Joe enlisted with the Arizona Rangers on Monday, November 23, 1903, in Douglas, Arizona. He had a short, but distinguished career with the Rangers, resigning in 1905. After his service, he spent six years as a line rider and then became chief of Apache police on the Fort Apache Reservation. He was an expert trailer and the Indians called him "Lone Wolf" because he liked to work by himself. He married Minnie Lund and they raised nine children. After he quit wearing a badge he ran his own little ranch near Mount Baldy in Apache County. The place included a nine-room house, an orchard, some cultivated acreage, and about 100 head of cattle. Although he served as vice-president of the Arizona Historical Society, law enforcement never left his blood. In 1949, at the age of 75, he applied for the position of police chief of Evans, Kentucky and in 1954 he applied to the Border Patrol and in the age block he indicated he was "over 21." He was not accepted for either position. He died peacefully in 1958.

Above Bio Courtesy of Tom Todd

Married: 11/7/1906 @ Greer, Apache Co., AZ.

Was the father of 9 children.

1880 Federal Census for Snow Flake, Apache Co., AZ:
James Pearce, head, age 41, b. MS;
Mary J. Pearce, wife, age 27, b. UT;
Lolamay Pearce, dau., age 11, b. UT;
James Pearce, son, age 9, b. UT;
Joseph Pearce, son, age 7, b. UT;
Mary E. Pearce, dau., age 5, b. UT;
Elizabeth Pearce, dau., age 2, b. AZ;
Samuel Saddler, other, male, age 17, b. UT.

1900 Federal Census taken 6/30/1900, for Springerville Precinct, Apache Co., AZ:
Phelps, Ransom, head, white, female, b. April 1850, age 50, single, b. TX, father b. TN, mother b. TN;
Pierce, Joseph H., white, male, b. 1873, age 26, single, b. TX, father b. MS, mother b. IA, occ-Forest Labor.

1910 Federal Census taken 4/22/1910, for Eagar town, Apache Co., AZ:
Pearce, Joseph H., Head, age 36, b. UT;
Pearce, Minnie, wife, age 25, 1/1, b. AZ;
Pearce, Alta, dau., age 1 2/12, b. AZ.

1920 Federal Census taken 1/14/1920, for Eagar District, Apache Co., AZ:
Pierce, Joseph H., Head, age 45, b. UT;
Pierce, Minnie, wife, age 34, b. AZ;
Pierce, Alta, dau., age 10, b. AZ;
Pierce, D. Kent, son, age 8, b. AZ;
Pierce, M. Armond, son, age 6, b. AZ;
Pierce, I. Shannon, son, age 4, b. AZ;
Pierce, Zola, dau., age 2, b. AZ;
Pierce, Vinton J., son, age 10/12, b. AZ;

1930 Federal Census taken 4/12/1930, for Eagar town, Apache Co., AZ:
Pearce, Joseph, head, age 54, b. UT;
Pearce, Minnie, wife, age 43, b. AZ;
Pearce, D. Kent, son, age 18, b. AZ;
Pearce, Armand M., son, age 16, b. AZ;
Pearce, Ivan S., son, age 15, b. AZ;
Pearce, Zona, dau., age 12, b. AZ;
Pearce, I. Venton, son, age 11, b. AZ;
Pearce, Pratt W., son, age 8, b. AZ;
Pearce, Grover W., son, age 6, b. AZ;
Pearce, Sherrel N., son, age 4, b. AZ.

1940 Federal Census taken 4/5/1940, for Eagar town, Apache Co., AZ:
Joseph H. Pearce, head, age 66, b. UT;
Minnie L. Pearce, wife, age 54, b. AZ;
Zola Pearce, dau., age 22, b. AZ;
Vinton Pearce, son, age 21, b. AZ;
Pratt Pearce, son, age 18, b. AZ;
Grover Pearce, son, age 16, b. AZ;
Sherrel Nile Pearce, son, age 14, b. AZ.