crittenden Press Feb 22, 1924 - Ira Tilden Pierce died at Walker's Hospital, Evansville, Saturday morning, February 16th, following a second operation for appendicitis, aged 48 years. He was the youngest son of James P. and Emma Ralston Pierce. For a number of years he was connected with the coal business, and later established the Marion Coal Company. At the November 1923 election, Mr. Pierce was elected to the office of Judge of the City Court. In 1921, he was married to Miss Jane Thompson of Georgetown, who survives him.
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