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PIERSON, Martin E.,
Public Works Contractor.
Born in Sweden, but a resident within
the State of Connecticut since 1888, Mar-
tin E. Pierson has, in his capacity of chief
executive of the Pierson Engineering and
Construction Company, undertaken many
public works of importance for the State
and municipalities of Connecticut. Much
success has come to him, but only in pro-
portion to his efforts and ability.
Mr. Pierson was born in Helsingborg,
Sweden, on January 23, 1873, the son of
Per Pierson, who was superintendent of
a coal mine in that place, and a well-
respected and prosperous man in the
community. The son, Martin E., was
afforded such education as could be
obtained in the town, but when only four-
teen years of age had resolved to venture
alone across the sea to America, there to
enter upon a business career in the
hope of achieving personal success more
quickly, or in greater measure, than com-
mercial opportunities in his native land
gave promise. In the year 1888, Martin
E. Pierson arrived at Bristol, Connecti-
cut. There he has since remained, to his
material advantage, and because of his
works to the advantage of the town and
State. Handicapped at the outset by his
lack of knowledge of the English lan-
guage, he had to take minor capacities for
many years. After a period of service in
a factory, followed by labor in a saw mill,
he secured employment in a dry goods
establishment, and in 1896 entered the
employ of Charles R. Hart & Company,
of Hartford, with which firm he remained
until 1899, when he determined to ven-
ture into independent business, undertak-
ing public works contracts, although at
first he prudently undertook no large con-
tracts. His activities took shape in the
direction of street-paving and the build-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
228
ing of sidewalks, he having acquired
knowledge of this branch of contracting
work while serving as a member of the
street commission of Bristol. With
time came extensive knowledge of other
branches of the business, and ability to
accomplish satisfactorily small undertak-
ings brought larger ones, until eventually
Mr. Pierson's contracts became so exten-
sive and diversified as to necessitate in-
corporation. In 1907 the Pierson Engineering
and Construction Company came
into corporate existence, with Mr. Pier-
son as president. The company is wellknown
throughout New England, and is
engaged in work over that entire terri-
tory, covering the following phases:
Dams, water supply, sewage disposal,
piers, tunnels, railroads, wells, borings,
property development, municipal con-
struction, steel and reinforced concrete,
buildings, bridges, foundation, and piling.
It employs six hundred to eight hundred
men, a striking contrast to the dozen with
which Mr. Pierson made his first venture.
The company now is constructing the
Nepaug reservoir of the city of Hartford's
new waterworks. Other contracts undertaken
by the company have been : The
Bristol Water Works, several large dams
in that city, a dam for the city of Meri-
den, and one for New Britain. The sig-
nal ability of its president, Mr. Pierson,
has been the main factor in the growth of
the company.
A Republican of prominence in Bristol,
Mr. Pierson has on several occasions
accepted public office ; he served for six
years as a member of the Board of Burgesses
in Bristol, for a period serving on
the commission on streets. In 1913 his
ability in public office found recognition
in his election to the State Legislature, as
representative of the city of Bristol, and
in his subsequent advancement, in 1915,
to the State Senate, in the interests of the