The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-05-28

For several years he acted as first vice
president and chairman of the executive
committee of the Valley Fair association
and in 1908 he was elected president to
succeed the late Col. George w. Hooker
lie acted as president of that organization
| until 1908 when he declined reelection
| He was one of the three commissioners
| elected by the town of Brattleboro to con-
struct the new arch bridge across the
Connecticut river connecting Brattleboro
and Hinsdale, n. H.
He had been prominently identified
with the grange for 36 years. He was
master of Protective grange of Brattleboro
for three years and in that time l76 new
members were added to the roster. He
was afterwards overseer and lecturer of
the state grange.
In 1904 he was elected state senator
from this district and served one term.
| In December, 1906, he was elected master
of the state grange and he served in this
capacity for two years. Last December
he was again reelected but he declined
to serve He was a member of the special
tax commission appointed by Governor
Proctor in 1908 and was also the president
of the Windham County Good Roads as
ISOLATION He was the organizer of the
Windham County Fish and Game Pro
tective association in 1904 and was presi-
dent for two years. He was also judge
at the Boston Horse show, being appoint
ed to that position five years ago.
Mr. Pierce was member of Brattleboro
lodge, No. l02, I. & A. NJ, Fort Dunn
mer chapter, No. y, r. a. NJ, Connect
cut Valley council, No. IS, Beauseant
commandery No. 7, X. T., Bingham chap
Mystic Shrine, of Montpelier. He was a
member of the First Universalist church,
the Universaist society and was a trus-
tee of that church for several years.
I'm 1885 he married Miss Ida NJ. Weed
of Saratoga, n. Y, who survives him with
five sons and a daughter. They are Mil
ton w, of the University of Vermont fac
lege, Frederick W., Weed X, Helen NJ.
and Nathan c., all of Bratteboro; and
two brothers, Edward X. Pierce, proprie-
tor of the Converse House in Palmer,
Mass, and DR.. Willard II. Pierce, we'll
known surgeon, living in Bernardston and
practicing in Greenfield, Mass.
Funeral services were held Wednesday
afternoon at , o'clock at the home on Lin
den street extension, Rev. Roy NJ. Hough
ton, pastor of the Centre Congregational
church, officiating. The bearers were
Harry W. Spaulding, Rufus 4. Orkins,
Carl S. Hopkins. John +. Gale of Gull |
ford, a. w. Roel and w. I. Haigh. Bur
ial was in Morningside cemetery. The flu |
neral was private, only the relatives and |
close personal 1rlendS ana uelegatlOns |
from the various orders of which Mr.. |
Pierce was a member being present.
Mr.. Pierce was possessed of a rugged
simplicity that made for him friends not
only at home but wherever he went, and |
whether it was with his personal affairs
or as public servant that he concerned
himself he gave the best that he had to
give. Not merely an enthusiast but a
worker, his efforts in Strengthening the
grange movement throughout the state
brought results. As member of the
legislature he worked increasingly for
what he thought to be the best interests
of his constituency and was actively con-
nected with much important legislation.
In affairs pertaining to Brattleboro he
was always willing to do his share, and
worthy projects never lacked his support.
During his term as president of the Valley
Fair association he gave that organization
his unstinted service and improved it in
a number of departments. Without the
advantage of college education himself
Mr.. Pierce had studied enough to realize
the value of such training and had
planned to give all his children the OPP
portunity which he did not get He was
sincere in his loyalty to state and town
man of sound Judgment high
ideals and kindly disposition.