Portrait of Frances Sophia Pierce was donated by Charles R. and Mrs. Elizabeth G. Pierce September 1938, son and daughter-in-law of John and Frances Pierce., Francis Sophia Moffett, born in Homer, New York in 1828 married John Pierce in 1856. They had three children, one survived the parents, Charles R. Pierce. Mrs. Francis Sophia Pierce died at home, 1318 California Street on January 18, 1914. She had been active in the Clio Club and Shakespeare Club in Denver. RMN Jan. 21, 1914, p. 8.
Pierce, Charles. "Some Childhood Rememberances of Early Denver , Sept. 23, 1920." MSS VII-156. Hart Library , John Pierce was born in Connecticut May 10, 1829 and moved with his family to Hudson, Ohio in 1834 where his father took up the position as president of Western Reserve. John graduated from Western Reserve in 1850 and then attended Lawrence Scientific School in Cambridge MA studying engineering for one year. He then worked on various railroads until 1855. In October 1856 he married Frances Sophia Moffett of Batavia, New York. In 1861 John came to Denver with his two younger brothers, George and William Henry, where they had a contract to do public surveys. In 1862 John's wife and son, Charles, arrived in Denver making their home at 1318 California Street. The following year John was appointed by President Lincoln surveyor general of Colorado and Utah. In 1867 Pierce and several other businessmen in Denver began the building of the Denver Pacific Railroad (DPRR). Pierce was the consulting engineer, later president of the DPRR and later land commissioner for the company. In 1869 the DPRR started laying track to Cheyenne to connect Denver with the Union Pacific Railroad. On November 8, 1869 a side track was laid and named Pierce after General John Pierce, the origin of the name of the town of Pierce, CO established in 1903 located on Highway 85 about four miles north of Ault, Colorado. Once finished with the DPRR, Pierce turned his attention to his other business interests, First National Bank and Union Bank of Denver. There are conflicting dates as to his death in the 1890s leaving his widow and son, Charles R. Pierce, secretary of Scott Supply and Tool Company.
"Colorado Subject Collection" Biographical Files, History CO Hart Library, Other items donated by Charles R. and Mrs. Elizabeth G. Pierce include a silver water pitcher and two silver goblets; documents of John Pierce's appointment as Surveyor General of Colorado and Utah, March 16, 1863, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, appointment as State Fish Commissioner of Colorado in 1885, and stock certificate of 10 shares of Colorado and California Wagon Road (H.1405).