Lincoln County, SD Biographies.....Pierce, Robert A. November 22, 1847 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 14, 2022, 6:37 pm

Source: MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF Turner, Lincoln, Union and Clay Counties, South Dakota. (1897)
Author: Geo. Ogle & Co.

ROBERT A. PIERCE, ex-sheriff, is one of the prominent soldier citizens of Lincoln
county, who is successfully pursuing farming on the fertile soil of Pleasant
township. His skill and thorough practical knowledge of his calling have been potent
factors in producing the present solid prosperity of this locality, and his farm,
which is pleasantly located in section 21, is among the finest in the township.

Our subject is a native of Bradford county. Pa., and a son of Sidney I. and Esther
Pierce, born November 22, 1847. His mother died in Pennsylvania and the father then
removed to Chemung county, N. Y., where Robert lived until he was fourteen years of
age. The father next located in McHenry county, Ill., and while our subject was
living there he entered the Union army, being enrolled in September, 1863, in
company G, Seventeenth Illinois regiment, cavalry, as a non-commissioned officer.
The troop was in camp in St. Charles, Ill., and from there went to St. Louis, Mo.,
where they armed and equipped, the men having their own horses. The next four weeks
were spent in guarding prisoners at Alton, and then the regiment was ordered to
Glasgow, Mo., which was made the rendezvous until the fall of 1864. The troop at
that time was detailed to follow the Confederate forces under Gen. Price, and on
this march participated in the engagement fought at Pilot Knob; after driving Price
across the Arkansas state line, the company rode back to Rolla, Mo., and thence to
St. Louis. The next move was against Jeff Thompson’s detachment into Arkansas, and
after his surrender the troops returned again to St. Louis, from where they were
ordered to Kansas and put on duty guarding Indians. Mr. Pierce served first in the
capacity of corporal, later as duty sergeant, and was mustered out as quartermaster
sergeant of his company in December, 1865, at Ft. Leavenworth. He was a good and
efficient soldier and served his country well. During his enlistment he was wounded
twice, the first time slightly in the leg and later by a saber thrust through the
shoulder, which was painful though not serious.

At the close of hostilities our subject returned to McHenry county, Ill., and the
following year led to the hymeneal altar Miss Louisa Stevens, a native of that
county, and a daughter of Merrill Stevens, now deceased. He and his bride took up
their domestic life first in Illinois and later in Franklin county, Iowa, where they
remained until 1873, that year arriving in Dakota territory. He took up his
residence on the prairie in section 22 of what is now Pleasant township, Lincoln
county, and built a combination frame house and dug-out in which he installed his
wife and family. After breaking up the land and improving it he removed to his
present farm in section 21, which he had entered as a timber claim together with the
homestead, and on this latter he has since made his residence. The farm he now
occupies consists of 160 acres of fertile land and its cultivation proves both
pleasant and profitable. The property is adorned by a comfortable house in which our
subject and his estimable wife reside, the three daughters, who comprised the family
of Mr. and Mrs. Pierce, being married and established in homes of their own. Cora,
the eldest, is the wife of Abe Duerst of this township; Minnie, the second in order
of birth, married George Elliott, and resides in Norway township, Lincoln county;
and Myrtie, the youngest, is now Mrs. W. Smith, of Canton.

Mr. Pierce is a man of mark in his community, and his standing as a good citizen is
irreproachable. Several important offices have been entrusted to his care, and he
has never failed to justify the confidence placed in him by- the people. He has
always stanchly advocated the principles of the Republican platform, and on that
ticket was elected in 1890 to the position of sheriff of Lincoln county, serving in
that capacity four years. He was postmaster of Silver Lake post office before it was
discontinued, receiving and distributing the mails at his house, and for ten years
has been a justice of the peace. Not only in politics does our subject take much
interest, but he is also prominent as one of the moving spirits in the organization
of the township in which he lives, as well as his school district, he being an
officer of the school board. He is one of the “ old timers,” and has been closely
identified with the development of the locality, giving his sympathy and support to
every plan calculated to enhance the value, both socially and commercially, of the
community. He belongs to Gen. Dodge post No. 69, G. A. R., at Beresford, and is now
serving as commander of that post. He is one of the charter members of the Canton
lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and also belongs to the Canton lodge and encampment
of the I. O. O. F.


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