PIERCE. PIERCE. 479 support as soon as possible. Thus being deprived of further schooling at this early age, he entered Marsh's book-store in Northampton at twelve years of age ; changed to Merritt Clark's clothing store at sixteen, and at twenty went into insur- ance on his own account. He was after- wards in company with A. Perry Peck, un- der the name of Peck & Pierce, from 1871 to '80, and since then has continued in the same business alone. He is also largely interested in real estate and mortgages, and is manager and treasurer of the Northamp- ton Electric Lighting Co. Mr. Pierce was married in Northampton, October 16, 1871, to Isabella D., daughter of Lucius and Arabella A. (Warner) Lewis. Of this union are : Mabel A. and Alvin L. Pierce. CHAUNCEY H PIERCE. Mr. Pierce served on the last board of selectmen of the old town of Northamp- ton, and was president of the common council during the first three years after the adoption of the city charter. He is now a member of the trust fund commit- tee ; treasurer and director of the North- ampton Electric Lighting Co., and a direct- or of the Farmers' Loan and Trust Co. He started in poverty, with the care of a mother who depended upon him for sup- port, and has been signally prospered. PIERCE, EDWARD LILUE, son of Jesse and Eliza S. (Lillie) Pierce, was born in Stoughton, Norfolk county, May 29, 1829. He received his early education from his father, and was prepared for college in the academy at Bridgewater, and in a classical school at Easton. He was graduated from Brown University in the class of 1850, standing in some departments at the head of his class, and carrying off an un- usual number of literary prizes. In 1848 ami '50 he published articles in the " Dem- ocratic Review " on " The Independence of the Judiciary," "The Executive Veto," and " Sir Thomas More." His essay on " 'The Relation of Education to Wealth and Industrial Prosperity " was published in the " Transactions of the Norfolk Agri- cultural Society " in 1852. From college he went to the law school at Cambridge, where he was graduated in 1852. Here he received the first prize offered to his class for an essay on " The Consideration of a Contract." Mr. Pierce was married in Providence, R. I., April 19, 1865, to Elizabeth H., daughter of John Kingsbury of that city. Of this union were six children : Edward Lillie, Mary Mackie, George Burgess, Charles Sumner, Arthur Johnson, and Reginald Kingsbury Pierce. In 1853 he wrote an able and learned article on " Secret Suffrage " for the " Bos- ton Post." This was re-printed and widely distributed in England by the "Ballot So- ciety," and referred to as an authority in Parliament. At the beginning of his professional life Mr. Pierce passed nearly a year at Cin- cinnati, Ohio, in the law office of Salmon P. Chase, then a senator, and subsequently Chief Justice of the United States. He continued the practice of his profession until the breaking out of the rebellion. In i860, '76, and '84 he represented his district in the national Republican con- vention at Chicago, and in that of i860 supported the nomination of Mr. Lincoln. In the very first week of the civil war Mr. Pierce enlisted in company L, of the 3d regiment, Massachusetts militia, went to Old Point Comfort and took part, before the week was out, in the destruction of the Norfolk navy-yard. In July of the same year he was detailed to collect the negroes at Hampton and set them to work on the intrenchments of that town. This was the beginning of the employment of negroes on military works. His article on " The Contrabands at Fortress Monroe," pub- lished in the " Atlantic Monthly " of No-
