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Our Stories

Source materials regarding Libbie’s childhood.

These photographs and documents introduce Libbie Mercer Pierson (1863-1947), offering a glimpse into her life, character, and place within the Pierson family story. Through images and contextual materials, we see not only how Libbie was represented in her time, but also the social world she inhabited. This section invites you to pause, observe, and connect with Libbie as both an individual and an ancestor within a larger family narrative.

Here’s the full transcript:

Bouquet of the Week
Portrait of a Grandmother
Tulare Advance-Register (Tulare, California) · Tue, May 19, 1942 · Page 6 

This interesting photographic study of Mrs. B. S. Pierson was made by Louis Sweet at a Mother’s Day tea at the Methodist Church. Mrs. Pierson had a prominent part in the programs in line with her lifelong hobby of public reading. It isn’t wool yarn she’s spinning here, dressed in her quaint old costume … it’s tender memories of a rich life … typical in many respects of the average woman of her age.

Typical Great-Grandmother, Mrs. Libbie Pierson Looks Back Happily Over 79 Years of Living

Looking backward 79 years to May 6, 1863, when she was born in Marshall, Iowa, Mrs. B. S. Pierson can sum up her reminiscences with the statement, “I’ve lived a very full and happy life.”

And having heard some of these memories you know it was also a very useful and active life … and still is. Spry at 79, Mrs. Pierson has by no means “retired,” and although she enjoys talking about the more active days when it was her own children, not her great grandchildren, toddling about, she by no means lives only in the past. She is much too busy with the present for that.  

Her little apartment is spick and span and she cares for her husband, not active now that he’s 82. Then there are two hobbies which she still enjoys, elocution and rock gardens. She started the elocution when she was so little she had to stand on a box to be seen when she recited. That was back in LeGrand, Iowa, where she was educated at the Friends Academy … being of Quaker descent. The remarkable memory which delighted her teachers then is still scarcely touched by years. A school teacher mother and a father who was an excellent public speaker are behind the heritage.  

Shares Interest

Her interest in gardening she acquired from Mr. Pierson, who was a nurseryman, gardener and rancher all his life. He was formerly in charge of the famous Busch Gardens in Pasadena and for five years they lived in one of the mansions on the estate. Mrs. Pierson admits it is fun living as millionaires do.’

Wherever she has lived Mrs. Pierson has  developed a garden and her speciality is rock gardens, stemming from her interest in geology and in Indian lore. Her collection of Indian mortars has some remarkable items, although the “collection” is somewhat scattered now.
Part of it is still in the rock garden at the ranch home of her grandson, Walter Long. Her little fox terrier is at his house too, and her love of pets is now expended on the three parakeets which are a bright note in her kitchen.

The yard of her daughter’s home at 139 South G. Street, where they have their apartment, shows her touch. The rock garden and cactus bed are of interest to all passer-by and friends are always bringing bits of rock or plants for it.

More Than Golden

Mr. and Mrs. Pierson have been married for 59 years. Shortly after her parents moved to Osage City, Kansas she changed her name from Libbie Mercer to Mrs. Barak S. Pierson. That was on May 3, 1883. They came from the same part of Iowa but they met at a party in Kansas.

They lived in Kansas only about four years, then came to California. Pasadena was their home for 25 years and it was there that their two daughters and son grew up and were educated. Then for some years they operated a large ranch, orange grove and vineyard near Orosi. For a shirt [sic] time they lived in Tulare, having built a home on Kern street across from the High School. Next move was to what is now the W. W. Long ranch. Then about four years ago they moved back to Tulare to their present home.

Family Unbroken

Mrs. J. A. Lloyd of Tulare is their eldest daughter and Mrs. W. W. Long their youngest. In between them is George Mercer Pierson, successful attorney of Los Angeles. There are eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, the oldest nine years old. And there has never been a break in the family chain.

In the 15 years or so Mrs. Pierson has lived in or near Tulare she has been active in the Methodist Church and is much loved in that congregation. In Orosi the family were members of the Presbyterian Church and in Pasadena they attended their childhood church, the Friends.

Parent-Teacher Associations were making their first appearance when Mrs. Pierson edited the P.T.A. papers at Garfield School in Pasadena, and it is of interest to her to see the tremendous strength of the P.T.A. in the years since then.

The W. C. T. U. Is another organization in which she has belonged since she came to California.

Pioneers in State

Fifty-five years ago the Piersons attended the first Iowa picnic in Southern California. Four hundred were present at that one, now it is attended by 80,000. Mrs. Pierson has not turned grey as most people do, but her soft curly hair is still reddish blond. Just a few silvery hairs show here and there. Seeing her lively blue eyes and her smiling face, you can understand why she has always been considered a happy congenial nature and why her friends are many.

Joining us in proffering a bouquet to Libbie Mercer Pierson is the Kern Street Flower Shop, whose proprietor, Mrs. Varina Safarjati, is an old friend of hers. 

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