Sarah Clopton of Georgia

Sarah Clopton was the daughter of (Dr.) Alford Clopton and Sarah "Sallie" Kendrick Clopton. She was born in Putnam County (Eatonton) Georgia in 1821. On September 28, 1841, she married James Lovick Pierce, III, the second son of (Dr.) Lovick Pierce and Ann Foster Pierce. He was born May 12, 1820 in Greensboro, Georgia. She is a direct descendant of the first William Clopton, Gentleman, and his wife, Ann (Booth) Dennett Clopton.

They had two children. Their eldest, George Foster Pierce II., was born February 28, 1843. Sarah died December 29, 1844, just thirteen days after the birth of her second son, William Clopton Pierce. This child died the following year. Seven years after Sarah's death, James married Anne Amelia Roberts of Warren County, Georgia. They had six children.

While very little is known about Sarah, much is known about the Pierce family. Sarah's brother, (Judge) David Clopton, entered Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, in 1836, and graduated with first honors in 1840. In his class was James Lovick Pierce, III. The Clopton and Pierce families no doubt knew each other before Sarah married James. Dr. and Mrs. Clopton moved to Macon in 1831, possibly taking the six youngest of their ten children, including Sarah, with them. The elder Pierce was Presiding Elder (District Superintendent) over the Putnam County church where many Cloptons worshipped, Concord Methodist, when that church was established in 1810. He served as the first minister of Eatonton's new Methodist Church in 1821.

The eldest Pierce son, George Foster Pierce, in 1838, was elected President of Georgia Female College, now known as Wesleyan College, in Macon. In 1848, Dr. Pierce was named President of Emory College, Oxford, Georgia. He was elected Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in 1854.

Following in the steps of his father and older brother, Sarah's husband became a minister and became President of Methodist Female College in Morgan County (Madison) Georgia, which was built in 1849. The curriculum specialized in music and language.

In 1895, W. J. Scott, DD wrote:

James L. Pierce was no ordinary man. He was one of the early graduates of Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. His record for scholarship and general ability during his college days was one of the best.

After completing his collegiate course he applied himself to the study of law and was in a fair way to professional eminence when he decided to enter the ministry of which his father and elder brother were such distinguished ornaments. Not long afterwards he was called to the Presidency of Madison (Methodist) Female College. Under his management that institution became one of the most prominent and influential in the Conference. His Baccalaureate address of 1858 was a literary gem.

As a theologian the "Old Doctor" rated him above any of his sons. His ministerial life was checkered owing largely to his delicate nervous organism. The closing years of his life were characterized by a humility and gentleness.

Shortly before his death he removed to Texas where he spent his last days in the home of his son (John Foster Pierce), who achieved great success as a minister of the Gospel. Thus far away from his native Georgia and quite aloof from his old conference associated, Dr. James L. Pierce entered into rest.

The recorded details of his life are spotty and scarce. The North Georgia Conference minutes state that he came from the Alabama Conference in 1850. However, in the Ga. Conference record on the Roll of Deceased Members of the Conference, James Lovick is listed as being admitted to the Ga. Conference in 1847 at the same session in which his younger brother, Thomas Foster, was admitted. He was superannuated in 1890, after 43 years of service, and died one month later.

"Upon all who knew James L. Pierce, his name will linger as an ointment poured forth. To scholarly attainments of the higher order he added the sweetness of a spirit like that of his Master. Unassuming, quiet, thoughtful, consecrated, his preaching was a benediction and his friendship a privilege. Constant communion with his Christ gave a spiritual grace to his presence and a power to his life such as are rarely seen among men."

Minutes of North Ga. Conference, 1890.

There is a mystery about James Lovick Pierce, who is the writer's grandfather, which will probably never be solved. At the time of his death, though he still lived in Georgia, he was visiting his son, John Foster Pierce, in Texarkana, Texas. Why was he buried in McKinney, Texas, 200 miles away? His wife (Amelia Roberts Pierce) must have preceded him in death. Was she buried in Georgia or McKinney? Of the five sons of James Lovick who moved to Texas, three were Methodist ministers. There is no way to evaluate the influence these three men had on the rapidly changing order of social as well as religious advancement in Texas.

Contributed by :

Suellen Clopton Blanton, bblanton@fast.net,
Carole Elizabeth Scott, Ph.D., cscott@westga.edu,
Ann Corn Felton,
and Graham L. Pierce