Charlie W. Pierce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles William "Charlie" Pierce
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| Born | July 16, 1864 Waukegan, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | July 10, 1939 (aged 74) Boynton, Florida |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery |
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| Nationality | American |
| Period | 1900–1939 |
| Genre | History |
| Notable works | Pioneer Life in South Florida, 1970 |
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Charles William "Charlie" Pierce (born July 16, 1864 – died July 10, 1939) was a very important pioneer in South Florida. He arrived in 1872 and became a leader in many areas. He helped with banking, was a boat captain, worked for the postal service, and wrote an important book about early life in South Florida.
Contents
Early Life in Florida
Charlie Pierce was the son of Hannibal Dillingham Pierce and Margretta Louise Moore. He was born in Waukegan, Illinois. His family moved to Chicago. Charlie's uncle, William H. Moore, told the family about Florida's warm weather. He thought it would help his illness, tuberculosis, which affects the lungs.
Hannibal Pierce bought a boat called the Fairy Belle. The family planned to sail it down the Mississippi River to Florida. Just before they left, the Great Chicago Fire burned much of Chicago. Luckily, their boat was safe. The family sailed to Cedar Key, Florida. Hannibal Pierce then sold the boat. The family traveled by train and steamer to Sand Point, which is now Titusville, Florida.
They camped for a few weeks on the Indian River. A fire then destroyed their belongings. Hannibal Pierce took a job as an assistant lighthouse keeper at the Jupiter Lighthouse.
Life as a Pioneer
After working at the Jupiter Lighthouse for a year, Hannibal Pierce claimed a large piece of land. This land was on an island in the Lake Worth Lagoon. Today, this island is called Hypoluxo Island. When they first claimed the land, it had no name. Hannibal Pierce learned from the Seminole Indians that "Hypoluxo" meant "water all around, no get out."
The family built a house there using driftwood and palmetto leaves. Hannibal Pierce later became the keeper of the Orange Grove House of Refuge. This was in what is now Delray Beach, Florida. The U.S. government built five Houses of Refuge in Florida. These were safe places for sailors whose ships had crashed.
Lillie Pierce (Lillie Pierce Voss) was the first child born there whose family was from Europe. She was born in 1876. The Pierce family later returned to their Hypoluxo Island home. Charlie Pierce led many trips into the Everglades. He explored and hunted there. He was one of the first people to explore what is now Everglades National Park.
In 1885, Charlie Pierce went on a hunting trip with his friend Guy Bradley. They hunted birds for their feathers, called plumes. These plumes were used to decorate women's hats. Egret plumes were very valuable, worth more than gold.
Charlie's Career
Charlie Pierce started guiding boats through the inland waterways to Titusville, Florida. Titusville was a main trading spot on Florida's lower east coast. In 1886, Charlie joined the U.S. Postal Service. He started as an assistant postmaster in Hypoluxo.
In 1888, he became one of the famous "Barefoot Mailmen." This was a term he first used in 1939. These mailmen walked the beaches and crossed rivers between Hypoluxo and Miami. This trip was over 60 miles (97 km) long.
In 1893, Pierce became the captain of the mail steamer "Hypoluxo." This boat delivered mail through the Lake Worth area. It traveled along 22 miles (35 km) of the inland waterway. Pierce also farmed land on Hypoluxo Island.
In 1895, Pierce moved to Boynton, Florida. He opened a dry goods store near the Florida East Coast railway station. He also served as the town postmaster in his store. He was a postmaster for more than 30 years. He served from 1900 to 1903, and then from 1908 until he passed away in 1939. Pierce also served as president of the Bank of Boynton. He was one of the first leaders of the Masonic Lodge in Boynton Beach.
Family Life
Charlie Pierce married Yallahs Lizette Wallack on February 26, 1896. They were married in Lemon City, Florida, north of Miami. They had one son, Charles Leon "Chuck" Pierce. Chuck was the first boy born in Boynton Beach whose family was from Europe. Yallahs Pierce passed away on February 14, 1922. Charlie then married Ethel Sims on August 16, 1924.
Charlie Pierce passed away on July 10, 1939, after a short illness. Charlie and Yallahs are buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach, Florida.
His Book
Towards the end of his life, Charlie Pierce wrote about his adventures. His 698-page book was called "On the Wings of the World." It was not published for many years. In the 1960s, Judge James R. Knott, a historian, helped get the book published. Dr. Donald Walter Curl, a history professor, added more historical details. The book was then published as "Pioneer Life in South Florida." It is known as an important book about early South Florida history.
Special Recognition
In 1981, the Florida Department of State started the Great Floridians program. This program honors people who made important contributions to Florida's history and culture. Charles Pierce is one of 89 Floridians given this honor. His plaque is at the Oyer Building in Boynton Beach, Florida. This building was once the old Boynton Beach Post Office.
Children's Books
In 2008, Charlie Pierce's great-grand nephew, Harvey Oyer III, wrote a children's book. It was based on Charlie Pierce's early adventures in Florida. The book, The American Jungle: The Adventures of Charlie Pierce, became popular in many Florida schools. Florida history is an important part of the fourth-grade lessons there. Because the first book was so popular, more books were written in the series. These include The Last Egret, The Last Calusa, and The Barefoot Mailman.
