ROBERT W. PIERCE, president and manager of the Rushville Lumber Company at Rushville, is a native of Indiana, and has been identified with the lumber industry since early manhood. He was born at Indianapolis, June 11, 1881, son of George W. and Julia A. (O'Donnell) Pierce, his father a native of Harrison, Ohio, and his mother of Indianapolis. George W. Pierce was a painting contractor, and died at Indianapolis in 1922, his widow still living in that city. Robert Wilton Pierce attended the grade and high schools of Indianapolis and for ten years was employed in the purchasing department of the Perry Manufacturing Company. From there he removed to Greensburg and for twenty years was manager of the W. C. Pulse Lumber Company, leaving there to take the responsibilities of manager of the Capitol Lumber Company at Rushville. On January 1, 1981, Mr. Pierce bought this interest and the business was incorporated at that time as the Rushville Lumber Company, and Mr. Pierce became president and general manager. This is one of the large business establishments of its kind in Rush County, and is located at 735 West Third Street. Mr. Pierce married, March 20, 1908, Miss Cora Long, who was born at Middletown, Ohio, daughter of Eli and Sarah Long. They have one son, Clyde Morris, now at Washington, D. C., a student at the University of Pennsylvania in architectural engineering. Outside of his business Mr. Pierce's chief interests are in his church and Masonic Fraternity. While living at Greensburg he was treasurer of the Methodist Episcopal Church for eighteen years. He was a member of the City Council there for two terms. In Masonry he has filled all the chairs in each of the various branches to which he belongs, being a past master of Greensburg Lodge No. 36, A. F. and A. M., a past high priest of Royal Arch Chapter No. 8, of Greensburg, held all the chairs in the Royal and Select Masters Council No. 74, of Greensburg, and is a past commander of the Knights T emplar Commandery No. 52 of Greensburg and a member of the Shrine, Murat Temple of Indianapolis. He is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Rotary Club and is a Republican in politics. For a number of years Mr. Pierce has been interested in keeping in touch by reading the events of national and international politics.