Cyrus Merriam Pierce (1851 - 1931)

Born 30 Apr 1851 in New Salem, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Kate (Bryant) Pierce — married 6 Jul 1873 (to 14 Aug 1903) in Athol, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Husband of Jennie Melvina (Stone) Pierce — married 2 Apr 1907 in Santa Barbara, California, United States

Died 24 Jan 1931 at age 79 in Athol, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

NOTE: The family's last name was often spelled Peirce rather than Pierce. The transcription for both his birth and marriage have the name as "Pierce." His obituary has it as "Peirce.

BIRTH:

A record of the birth of this Cyrus Merriam in New Salem, Franklin, Massachusetts, April 30, 1851. This record says his parents were Frederick and Emma Pierce.^[1]

MIDDLE NAME:

See obituary source where his middle name is given as "Merriam."

EDUCATION:

See obituary source that says he was a student at New Salem Academy 1864-69.

PROFESSION:

See obituary source where it says he was a bookkeeper at Lee Shoe plant for over 30yrs, and then a janitor at Lyman Ward school.

See record of 1873 marriage that says he was a "post office clerk" in 1873.

See 1880 US Census source that says only that he worked in a shoe shop.

UNIQUE RESIDENCE NOTES:

See 2nd marriage source that says in 1907, he was a resident of San Luis Obispo, California at the time of that marriage; otherwise, he is generally found in and around New Salem or Athol, Massachusetts.

MARRIAGE:

A record of the marriage of this Cyrus M. Pierce to a Kate (possible Bryant) Mosher in Athol, Worcester, Massachusetts, July 6, 1873. Of this Cyrus, this record also says he was a 23yr old "post office clerk" entering into his 1st marriage at the time. IT also says he was born in New Salem, Franklin, Massachusetts and that his parents were Frederick and Ermina Pierce.^[2]

A record of Cyrus Merriam Peirce's (sic) 2nd marriage; this one to Jennie Melvina Stone Byrn, April 2, 1907 in Santa Barbara, California. This record says Cyrus was 56yrs old at the time of this 1907 marriage.^[3]

CENSUS':

The 1860 US Census of New Salem, Franklin, Massachusetts finds this Cyrus M. Pierce at the age of 9, living there with his parents, Frederick and Ermina and three older siblings. His birthplace is given as Massachusetts.^[4]

The 1865 Massachusetts state census of New Salem, Franklin, Massachusetts finds this Cyrus at the age of 14, living there with his parents, Frederick and Ermina and two older brothers, His birthplace is given as New Salem, (Massachusetts).^[5]

The 1880 US Census of Athol, Worcester, Massachusetts finds this Cyrus M. Peirce at the age of 29yrs old and given as employed in a shoe shop, and born in Massachusetts, living there in Athol, with his 30yr old wife, Kate and their 1yr old son Arthur C.^[6]

The 1900 US Census of Athol, Worcester, Massachusetts finds this Cyrus M. Pierce at the age of 49yrs old and working as a "book keeper", and given as born in Massachusetts, living there with his wife of 28yrs, Kate and a 22yr old son, Arthur. This record says Cyrus was born in April of 1851.^[7]

The 1910 US Census of Athol, Worcester, Massachusetts finds this Cyrus M. Pierce at the age of 59yrs old, living there with his 2nd wife, Jennie M., (record says Cyrus and Jennie had been married 3yrs), and a 12yr old female ward, Ruth B. Stone.^[8]

DEATH:

OBITUARY:

Cyrus Merriam Peirce, 79, for over 60yrs a resident of Athol died at his home Saturday, January 24, 1931, after a week's illness with pneumonia. Mr Peirce was born in New Salem, April 30, 1851, the son of Frederick and Ermina (Merriam) Peirce. He was the youngest child and is the last one of a family of six children. He was a student at New Salem Academy from 1864-69.

For over 30 years he was head bookkeeper at the Lee Shoe plant, and more recently has been a janitor at the new Lyman Ward school. Mr. Peirce was a 32nd degree mason and a member of Star Lodge of Masons , a past High Priest of Union Royal Arch Chapter, Past Eminent Commander of Athol Commandery, Knight Templar, and also a member of the Masonic Relief Association.

Mr. Peirce was twice married, his first wife being Katie Mosier, to whom he married on July 6, 1873. She passed in 1903. Three children were born of this union, Emma who passed within days of birth 1875, Addie Beatrice, who died at the age of 8 mos. in 1877, and Arthur C. of Leominster. On April 2, 1907 he married Mrs. Jennis (sic) Stone Byrne, in Santa Barbara, CA, who survives him.

The funeral was held Monday afternoon, January 26, at 2:00 p.m. at the home, with Rev. W C Pixler officiating, and burial followed at Silver Lake cemetery, Athol, MA.^[9]

OTHER INTERSETING LIFE EVENTS:

In and around 1903, this Cyrus was the commander of the Athol Commandery of the Knights Templars.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6PM9-RH8?cc=1536925&wc=M61J-2P8%3A73567101 : 27 October 2020), 004285085 > image 586 of 1133; Massachusetts Archives, Boston.
2. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XS91-74?cc=1469062&wc=3PM9-W38%3A1063289102 : 24 May 2018), 004279597 > image 700 of 847; State Archives, Boston.
3. ↑ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939N-8GS3-2T?cc=1804002&wc=96PZ-2NL%3A1069600102 : 12 May 2014), 004640185 > image 324 of 675; multiple county courthouses, California.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GB9J-9PWY?cc=1473181&wc=7Q6K-LMN%3A1589422209%2C1589422251%2C1589429476 : 24 March 2017), Massachusetts > Franklin > New Salem > image 2 of 25; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ "Massachusetts State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D169-7CP?cc=1410399&wc=M6PX-WWL%3A27784001%2C27809601 : 1 June 2018), Franklin > New Salem > image 6 of 15; State Archives, Boston.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBH-G9B?cc=1417683&wc=XCP8-MNL%3A1589405656%2C1589405773%2C1589405955%2C1589405994 : 24 December 2015), Massachusetts > Worcester > Athol > ED 839 > image 52 of 52; citing NARA microfilm publication T9, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., n.d.)
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6Q37-4JG?cc=1325221&wc=9B7M-TQV%3A1030549901%2C1033707901%2C1035379901 : 5 August 2014), Massachusetts > Worcester > ED 1581 Precinct 2 (south part) Athol town > image 39 of 54; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RJT-DT2?cc=1727033&wc=QZZ7-FBY%3A133638101%2C140254701%2C135149002%2C1589225875 : 24 June 2017), Massachusetts > Worcester > Athol > ED 1694 > image 30 of 32; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
9. ↑ Salem Academy Reunion Banner yearbook, 1932, pg 51-52.
10. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/image/532954196/?terms=%22Cyrus%20M.%20Pierce%22&match=1