Pierce, Charles Sheldon, 1848-1919

PIERCE, FITCHPATRICK, DEAN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/19/2020 at 19:42:44

From the Cherokee Semi-Weekly Democrat, April 24, 1919:

CHARLES S. PIERCE DIES IN CALIFORNIA
Was a Former Well Known Citizen of Meriden, This County

The Fresno, Cal., Republican of April 18 contains the following account of the death of a former well known citizen of Meriden, this county:

C. S. Pierce, president of the C. S. Pierce Lumber company, died yesterday at about 1 o’clock at his home at 1509 Van Ness avenue after an attack of pneumonia lasting but five days. Death came as a great surprise to his many friends, as he had been active in business up to last Saturday. He had lived in Fresno for 35 years, this being half of his entire lifetime, as he was in his seventy-first year. Had he lived until November 22 he would have celebrated his fiftieth anniversary of his marriage to Mary Ellen Fitchpatrick, who survives him.

Charles Sheldon Pierce was born at Syracuse, N.Y., November 15, 1848. When he was a young lad his parents moved to the state of Michigan and after about two years there, they moved to Waterloo, Iowa, arriving at that place when he was fifteen years of age. Shortly thereafter his parents moved to Story county, where his father engaged in farming. At the age of 21 he was married at Ames, Iowa, to Mary Ellen Fitchpatrick. He is survived by five married daughters, Mrs. S. S. Parsons of Pacific Grove, Mrs. Leland Cutler of San Francisco, Mrs. Ernest Miller of Visalia, Mrs. H. E. Norton and Mrs. T. N. Sample, both of Fresno. He is also survived by his sister, Mrs. F. K. Prescott of Fresno.

Mr. Pierce, shortly after his marriage, moved to Meriden, Iowa, where he engaged in farming and also in general merchandise. Leaving there he came direct to Fresno in 1883, where he had lived ever since. In September, 1883, he engaged in the lumber business with his brother-in-law, F. K. Prescott, continuing the firm of Prescott & Pierce for about ten years. In 1895 he severed connections with Mr. Prescott and organized the C. S. Pierce Lumber company, which is now one of the leading retail lumber concerns of the San Joaquin valley. Some eight years ago he organized the Tulare County Lumber company, with yards at Visalia and Lindsay. He also was interested in many other lines of business, being a director in the Farmers’ National bank of Fresno and for over twenty years served as director of the Peoples’ Savings bank, which was sold to the Bank of Italy two years ago.

In politics Mr. Pierce was a staunch Republican. Fraternally he was a highly honored member of the Masonic order, being a charter member of Las Palmas lodge of Fresno, and was also a Shriner. He was also a member of the Fresno lodge of Elks. He had been a member of the First Presbyterian church of Fresno for over 25 years.

In the passing of Mr. Pierce Fresno loses one of her staunch citizens, one who has contributed in every line to the upbuilding of the city

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His FindaGrave.com page gives his death date as 18 April 1919; buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Fresno, and includes a photo of him. Parents Lyman Pierce (1808-1885) and Phebe J. Dean Pierce (1815-1891). Siblings Carrie J. Pierce Peabody (1830-1903), Merrit De. Pierce (1838-1903), Harriet Victoria Pierce Fitchpatrick (1842-1906), L. Viola Pierce (1843-1915), and Ella C. Pierce Prescott (1847-1922).