July 15, 1814-March 27, 1894
Niles Republican, Thursday, March 29, 1894, page 5, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library
Death of Amable M. LaPierre
Another old settler has joined the great majority in the better land. Amable M. LaPierre died at his home in this city on Tuesday morning, March 27, after an illness of about two months, of cancer of the stomach. He was in his 80th year.
Mr. LaPierre was born in Montreal, Canada, on the 15th of July, 1814. He was a mason by trade. In 1836 he settled in South Bend. He was in charge of the building of the first church at Notre Dame, and was engaged in the construction of the university building at that place. He came to Niles in 1838, and followed his trade here. He married Hester A. Comley in 1840, who still survives him, at the age of 72, but who is very low and not likely to recover. In the same year they moved to South Bend. During his residence in that place Mr. LaPierre, who was a very strong anti-slavery man, took an active part in assisting slaves who were escaping from the Southern States to Canada, and he was arrested under the fugitive slave law, heaviliy find, and in this way lost most of his property. Only a year or two ago he got back some of the money of which he was robbed by this old law. Returning to Niles in 1850, this city hss been their home since that time. Mr. LaPierre built the first school building in this city.
Mr. LaPierre was an exceedingly generous man, and for a man of his means gave liberally and ungrudgedly to the poor and needy. To soldiers during the war he was lavishly generous. He was very kind hearted man and always had a good and encouraging word for children. He was a member of the Methodist church, and a consistent and earnest Christian. Ed. M. LaPierre, our well known citizen, is is only living heir. The funeral will take place tomorrow.
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Buchanan Record, Thursday, March 29, 1894, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library.MR. A. M. LAPIERRE, one of the oldest and best known citizens of Niles died Tuesday morning. He was born in Montreal, Canada, July 15, 1814, and had been a resident of this section since 1836, in that year coming to South Bend, and removed to Niles in 1838, which place has since been his home with the exception of between 1840 and 1850, when he lived in South Bend. He was a staunch Republican and a faithful member of the M.E. church.