Byron Root Pierce was born 20 Sep 1829 and died 10 Jul 1924. He is buried in Fulton Street Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

He was a Civil War Union Brigadier General. Originally the commander of the 3^rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded five times during the war, one time in the battle of Gettysburg.

The "Old Third" under the command of Col. Daniel McConnell was mustered at Grand Rapids 10 Jun 1861, and left the State for the Potomac 13 June 1861.  Major Stephen G. Champlin, one of the officers.  They saw action at Blackburn's Ford.  Col. McConnell having resigned, it went into the campaign of 1862 under the command of Col. S. G. Champlin.  It fought at Williamsburg, May 5, at Fair Oaks, May 30, at Charles City Cross Roads, June 30 and on July 1 at Malvern Hill.  Its most severe losses were at Fair Oaks - 30 killed, 124 wounded and 15 missing, including Capt. Samuel A. Judd killed, and Col. Champlin wounded.  They also fought at the second battle of Bull Run, losing heavily, and at Chantilly.  After the disablement of Col. Champlin, the regiment was under the command of Col. Byron R. Pierce, until his promotion to the office of Brigadier General.  Under his command it was engaged at Chancellorsville, and afterward at Gettysburg.

At the fourth reunion of the "Old Third" Veterans, held at Sweet's Hotel, 11 December 1874, there was a very large attendance, filling the halls.  General B. R. Pierce was elected president.

On 16 and 17 September 1884 the Society of the Army of the Cumberland held its reunion in Grand Rapids.  On the same occasion were reunions of the Mexican War Veterans, the Sons of Veterans, the Old Third Infantry, the Fourteenth and the Twenty-first Infantry, and the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics.  An address of welcome was made by Governor Russell A. Alger, to which General Philip H. Sheridan responded, and other orations were delivered.
On the same occasion the ceremony of the unveiling of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument on the triangular Park by the head of Monroe street, took place, at which the presentation address was made by the Hon. Thomas D. Gilbert, the acceptance by Gen. Byron R. Pierce, and the oration by the Hon. Charles W. Watkins in behalf of the Grand Army of the Republic.
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Byron R. Pierce was an Officer of the Old Soldiers Home, 1887 - 1893 under the Board of Managers of the Home.
In 1859 in Grand Rapids there were five dentists.  Among them, B. R. Pierce.
The Wolverine Chair and Furniture Company was incorporated 10 March 1880.  Officers included Byron R. Pierce as Vice President.  The company was dissolved in February, 1887 and became Wolverine Chair Factory.

Transcriber: ES
Created: 22 Mar 2007
URL: http://kent.migenweb.net/biographies/famous    /pierceBR.html