The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-06
R. B. F. PIERCE NO MORE
HE SUDDENLY EXPIRES At HIS
HOME IN THIS CITY.
4 Popular Railroad Manager--His
Financial Anairs-As n
Politician.

AT $40 clock yesterday morning Mr.
Robert b. f. Perce, general manager of
the Indiana, Decatur e. Western road. died
suddenly at his home, 1850 North Meridian
steet. A short time ago he was taken sud
denly and seriously i'll in Cincinnati, and
his life was only saved at the time by
prompt medical attention Since then Mr.
Peirce has not been in good health, and in
consequence of his condition. he resigned
the receivership of the Clover Leaf road
and contemplated giving up his position as
general manager of the Indiana, Decatur
q Western. His health has slightly i'm
proved during the last few days, and he
was considering a trip to California. On
Sunday he had a particularly good day.
but during the night he suffered from three
attacks Of heart trouble His son. Edward
B. Peirce, occupied the room next to his
father, and was compelled to go to his
assistance in each of these attacks. Early
in the morning Mr. PIERCE went into his
sons room and remarked that he felt much
better. After a bath and breakfast he
seated himself in an asy chair in his sons
room and began to read newspaper.
Within moment his son, hearing peculiar
noise, turned towards his father and saw
that his head had fallen forward and that
to the floor and loosened his collar, but
after two or three gasps Mr.. PIERCE was
dead
Mr.. PIERCE was one of the best known and
most popular men in this city. Born in
Laurel, Franklin county, Feb. H. 1913,
his boyhood was spent in poverty. At the
age of eighteen years he entered Wabash
College and worked his way through that
institution. He sawed all the wood used by
one of the hotels in Charlottesville, but did
not neglect his studies for his work, and
was graduated with the highest honors of
his class. Two years after graduation the
college conferred upon him the degree of
Master of Arts. While a student he en-
listed in the MISUNDERSTANDING
Indiana, and was elected second lieutenant
of Company H. The regiment was in serv-
ice but five months. and after having been
mustered out he returned to his studies. He
began the reading of law with B. F. Love,
at Shelbyville, and soon after his admission
to the bar was elected as city attorney. He
decided to locate in Charlottesville, and re-
signed this position to go to Charlottesville
in June, 1867. BY his ability, energy and
leading position at the bar of Crawfords-
Vile, and for three terms, beginning in 1868,
he was elected as prosecuting attorney by
the Republicans. 1t was while he was
prosecutor that the famous trial of Nancy
r. Glen was held, having been taken from
this county to Boone county on a change of
venue With Mr. PIERCE were many of the
most able attorneys of this city, and
through the four trials he showed signal
ability.
AS A RAILROAD MAN.
1t is, perhaps, as railroad man that Mr..
PIERCE was better known the latter part of
his life, and his connection with this inter-
est began in 1873, while he was a resident
of Charlottesville. He was chosen as gen
eral counsel for the Logansport, Crawfords-
vile & Southwestern road, and later be-
came one of the board of directors. His
connection with this road did not cease until
it was absorbed by the Vandalia. Always
an ardent Republican, he was the nominee
of his party for Congress in 1880. In a pre-
sumably safe Democratic district he defeat
ed his Democratic opponent, b. w. Hanna,
by over 200 votes. He was renpmlnated
after his first term, but suffered defeat in
the tidal wave that swept over the country
in 1882. He at once resumed the practice
of law and was retained chiefly by railroads
and corporations. His adaptation to rail-
road work was such that in 1885 he was
chosen general counsel and director OF the
Indiana, Decatur & Western. His removal
to this city was that he might more con-
venienty look after the interests of this
road In 1889, as one of the trustees under
the first mortgage, he took charge of the
road and managed it until May, 1884. AT
that time the property was sold and the
made him general manager.
He was selected by Judge Woods to take
charge of the Clover Leaf road as receiver,
and he accepted the appointment In 1888,
when S. r. Galloway resigned to accept the
presidency of the Nickle-plate road the
road at once showed increased earnings ana
was extended under his direction. Some
of the branches which were showing losses
were put on paying basis by him, ana ne
opened line from this, city. to st; Louis
and was considering a line from this city
to Toledo, by the Lake Erie q western In
consequence, on the St Louis line the pas
senger business out OF that point showed
heavy gain and the road was invited TO join
the Joint Traffic Association. This invita-
ton Mr. PIERCE declined. believing the as
quence the Glover Leaf was boycotted by
the other roads and its tickets were not ac-
cepted. Mr.. PIERCE went to New YORK TO
have this boycott raised and was informed
that it would be extended to the freight de-
partment. He promptly filed a complaint
i'm the United States Court and asked that
body. Realizing that he was right, the
members of the association proposed to
drawn, and the proposition was accepted.
Many charges have been made that the
Glover Leaf is cutting rates and these Mr..
PIERCE has always denied, claiming that ne
was adhering to the tariff. The diversity of
interests in the road has made II promo
field for fractional fights and troubles OF dli-
ferent kinds and all through Mr.. Pierce $
connection with 1t he has been harassed
by them One of his latest official acts as
receiver was to make an allldHCe WIN tnS
Chicago Indiana e. Eastern road IN the
northern part of the State. IT was while III
Cincinnati consulting with Judge Tart re-
aarding charges made by one of the fac
tions that Mr. PIERCE suffered the attack
which gave his friends so much concern,
and which was the cause of his reslgnatloh
as receiver. Under the management OF MI
Peirce the roads with which he was con-
nected have been greatly improved ana are
now doing a good business ana are wen
HIS MISFORTUNES.
A number of financial misfortunes came
to Mr. Peirce during his lifetime, but full
investigation and his subsequent actions,
clearly demonstrated that his connection
with them was not in any way dishonest
and that, as a rule, he was the victim OF
confidence placed in others. After his re-
turn from Cincinnati he lived at the Hotel
English until a short time ago, when he
went to the old home on Meridian street and,
at the time of his death, he was living there
with his son. Edward B. and his daugSAr,
first wife was Miss Hattie Blair. daughter
of John w. Blair, of Charlottesville, To
whom he was married in 1866. From TINS
marriage were born the two children with
whom lie lived at the time OF his death. In
1878 his first wife died, and In 1886 he was
married to Mrs. Alice w. Van Nalkenburg,
who survives him.
He was generous to a fault and was of
striking personal appearance. He was con-
sderate of the unfortunate, genial ana APP
proachable TO all and shared all he had
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