In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1840
From 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908)
CHARLES H. PIERCE, president of the Springfield Building and Loan Association, has been a resident of Springfield for a period of fifty-one years, having come here in 1857 from Massachusetts, where he was born in 1840.
Mr. Pierce was reared and educated in Massachusetts and at the age of seventeen came to Springfield and was for some time engaged as a clerk in a gi'ocery store, later entering the employ of E. A. Neff, a news dealer. In 1862 he bought the business from Mr. Neff and conducted the same in the lobby of the postoffice for a time, later moving to King's Corner, now known as Main and Limestone Streets. In the summer of 1863, having employed a man to conduct the business for him, on July 4 he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into service at Cleveland for a service of six months. He was with the company on the march through Kentucky and Tennessee to Cumberland Gap, participating in the siege and capture of same, after which the company was attached to the Army of the Cumberland and were also participants in the siege of Knoxville, Tennessee, after which Mr. Pierce returned to Cleveland, where he was mustered out, after an absence of nine months. Upon his return to Springfield, Mr. Pierce again took charge of his news stand for some time, later buying out Gillette Brothers News and Book Store, which he operated for many years, and which has ever since been known as the Pierce Book Store, being now under the management of his son.
In 1885 Mr. Pierce, with other enterprising citizens of Springfield, was instrumental in organizing the Springfield Building and Loan Association, of which for the past twenty years he has been president. He is also a director in the Lagonda National Bank. Mr. Pierce is a man of great business ability, judgment and integrity and has settled numerous states as administrator and guardian.
Mr. Pierce was joined in marriage in 1864 to Maria T. French and they have three children: Walter, who is engaged in journalism; Roscoe, who operates the Pierce Book Store; and Bertha F., who IS the wife of Frank Sawyer, a partner with Roscoe Pierce in the Pierce Book Store.
Mr. Pierce has served as a member of the city council, is a member of the Mitchell Post, G. A. R., and is an attendant at the Congregational Church. In politics, Mr. Pierce is a Republican.
As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
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