Review of the book “The Pierce Chronicles
-the Personal Reminiscences of E. D. Pierce”
as transcribed by Lou Larrick.
Edited by J. Gary Williams
and Ronald W. Stark.
THE IDAHO RESEARCH FOUNDATION
BICENTENNIAL EDITION.
Published by the
Idaho Research Foundation, Inc.,
University Place,
Box 3367, Moscow, Idaho 83843.
Copy write by Idaho
Research Foundation, Inc..127 p.

If you are interested in a book that will give you an in-depth,
day-to-day account of what life was like
for an adventurous young man
who went to the American west in the mid 1800’s
to fight in the Mexican War,
pan for gold with the California 49-ers,
trade horses with the Indians
and go on to discover gold in Idaho,
then you have found a real nugget here!

Elias Davidson (E. D.) Pierce wrote this, his life's story,
in his later years in the hopes of selling the books
and making a bit more money
than his veteran's pension provided.
His plans did not work out,
however, and he died in Pennville, Indiana nearly penniless.

His matter of fact way of describing his adventures,
such as the Mexican War and the famous Magruder Murder
in Idaho makes the events seem like he is talking to you,
the reader, in person.

He wrote it in a journal/diary form,
so that each entry has a day and month,
which makes it even more valuable
to the genealogist or historian.

E. D. was born in 1824 in either
Virginia or West Virginia although
there is some thought that he was born in Monaghan, Ireland.

It is known for a fact
that on 14 September 1844 he left his home
in Harrison co., West Virginia
to see the "wide West".

He was engaged to a Miss Rebecca G. Jones
before he left, and did not return for 20 years!

When he finally made his sojourn back to his fiancee,
he found her still patiently waiting for him.
They were married and had a son, who died in infancy.
They named him "Beachy", after E.D.'s good friend,
Hill Beachy, who hunted down the murderer of Lloyd Magruder
and brought him to justice in Idaho.

This book is a highly recommended read
for an enjoyable first hand account
about life in the Pacific Northwest
and Idaho areas in the
latter part of the 1800's.

Thanks go to Judy Landauer
and hubby Richard
for submitting this great
book review.