Person:Robert Pierce (9)

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

Robert Stevens Pierce b. 1878. Robert Stevens Pierce was born in Clinton, Conn. and in 1878 when he was 12 years old, moved to Topeka, KS. with his parents; where his father established and managed the Topeka branch of the Chicago Lumber Co. In 1895 his father bought the Topeka branch of the Lumber Co. and was its president until 1933. Robert was educated in the Topeka schools and on June 21, 1906, graduated from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N.Y. with a two year certificate in "Steam and Machine Design." He returned to Topeka and became part owner and Treasurer of his father's Lumber Co. On Jan. 1, 1912 he married Esther Rodgers of Topeka and they built their home at 1529 Jewell St. (See newspaper clipping concerning this house which is in the possession of Geo. Dick Pierce at this date, 1993.) In 1933,during the depression, the Lumber Co. became bankruped and he and his father lost the business and their homes. He moved to Grove St. and later bought a house at 1314 Lane St. which they lived in until he and Esther moved to Brewster Place, a retirement home, where they lived until his death at age 94 and later her death at the age of 96. After the loss of the Lumber Co. Robert ran unsucessfully for Kansas State Treasurer and then accepted employment with the State of Kansas in the Kansas Adjutant Generals Office as Property Officer for the Kansas State Guard. He retired in 1958. Robert was raised in the Unitarian Chuch and after his marriage joined the First Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the Topeka Country Club for many years. On August 9, 1918 he enlisted in the Kansas State Guard, Company D, 9th Battalion, promoted to Corporal Jan. 6, 1919, 1st Sgt. April 1, 1919 and discharged Nov. 11, 1919. He was a member of Siloam Lodge #225 A.F.&A.M. A member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Valley of Topeka, and on October 17, 1945 was elected to Knight Commander Court of Honor. He remained a Mason until his death.