Exploratory Data Analysis: Charles D. Pierce (1918-1991)

Charles D. Pierce (1918-1991) was my maternal great-granduncle.  What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about him.

1. Vital Records

     1.1. Birth Certificate

          Charles was born July 2, 1918 in Madison County, Indiana, according to my database.  I do not yet have a copy of his birth certificate.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

               Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts for mention of Charles' birth.  The Alexandria-Monroe Public Library has newspapers from the early 1900s.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

               I am not aware of any surviving Bible record of the Pierce family.  Will continue to reach out to extended family in the hopes that one does exist.

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               I am not aware of any baptismal record for Charles.  The Pierce family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that Charles was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage License

          Charles married Nancy L. Stephens.  The date of this marriage is currently unknown.

          1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper

               Once I obtain the exact date of their marriage, I can search contemporary newspaper accounts for mention of their nuptials.

          1.2.2. Anniversary Notice

               Once I obtain the exact date of their marriage, I can search contemporary newspaper accounts for mention of any anniversary celebrations.

          1.2.3. Divorce Decree

               There is no indication of a divorce, but a thorough search of court records in Madison County, Indiana would need to be completed.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          Charles died August 23, 1991 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana¹.  I do not have a copy of his death certificate.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper

               Charles's obituary appeared in the August 24, 1991 edition of the Anderson Herald-Bulletin¹.   Will need to search other contemporary newspapers to see if mention was made of his obituary.

          1.3.2. Funeral Home Records

               According to his obituary, funeral arrangements were handled by the Noffze funeral home in Alexandria, Indiana.  Will need to check with the funeral home to see if they have any additional records.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph

               Charles' tombstone in the Park View Cemetery in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana has been photographed.  

               A link to his memorial page at Find A Grave can be found here.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1940 Federal Census

               On May 3, 1940, Charles was enumerated in the William Pierce household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana² as Charles Pierce, age 21, son.  He was not married.  He had not attended school within the year and had completed four years of high school.  He was a farm laborer.  He was born in Indiana and his residency in 1935 was the same location.

          2.1.2. 1930 Federal Census

               On April 24, 1930, Charles was enumerated in the William Pierce household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana³, as Charles D. Pierce, son, age 11, born in Indiana.  He had attended school within the year and could read and write.  His father was born in Indiana and his mother was born in Kentucky.

               On May 6, 1930, Charles was enumerated in the Herman Pierce household in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana⁴, as Charles Pierce, half brother, age 12, born in Indiana.  He had attended school within the year and could read and write.  Both of his parents were listed as being born in Indiana.

          2.1.3. 1920 Federal Census

               On January 23, 1920, Charles was enumerated in the William F. Pierce household in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana⁵, as Charles D. Pierce, son, age 2 5/12, born in Indiana.  His father was born in Indiana and his mother was born in Kentucky.

     2.2. State Census Records

          The State of Indiana conducted state census in 1853, 1857, 1871, 1877, 1883, 1889, 1901, 1913, 1919 and 1921.  These, however, were merely for the purposes of legislative apportionment.

     2.3. Agricultural Census Records

          I have not yet investigated these types of records to see what light they might shed on the Pierce family farm.

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          I have not discovered any draft registration records for Charles.

     3.2. Pension Records

          I do not know if Charles ever applied for a pension based on his service during World War II.

     3.3. Service Records

          Charles enlisted February 5, 1942 as a private at Fort Benjamin Harrison⁶.  He was single, without dependents and had completed four years of high school.

          According to his obituary, Charles served during World War II in the Army Air Corps¹.  I have not yet obtained a copy of his service record.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Madison County, Indiana to see what records might mention Charles and his family.

     4.2. Plat map / county map

          Madison County, Indiana published a plat map in 1880, 1891, 1893, 1901, 1910, 1915, 1921, 1923, 1931 and 1940 that might be relevant to my search for the Pierce family.

5. Supplemental Records

     Supplemental records available for research for Charles include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records.  Will add these to my "to-do" list for my next research trip.

1. Charles D. Pierce obituary, Anderson Herald-Bulletin, Anderson, Indiana, 24 August 1991.
2. 1940 U.S. census, Madison County, Indiana, population schedule, Monroe Township, enumeration district 48-58, SD 11, sheet 8B, dwelling 166, digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 December 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
3. William Pierce household, 1930 U.S. census, population schedule, Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 48-45, SD 5, sheet 13B, dwelling 321, family 327; National Archives micropublication T626.
4. Herman Pierce household, 1930 U.S. census, population schedule, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 48-39, SD 5, sheet 10B, dwelling 239, family 239; National Archives micropublication T626. 
5. William F. Pierce household, 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 119, SD 8, sheet 6A, dwelling 127, household 129; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 449.
6. "U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 December 2013); citing National Archives and Records Administration.


This post was developed as part of the series relating to Building My 2011 Research Template, an attempt to systematically document and source the details of my ancestors' lives. Comments regarding this template and the conclusions drawn in this article are welcomed.

William F. Pierce household - Madison Co., IN

The family of William Francis PIERCE appears in the 1900-1920 census of Madison Co., IN. William was my maternal 2nd-great grandfather, the son of Edmund G. and Catherine (GROENENDYKE) PIERCE.

In the 1900 census of Monroe Twp., William is 35 year old farmer, married for 8 years, who can read and write. He was born in Indiana, as well as both of his parents. Wife Clara is the mother of 5 children, 3 of whom were living, and she was aged 31 years. Children in the household included : John H., age 4; Muriel, age 3; and Edward, aged 3 months.

In the 1910 census of Lafayette Twp., William a 45 year old farmer, married for 1 year to his second wife. Wife Vida, aged 23, born in Kentucky, had been married for 1 year and was the mother of 1 child. Children in the household included : Herman, aged 14; Merle, aged 12; Lillian; aged 8; and Nehersta; aged 4 months.

In the 1920 census of Lafayette Twp., William was a 53 year old farmer, and wife Vida was aged 32 years old. Also living in the household was widowed son J. Herman, aged 24 who worked on the farm; Lillian, aged 17 who worked as a bookkeeper; Nehersta, aged 10; McClellan, aged 6; Cloyd, aged 4 7/12 years; and Charles aged 2 5/12 years.

William Francis PIERCE b. July 10, 1865 Frankton, Madison Co., IN., d. September 21, 1950 Alexandria, Madison Co., IN., m. January 14, 1892 Madison Co., IN to Clara PENNISTEN, daughter of John and Jane (ALDERMAN) PENNISTEN; m(2) March 4, 1909 Madison Co., IN to Vida MADDOX, daughter of Charles W. and Sarah (POWELL) MADDOX. Clara b. March 1869 Madison Co., IN., d. September 26, 1906 Madison Co., IN; Vida b. October 6, 1886 Owingsville, KY, d. November 19, 1968 Alexandria, Madison Co., IN.

Children of William Francis and Clara (PENNISTEN) PIERCE are as follows :
i. [______] PIERCE b. after 1892, d. before 1900 census
ii. [_______] PIERCE b. after 1892, d. before 1900 census
iii. John Herman PIERCE b. July 1895 Madison Co., IN., d. 1959; m. Charlotte Elva HENSLEY, m(2) Charlotte FERGUSON
iv. Edna Muriel PIERCE b. February 7, 1897 Madison Co., IN, d. March 3, 1968 Madison Co., IN., m. Virgil Lee WRIGHT
v. Edward E. PIERCE b. March 1900 Madison Co., IN., d. December 23, 1900 Madison Co., IN.
vi. Lillian PIERCE b. September 12, 1902 Madison Co., IN., d. 1921 Madison Co., IN.
vii. [______] PIERCE b. October 8, 1904 Madison Co., IN., d. before 1910 census

Children of William Francis and Vida (MADDOX) PIERCE are as follows :
i. Nehersta PIERCE b. January 4, 1910 Madison Co., IN., d. September 2, 1979 Los Angeles, CA., m. Howard Hyde ROBERTS
ii. William McClellan PIERCE b. March 17, 1913 Madison Co., IN., d. November 24, 1978 Anderson, Madison Co., IN, m. Geneva Ruth ALDRIDGE
iii. Cloyd J. PIERCE b. May 22, 1916 Madison Co., IN, d. 1962, m. Anna M. [______]
iv. Charles D. PIERCE b. July 2, 1918 Madison Co., IN, d. August 23, 1991 Alexandria, Madison Co., IN., m. Nancy L. STEPHENS
v. Robert F. PIERCE b. April 21, 1923 Madison Co., IN.
vi. Powell Edmund PIERCE b. March 16, 1925 Madison Co., IN
vii. James F. PIERCE b. 1931 Madison Co., IN.