"May Your Life Be Useful" -A Birthday Wish for Master Ellis Pierce (1903)

Mrs. Yendes, the Primary Superintendent, made this pious wish for Ellis Pierce on his fourth birthday, in 1903.  She sent a card to young Ellis Pierce who attended the priimary class at Sunday School

Master Ellis Pierce was born on a farm near Walton, New York in 1899.

I am becoming very fond of the village and town of Walton, New York; this is the second postcard article devoted to it.

Here is my first article related to Walton, with the opening description of Delaware County.

 The Walton House of Walton, New York

"Delaware County, New York, encompasses a largely-wooded area about 160 miles west and north of New York City.  The county borders the Delaware River which forms a boundary between the states of  New York and Pennsylvania.

A remarkable history of the area, settled by groups of hardy pioneers moving west from Connecticut (through New York City, where the land purchase was negotiated), can be found at this historical web-site:"

Delaware County, New York

Here is the official website of the Town and Village of Walton, with glorious photographs of buildings and the landscape of the area.  I imagine that one of these "lovely old farm" photos relate to the home of Ellis Pierce.

Village of Walton -Photo Gallery

 The genealogical research for this postcard story was performed by Kate C., amazing genealogist and regional historian.

Master Ellis Pierce

Ellis Pierce was born in 1899, in Walton, New York.  His name, Ellis, was his mother's maiden name.

His parents, Augustus (32) and Alice (26) Pierce, were farmers and Ellis was their only child.

On The 1900 census, baby Ellis is listed as 8 months old.

 In 1902, when he was almost three, Ellis got a baby sister, Ada.

 In 1910, The Pierce family still contained only Augustus, Alice, Ellis, and Ada.

Next door to Augustus and Alice, however, lived the family of Augustus’ brother, Albert, and his wife, Alma. 

(I believe that this family was determined to lead the list of alphabetized first names.)

Albert and Alma, who had daughters Pearl and Gertrude, were also farmers.

 When he registered for the draft about 1917, Ellis Pierce (18) was noted to be of medium height, slender build, with brown hair and brown eyes.

In 1920, Ellis (21) was living at home with his parents (now in their forties) and Ada (18).  Alice's father, Almond Ellis (75) now lived with the Pierce family.

When Ellis registered for the Draft in WW II (he would have been 41 in 1940), he is noted to be divorced and to have dependents.  He was still in good shape, at 5'5" and 146 pounds.

There are no other records of Ellis Pierce until he died in November of 1973.

One wonders if he believed that his life had been "useful", or if Mrs. Yendes would agree.

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Here is the card sent by Mrs. Yendes:

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