WI BIO - Dane Co - PIERCE, Nelson W.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, p 590

Nelson W. PIERCE, manager of the freight office of the Chicago, Milwaukee & 
St. Paul Railroad, at Madison [Dane County], Wisconsin, was born in Kingston 
[Somerset County], New Jersey, 10 April 1848, and was the son of William A. 
and Adaline (VANTILBURG) PIERCE. The father was born and reared in Dutchess 
County, New York, and his mother at Kingston, New York. By occupation his 
father was a farmer and speculator, using his money wisely and living upon 
the investments. There were but two children in the family, our subject and 
one sister, Mrs. Mary A. ROBINSON, who resides in the city of Chicago [Cook 
County, IL], and is the proprietress of the Hotel Gladstone on Michigan 
Avenue.

The mother of our subject died when he was but twelve years of age, but the 
father survived her until 1879, when he joined her in the realms of bliss. 
Nelson W. was educated at the common schools of Kingston and spent one year 
at Lawrenceville [Mercer County], New Jersey. When he started into business 
life it was with the post office as clerk in Princeton [Mercer County], New 
Jersey, and remained there one year. At the close of that time he entered 
the telegraph business in the employ of the Camden & Amboy Railroad, which 
branch now forms a part of the great Pennsylvania system. As instructor our 
subject had Robert STUART, who now is superintendent of the Baltimore & Ohio 
Railroad Telegraph Department.

Mr. [Nelson W.] PIERCE continued under Mr. STUART for two years thoroughly 
learning his business. He then came to the State of Wisconsin and located at 
Milwaukee [Milwaukee County] in 1867, entering the employ of the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. He was soon given a position at Watertown, 
Jefferson County [WI], and was then transferred to Watertown Junction 
[Watertown Junction in Jefferson County, WI, or Watertown Junction, Dakota 
Territory?], where he became the freight and ticket agent. While here he 
opened a hotel and eating house calling it the "Bay State" House*, but he had 
not conducted this establishment long before it was burned out, entailing a 
loss upon him of $2,000. However he soon rebuilt and started again, 
conducting as it until he was appointed by the company as special traveling 
and passenger and freight agent at Portland, Oregon. One year later he went 
to Perry [Dallas County], Iowa, where he took charge of the local business of 
the company, remaining there until the spring of 1892, when he was promoted 
to the charge of the Madison [Dane County, WI] office, which position he 
still holds. [*Massachusetts known as the "Bay State." Subject has a 
connection to Massachusetts?]

The marriage of Mr. [Nelson W.] PIERCE took place in the spring of 1869, to 
Miss Mary E. MITCHELL, of Watertown [probably Watertown, Jefferson County, 
not Watertown in Dodge County], Wisconsin, and five children have come to 
this happy home. One son and daughter died in infancy, and the names of 
those living are: Helen A., Albert E., and Negle H. Our subject is well 
known in this city [Madison, Dane County, WI], and is identified with the 
Masonic fraternity in this city.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly