Randolph  County,  Indiana

Charles  F. Pierce


            Perhaps no man in Randolph county has the artistic temperament to a more marked degree than Charles F. Pierce, a photographer of Winchester whose fame has gone throughout the country. Although Nature, of course, implanted the esthetic attribute in him, yet it had to be cultivated, developed, and Mr. Pierce has worked most assiduously and ardently in order to advance himself along his chosen field of endeavor, and, judging from his past praiseworthy attainments it is proper to predict for him still greater things in the future.
            Mr. Pierce was born March 14, 1863, on a farm three miles east of Winchester. He is a son of  Joab W. and  Elizabeth (Summers) Pierce, one of our excellent pioneer families, a complete sketch of whom appears else where in this volume, Suffice it to add here that the Pierces have always been known as public-spirited, high-minded and exemplary citizens.
            Charles F. Pierce was reared on the farm and there did the usual chores assigned to farm boys, until he was about seventeen years of age. He received his primary education in the country district schools. In the year 1881 he went with his parents to Florida where he remained four and one-half years, returning to Winchester, Indiana, in 1886, and worked on a farm and at various occupations. In the fall of 1886 he began the study of photography with E. R. Hiatt, of Winchester, and, having a natural aptitude in this line, he made rapid progress, and was prepared to open a studio of his own, which he did at Saratoga, this county, and met with success from the first.
            On December 3, 1887 Mr. Pierce married Mrs. Dora Almonrode, a daughter of Josiah and Margaret (Cox) Almonrode, of Saratoga, where her family was highly respected and where Mrs. Pierce grew to womanhood and was educated. The union of our subject and wife resulted in the birth of two children; Benjamin Harrison, of Winchester, and Goldie, now the wife of Chauncey Waters, of Farmland.
            In January, 1888, Mr. Pierce, seeking a wider field for the exercise of his talents, removed to Winchester and opened a studio. His reputation as a fine photographer had preceded him and he soon built up a large and ever-growing business, and here he has remained to the present time, with the exception of several winters spent in Florida, where he did special photographic work. He has one of the neatest and most up-to-date studios in the state and is a very busy man. He has kept fully abreast of modern photographic art and is quick to adopt new designs in his work. He is regarded by all who are familiar with his work as an artist of very pronounced ability and has a wide reputation. He has done special work for "Collier's Weekly" and other leading magazines of the East.
            Politically, Mr. Pierce was formerly a Republican, but since the organization of the Progressive party has allied himself with it. He is a member of the State Photographers Association and the National Photographers Association, Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Owls. Mr. Pierce keeps a supply of cameras and art supplies of all kinds and also maintains a picture framing department. His studio is located at 209 South Main street. Here his many customers, some of whom come from remote towns, always receive prompt and courteous treatment.
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson

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