My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS MAY PEIRCE, deceased, the founder of Peirce School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for many years an eminent and successful teacher of commercial and general business knowledge, was born December 10, 1837, in Chester, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, a son of Caleb Peirce, who removed to the city of Philadelphia after spending some years as a teacher in Chester and Delaware counties. He was prominently identified with public affairs. The family is of English ancestry, George Peirce, the founder of the American branch, having come to Pennsylvania in 1682, with William Penn, taking up a tract of land, which he named Thornbury, in remembrance of the birthplace of his bride. It was then in Chester county, but since the division of the county it forms Thornbury township, Delaware county. He was the father of a number of children, and among his descendants in the direct line was a great-great-grandson, Caleb Peirce, the father of Thomas May Peirce.

Thomas May Peirce was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia, graduating from the Boys’ Central High School of that city. From the age of sixteen years until he attained manhood he traveled extensively, greatly adding to his store of knowledge. When he was twenty years of age he was appointed teacher of a public school in Springfield township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. At the end of the year he was elected to the principalship of the Norristown public school, and during the following seven years filled similar positions in Manayunk, and in the Mt. Vernon grammar school and the Monroe grammar school in Philadelphia. He had the reputation of preparing more students for the Central High School than any other grammar-school principal. In 1865, perceiving the need of a school to give special training for business, he established the Peirce Business School, in the Handel and Haydn Hall, at the corner of Eighth and Spring Garden streets, Philadelphia. Over 550 students were enrolled during the first year, and the growth of the school soon rendered it necessary to remove to larger quarters at the corner of Tenth and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia. In 1882 the school was moved to its present home in the Record Building, which had just been completed. The school has increased steadily in magnitude and importance, and at the present time (1904) more than 1,800 pupils are annually enrolled. The reports of the United States Commissioner of Education show that Peirce School is the largest private school in the United States.

After the death of Doctor Peirce, May 16, 1896, the principalship was assumed by his widow, who conducted it with success, and on her death the principalship was taken up by his daughter, Miss Mary B. Peirce, a lady of rare business attainments, who has conducted the school with marked success up to the present time.

Thomas May Peirce was a man of wide and varied attainments. He served very successfully as bank examiner for a number of years, his knowledge as an accountant being of great value in that position. He had also a wide reputation as an expert in handwriting, and was frequently called upon to give experienced testimony in will contests and other cases in which it was necessary to establish the identity of signatures. He received large fees for services of this character, and his great skill and correct judgment proved equal to any and every emergency. In 1879 he was elected president of the Business Educators’ Association of America, and held that position for many years. He also served as a director of the Fairmount Park Art Association for many years. In 1875 he introduced into many churches and schools the spelling bee exercises, which proved so successful and profitable in many communities. He was a public speaker of considerable ability and the author of many text-books on general business subjects, known as the “Peirce Manuals.” As an after-dinner speaker and toastmaster he had few equals. In religious faith he was a Methodist, active and prominent in church work, and in 1887 he was licensed to preach by the Philadelphia Methodist Episcopal Conference, but did not accept the orders, feeling that he could do better service as a layman.

Doctor Peirce married, December 25, 1861, Miss Emma L. Bisbing, daughter of Robert and Mary H. Bisbing, of Springfield township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Their children were: Mary B., now principal of Peirce School; Eda May; Phoebe (died in infancy); Anna Margaret (died in infancy), and Blanche T. (died when twenty-one years of age). Mrs. Peirce died in 1870. On October 14, 1871, Doctor Peirce married Miss Ruth Anna Stong, daughter of William and Maria Stong, of Chester county, Pennsylvania; she died in 1898, two years after the death of her husband. Their children are: Ruth, Thomas May, Jr., Sallie (died in infancy); Caleb C.

Doctor Peirce was highly esteemed by an unusually large circle of acquaintances, and his death, of Bright’s disease, May 16, 1896, was a shock to his many friends. Thousands attended the funeral services, anxious to take a last look at him whom they had known and loved for his many excellent qualities of mind and heart.