Person:Robert Pierce (8)

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 2, Ed. 1, Tree #5636, Date of Import: Jan 3, 2000]

Robert Pierce b. 1852. Robert was the son of William Blake and Elizabeth (Peck) Pierce. Robert was born December 14, 1852 in Cincinnati, Ohio where his fathers family lived for about five years. He was but eight years old when the family went to Chicago, and he received his education in the public schools of that city and in Sanders' Institute of Philadelphia. At the age of seventeen he quit school, and for a short time was a book salesman. In 1870 he returned to Chicago, where for seven years he was connected with a house that did both a wholesale and a retail business in sporting goods and shelf hardware, first as a clerk and later as a traveling salesman. In 1877 he entered the employ of the Chicago Lumber Company, a very large concern of Chicago, founded by M. T. Green, who was one of the best known lumbermen of Chicago. This company placed Mr. Pierce in charge of its branch yard, located at Nebraska, City, Nebraska, but in 1878 he was transferred to Topeka, and placed in charge of the Topeka branch of the company. Upon Mr. Green's death in 1894, the Topeka branch of the Chicago Lumber Company became an independent corporation, and of this company Mr. Pierce became president. In 1895 he bought the interest of Mr. Green and from that date until 1933 he operated his own business. It did a wholesale and retail business, and was one of the principal lumber companies of Topeka, Kansas.

Mr. Pierce was a Republican in politics, but never held political office. He was one of the founders of the First Unitarian Church of Topeka. Past exalted ruler in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; a member and ex-vice-president of the Commercial Club; and a member of the Country Club. He was a director of the Merchants' National Bank since its organization, and was a member and director of the Lake View Club, located near Lawrence, Kansas. He became one of Topeka's best known business men and won the respect of all who knew him.