Michael Alexander Peirce

Peter married Jill Esterson [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: He served in the Army during World War II.
• Census: 1930, Prescott, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; He was recorded, age 6, while living with his parents.
• Census: 1940, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts; He was recorded, age 16, while living with his parents.
• Residence: 1958, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts

Notes:

Name:

Clifton married Elizabeth Loraine "Zib" Ballou on 26 Jul 1947 in Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts. Elizabeth (daughter of Cecil Stiles "Bug" Ballou and Mary Elizabeth Richards) was born on 18 Apr 1924 in Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts; died on 6 Jul 2023; was buried on 15 Jul 2023 in South Cemetery, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1930, Greenfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts; In the 1930 US Census she was recorded, age 5, living on 140 South Shelburne Road, Greenfield, Massachusetts with her parents.
• Census: 1940, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts; In the 1940 US Census she was recorded, age 16, living on 383 East River Street, Orange, Massachusetts with her parents.
• Residence: 1958, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts
• Residence: 2000, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts
• Obituary: 10 Jul 2023; ORANGE, MA - Elizabeth Lorraine (Ballou) Peirce, known to most everyone as "Zib," passed away on July 6th, 2023 while bravely battling old age. She was born on April 18, 1924, in Orange, MA, to parents Cecil and Mary (Richards) Ballou. She leaves behind her brother Richard Ballou, daughter Jane Peirce, son Peter Peirce, grandsons Michael Peirce and Ruslan Peirce, son-in-law Keith LaRiviere, daughter-in-law Jill Esterson, and a freezer containing a dozen pints of Häagen-Dazs Dulce De Leche ice cream which she absolutely had planned to finish. She is preceded in death by her husband Clifton Waldo Peirce (d. 1992,) sister Betty-Sue (Ballou) Pratt (d. 2018,) and brother Derrill Henry Ballou, (d. 2021.) Zib grew up in Orange, meeting her future husband Cliff in Leavitt's store, Orange, where both were employed while attending Orange High School. She attended North Adams Teachers College, and after graduation began her teaching career at Feeding Hills School in Springfield, MA. Zib and Cliff were married in 1947 after Cliff returned from WW2, and they started their family in 1952. Soon after, they began construction on a house barely a mile from the house where she was born, where they lived happily from that time on. In 1959 she and Cliff purchased a brand new VW Bug, and at the age of 35, Zib learned how to drive. In the early 60's, inspired by Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty, she founded the Head Start Kindergarten Program in Orange, with the Congregational church providing the classroom. She taught kindergarten at Dexter Park School in Orange from the mid 60's until she retired in 1987, able to recall every student she ever taught. She kept every class picture in a notebook, and followed her students progress into adulthood, saving clippings about them whenever they appeared in the news. Zib loved animals, and no stray animal that came to her door was turned away on an empty stomach. Civilizing cats, dogs, horses, donkeys, goats, rabbits, squirrels, skunks, foxes, and ill-behaved children was her special talent. She also tried to bend adults to her will, serving on committees for the town of Orange, local schools, Congregational Church, and Lake Mattawa Association, among many others. She knitted, quilted, collected dolls, enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, rode a bicycle, enjoyed the outdoors, was quick to help or offer support for any worthy project, and was particularly thrilled to be a grandmother. Active in the preservation of Quabbin town history since the 1960's, she served as volunteer, president, and/or curator at the Swift River Valley Historical Society well into her 90's, authoring several books on Quabbin history, including The Lost Towns of Quabbin Valley (2003,) Quabbin Valley: Life as It Was (2015,) and Quabbin Valley: People and Places (2006.) She was meticulous, sharp as a tack, had an encyclopedic knowledge of everything that happened in the last 200 years, a dry sense of humor, a deep appreciation for friends, family, animals, one particular flavor of ice cream, and enjoyed a good, long, life. She was one of a kind and to be loved by her was to be truly blessed. Calling hours are Friday, July 14th from 5-7 p.m. at Witty's Funeral Home, 158 S. Main St., Orange, MA. The funeral will be held in the Central Congregational Church, 93 South Main Street in Orange, on Saturday July 15 at 10am. Following interment at South Central Cemetery, refreshments will be served at the Congregational Church. Please consider wearing a mask, and stay healthy. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Swift River Valley Historical Society, PO Box 22, New Salem, MA 01355, or to the animal welfare organization of your choice. Published by Athol Daily News on Jul. 10, 2023.

Notes:

[Tribe of Sarah]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1930, Prescott, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; He worked for the Road Department.
• Census: 1940, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts

Harrison married Mable A. last name unknown on Yes, date unknown. Mable was born about 1898 in North Dakota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1930, Prescott, Hampshire County, Massachusetts
• Census: 1940, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts

Other Events and Attributes:

• General Information: He went to Columbus, Ohio and worked on a large dairy farm there. He was later a crane operator in Chester, Pennsylvania. He later managed the Sheldegren Farm in Greenfield, Massachusetts, before returning to Orange in 1940.
• Census: 1900, Wendell, Franklin County, Massachusetts; In the 1900 US Census he was recorded, age 3, living on Main Street, Wendell, Massachusetts with his parents.
• Census: 1910, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts; In the 1910 US Census he was recorded, age 13, living on Mill Street, Orange, Massachusetts with his parents.
• Draft Registration: 5 Jun 1918, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts; In 1918 he registered for the draft giving his age as 21, his address as 115 Walnut Hill, Orange, Massachusetts, and his employer as the Chester Ship Building Company, Chester, Pennsylvania.
• Military: From 28 Aug 1918 to 31 Mar 1919; He served during World War I as a PFC in the Medical Department. He was discharged 31 March 1919.
• Census: 1920, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts; In the 1920 US Census he was recorded, age 23, living on Walnut Hill Street, Orange, Massachusetts with his divorced father. He was a farmer.
• Residence: 1928, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts; Cecil and Mary lived on Holtshire Road, Orange, Massachusetts according to the 1928 Orange City Directory.
• Census: 1930, Greenfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts; In the 1930 US Census he was recorded, age 33, living on 140 South Shelburne Road, Greenfield, Massachusetts. He was a manager on a farm.
• Census: 1940, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts; In the 1940 US Census he was recorded, age 43, living on 383 East River Street, Orange, Massachusetts. His occupation was listed as a manager.
• Draft Registration: 1942, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts; In 1942 he registered for the draft giving his age as 45, his address as 383 East River Street, Orange, Massachusetts, and stated he was self employed as a farmer.
• Obituary: 7 Jun 1952; Orange, June 6—Funeral services for Cecil S. Ballou, owner of the dairy farm and registered Guernsey herd at 283 East River St., who was burned to death yesterday in a flash fire which destroyed his large barn, will be held at 2 Saturday afternoon at the Central Congregational Church. Rev. Ernest Hirrschoff will officiate and burial will be in the South Cemetery. Published by the Springfield Union, 7 June 1952
• Last Full Review: 22 Nov 2021

Notes:

Name:


[Tribe of Sarah]

Died:
From the Athol Daily News, 6 June 1952, "Cecil Stiles Ballou, 55, owner of the dairy farm and registered Gurnsey herd at 383 East River St. Orange, was burned to death in a flash fire in his barn yesterday afternoon. Ballou was pitching hay from a loft to a tractor-powered bailer on the barn floor, which was being operated by his son, Derrill. The hay toppled over, hurling Ballou onto the bailer and burying him under an estimated 2 tons of hay, which burst into flames from the exhaust and gasoline of the machine."

Cecil married Mary Elizabeth Richards on 28 Jun 1922 in Leverett, Franklin County, Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of George Elmer Richards and Mabel J. Proctor) was born on 7 Aug 1898 in Warwick, Franklin County, Massachusetts; died on 9 Jul 1976 in Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts; was buried in South Cemetery, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1900, Vernon, Windham County, Vermont; In the 1900 US Census she was recorded, age 2, living in Vernon, Vermont with her parents.
• Census: 1910, Wendell, Franklin County, Massachusetts; In the 1910 US Census she was recorded, age 12, living in Wendell, Massachusetts living with her divorced mother.
• Census: 1920, Amherst, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; In the 1920 US Census she was recorded, age 22, living on Pleasant Street, Amherst, Massachusetts. She was a housemaid living with the Stowell family.
• Residence: 1922, Wendell, Franklin County, Massachusetts
• Residence: 1928, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts; Cecil and Mary lived on Holtshire Road, Orange, Massachusetts according to the 1928 Orange City Directory.
• Census: 1930, Greenfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts; In the 1930 US Census he was recorded, age 32, living on 140 South Shelburne Road, Greenfield, Massachusetts.
• Census: 1940, Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts; In the 1940 US Census she was recorded, age 42 living on 383 East River Street, Orange, Massachusetts.
• Last Full Review: 22 Nov 2021