Arthur Henry Peirce¹ (M)
b. 22 December 1899, d. September 1970
Pedigree
Family_Line=C
Res_Rqrd=Y

     Arthur Henry Peirce was born on 22 December 1899 at Pennsylvania, son of Henry Pierce and Sarah Pierce.^1,3

Arthur Henry Peirce was on the census of 27 April 1910 at Boflirt Episcopal Orphanage, South 58th Street & Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as Arthur Pierce. Listed as a 10 year old "inmate", has attended school in last nine months, born in Pennsylvania but parents unknown, he cannot read, write or speak English, no occupation shown. Head Matron of the orphanage is Mrs. Katie Sellers with over 200 children.⁴


Arthur Henry Peirce was on the census of 7 January 1920 at Camp Sherman Ohio, Company 'G' - 40th Infantry, Scioto Township, Ohio, as Arthur H. Pierce. Listed as a 19 year old soldier in the US Army, single, has not attended school in last six months, born in Pennsylvania as were his parents, he can read, write and speak English.⁵


Arthur married Elva Lucille Keith, daughter of Lewis Elsie Keith and Elva May Alexander, on 2 April 1923.^6,7 He was a watchmaker. Was orphaned and lived with foster parents on a farm in Spring City, PA. Foster family was the Rhineharts(sp?) with two children; Eddie and Dorothy. His biological parents were Henry and Sarah Pierce (this original spelling of Peirce was the 'correct' way. When Arthur was discharged from the service they made a typo. He accepted it rather than wait until they got around to correcting it. So, the spelling became as it is today - Peirce. Reason(s) why he was orphaned are unknown. It sounds like maybe his mom died and his dad could not take care of him? Quoting Leesa Radja: "Apparently, my grandfather tried to contact his biological father but Henry did not want anything to do with my grandfather. His biological parents were also from Pennsylvania - my uncle believes somewhere around the Philadelphia area."^8,2


Arthur Henry Peirce is shown as head of household on the US census of 15 May 1930 at 1206 G Street, Woodside, Maryland, as Arthur H. Peirce. Listed as 30 years old, owner of $7,500 home with a radio and does not live on a farm, married at age 23 years, has not attended school or college in last six months, born in Pennsylvania as was his father and mother, he can read, write and speak English, is a watchmaker in the jeweler business, is a veteran of the last world war. Enumerated with the head of household was/were Elva Lucille Keith and Arthur Keith Peirce.⁷
Arthur posed with his two sons Keith and Robert around 1953.^8,9 Arthur lost his legs in a motorcycle accident about 1958.⁸ Arthur and Lucille gathered with their family around 1968.⁹ He died in September 1970 at Silver Spring, Maryland, at age 70.³ He was buried in the Parklawn Memorial Park located in Rockville, Maryland. The Peirce graves are at 39deg 3min 52.2sec North Latitude and 77deg 6min 24.8sec West Longitude.

Last Edited=29 Jan 2008