Thomas J. Pierce was born abt. 1822 SOMEWHERE? in Kentucky. Some time around the beginning of the Civil War he left KY, apparently a widower with small children. He went to AR and has a child by a new wife in AR by 1865. By 1870 T. J. Pierce is in Barry County, MO. Living with him are James M. Pierce, KY, and his wife Catherine Ryan from Indiana and their child Alice Nora Pierce born MO. Jim and Kate migrated to AR, but 1880 census still shows T. J. Pierce living in Barry Co., MO. T. J. had children James, Rachel, John, Catherine. A related surname is Lewellen. Catherine Ryan was orphaned at an early age (perhaps birth), and she grew up in the household of Raleigh (Rawley) Lewellen. Gene Johnson