Abel Head "Shanghai" Pierce

Abel Head Pierce Family By John Runnells Abel Head "Shanghai" Pierce was born in Little Compton, Rhode Island, on June 29, 1834. He was Jonathan and Hannah Pierce's third son and their sixth child. He left Rhode Island when he was sixteen, spent several years working in Virginia, and eventually arrived in Indianola, Texas, in December of 1853. Shanghai Pierce, Shanghai being his widely used and well-known nickname, went to work for W. B Grimes as a cowboy. He served in the Confederate Army, and after the war set out on his own. He trailed cattle from the Gulf Coast first to New Orleans, then to the Kansas railheads: Wichita, Ellsworth and Dodge City. He saw the end of the open range, so he used his earnings to purchase land. He also saw the advantage of Bos Indicus blood in the Gulf Coast cattle, so laid the groundwork for the importation of cattle from India which finally arrived in America in 1906. He also built the first pumping plant on the Colorado River in 1900. Along the way, he married Fannie Lacy on September 27, 1865, daughter of William D. Lacy, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Mary, always known as "Mamie," was born on July 17, 1867. Their son, Abel born on July 17, 1870, died five weeks later. Fannie died on December 18, 1870. Shanghai married second Hattie James of Galveston, but they had no children. Mamie married Henry M. Withers on April 1, 1888, in Kansas City, Missouri. Henry Withers was born in Warrenton, Virginia, in April of 1845, rode with Mosby's Rangers late in the War Between the States. He later became an attorney living in Kansas City, Missouri. The Withers had four children: Frances Lacy, Mary Pierce, A. H. Pierce and Pickett. Mamie died on January 6, 1923. Mary was born on October 24, 1894, in Kansas City, Missouri. She spent much time in Texas and in traveling with her mother after Henry Withers died on December 25, 1908. She served with the American Red Cross during World War I in France at various canteens near the front. Mary married Clive Runnells on September 24, 1921. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on September 10, 1877. They lived in Chicago where he worked for several railroads, eventually becoming an officer of the Pullman Company. He retired early due to ill health and moved to California where he died on September 12, 1935. The Runnells' had two sons, John S. Runnells II, born on March 5, 1924, and Clive Runnells, Jr. Both attended various schools, and eventually were graduated from Yale University. John served in the Army Infantry and Clive in the Naval Air Force during World War II. The Pierce Estate lands were divided in 1956, with the Runnels family getting the land in Matagorda County. Clive eventually set up his headquarters at Buckeye, and John north of Bay City on what was known as the Duncan Ranch. They have continued to tradition started by Mr. Pierce--growing rice and raising Brahma cattle. John married Louise O. Gale of Buffalo, New York, on February 10, 1951. They had three children: Gale, Mary and John. Clive married Nancy Morgan on June 14, 1967 and hid children are: Helen, Clive and Pierce. Historic Matagorda County, Volume II, pages 403-404, 1984

"Shanghai" Pierce Is Dead Famous Millionaire Stockman Of Texas Passes Away His Wide Acquaintance Among Stockmen of a Poor Eastern Boy Who Went to Texas in the '50's--Original of "Maverick Brander."
Pierce, Tex.--Dec. 26, (1900)--A. H. Pierce, the famous millionaire stockman of Pierce, Tex., better known as "Shanghai" Pierce, is dead of Bright's disease. Mr. Pierce was a remarkable man in many respects and had a national reputation among stockmen and financiers. In his south he was given the soubriquet of "Shanghai" and it stuck to him through life. H possessed great business energy and accumulated a fortune variously estimated at from 4 to 5 million dollars. Mr. Pierce was born in Rhode Island 66 years ago. He stood six feet four inches and weighed 275 pounds. He was one of a family of ten children, and at an early age was sent to live with an uncle in Virginia. At the age of 13, he ran away from his uncle's home and set out for Texas. He went to work on a farm, but left in disgust when he discovered that a Negro was worth more than a white man. HIS START AS A COWBOY Then "Shanghai" became a cowboy and gradually worked into the cattle business on his own account. When the Civil War came on the reputation of "Shanghai" as a cowman was so well established that a contract was made with him to supply the Texas command with beef. Immediately after the close of the war Mr. Pierce formed a connection with the great firm of Allen & Poole. He traversed Texas for three years as the representative of the firm, buying droves of cattle and sending them to Galveston, where they were shipped to New Orleans. In 1869 this firm discontinued the business. Mr. Pierce drew out $100,000 as his share of the profits, and after puttering around several years he moved to Kansas and embarked in business on a large scale. Three years' experience in the Sunflower State convinced him that he was in the wrong pew, and it was only by exercising admirable business judgement that he managed to save himself from heavy loss. He returned to Texas and had made his home there ever since. Mr. Pierce's landed estate covers 400,000 acres, and much of it is in rice land. It embraces more than one whole county, and the average Texas county is not small. In addition he owned 30,000 head of cattle. He made regular trips to Kansas City, and usually stayed at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Henry Withers. He last visited this city in August, and was then in good health. Mr. Pierce, it is said, was the original of Colonel Maverick Brander, in the satirical play, "A Texas Steer," written by the last Charles Hoyt. Hoyt met Mr. Pierce several years before he wrote the play, it is related, and was so impressed by his characteristics that he made him the basis of the part of the big hearted Texan in the play. Soon after the war Mr. Pierce married his first wife, Miss Lacy, who was a daughter of William Lacy, a member of the Texas congress and of President Sam Houston's cabinet during the days of the Republic. She was the mother of Mrs. Withers of Kansas City, Mr. Pierce's only child. Later he married a Miss James of Austin, Tex., who survives him.

Copyright 2014 - Present by the Pierce Family All rights reserved
Created Aug. 2, 2014	Updated Aug. 2, 2014

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