Mr. Pearce was born September 4, 1849, in England, and is a son of John and Elizabeth Jane (Messer) Pearce, both of whom are of English birth. In 1850 his father went to California, worked there in the drift diggings and then went to South America, where he spent seven seasons. He then went back to England, and, returning to California, died in 1874 aged forty-nine years. He was one of the brave California pioneers who knew no fear and did his full share in the early settling of the state. He was bereft of his wife in England, who left four children, two daughters and two sons, namely: Thomas, now of Virginia City, William, and two daughters in San Francisco.

William Pearce was the eldest of the family, and was reared and educated in England, where he remained until his seventeenth year. His own efforts for his own support began at the age of twelve years, and since he was fifteen he has depended entirely upon himself. His education was pursued under disadvantages, and he may be said to have learned his lessons in the school of experience. In 1867 he emigrated to New Jersey, and then went to the mining regions of Pennsylvania, mining being his chosen vocation. When he arrived in Virginia City, thirty-three years ago, he began work with pick and shovel in the Yellow Jacket mine. He was first made shift boss in the Savage mine, of which he had charge until 1872 when he went to the Hale & Norcross, and in 1875 became shift boss there, and for twenty-three years was foreman and shift boss. He then resigned this position to become foreman of the Chollar and Potosi mines. He then went on a trip of observation to Shasta, returning in 1901, when he was made foreman of the Gold Hill group of mines. In this position of great responsibility Mr. Pearce is called upon to exercise the knowledge which his years of varied experience have given him. He stands very high in the estimation of skilled mining men, and his opinions carry great weight with them.

In 1875 Mr. Pearce was married to Ida Gidley, who was born in Sierra county, California, and is a daughter of William Gidley, one of the pioneers of the state. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Pearce were all born at Virginia City and are as follows: William J., a mining engineer; Thomas J., a traveling salesman for a San Francisco house; James Garfield, an electrician in the mines; Albert Edward, who is a student at Santa Clara College; and George Philip, who is still in the local schools. Frederick Charles died in his fourteenth year in San Francisco, California. Mrs. Pearce and chilIren are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Pearce is fraternally connected with the Odd Fellows in both branches, and is past grand and past chief. In politics he stands with the silver wing of the Republican party.

Source:
A History of the State of Nevada: Its Resources and People
By Thomas Wren, Lewis Publishing Company
Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1904