Henry A. Peirce Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1204-1205 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	HENRY A. PEIRCE, of Wessington, Beadle county, is a native of 
Chautanqua county, New York, where he was born on the 11th of October, 
1844, being a son of Austin and Mary Ann Peirce, representatives of old 
and honored families of that section of the Empire commonwealth. The 
subject passed his boyhood on the homestead farm and after attending the 
common schools continued his studies in the academy at Fredonia, while 
later he took a course in the Buffalo Commercial College, being there 
graduated as a member of the class of 1863, after which he served in the 
Union army and was a witness of the battle of Gettysburg. After the 
close of the war he followed mercantile business and farming. 

	In 1883 Mr. Peirce came to what is now the state of South Dakota, 
and located in Jerauld county, where he engaged in stock raising, to 
which line of industry he devoted his attention about five years, being 
successful in his efforts. He then disposed of his interests in this 
line and in 1889 came to Wessington and established the Bank of 
Wessington, which is known as one of the solid financial institutions of 
the state and which has met with representative popular support and 
appreciation from the time of its inception. Mr. Peirce is president of 
the bank and as executive head of the same has directed its affairs with 
marked ability and discrimination. In politics he gives an unwavering 
allegiance to the Republican party but has never sought or desired the 
honors or emoluments of public office. Fraternally he is affiliated with 
the Ancient Order of united Workmen and the Royal Arcanum. 

	Mr. Peirce has one daughter, Julia L., who is now a successful and 
popular teacher in the public schools of the state of Washington.