Cascade Community Cemetery - Charles Pierce

The shocking and tragic murder of Charles Pierce, a respected farmer and blacksmith, shook the Cascade community to its core in October 1932. Charles Pierce, born on April 4, 1865, in Marble Rock, Iowa, was a man known for his industriousness and dedication to his family. After marrying Mary Lebow in 1887, he moved to Cascade, where he ran a blacksmith shop for many years before purchasing a farm six miles southeast of town.

The fateful day began like any other. Charles, his wife, Mary, and their son, Charles Jr., had gone into Cascade to shop for groceries. They returned home around 5:45 p.m., but upon entering the house, they were confronted by an intruder. Somehow, this man had gained entry into the locked home, possibly hiding in the barn for days prior.

As Mary Pierce unlocked the kitchen door, the assailant struck her on the head with the butt of his pistol, leaving her unconscious. He tied her hands and feet before confronting Charles Jr., who managed to flee to the barnyard to summon help. Hearing the commotion, Charles Pierce rushed into the house, only to be attacked by the intruder. He was struck with the pistol and then shot three times—twice below the heart and once in the neck. Pierce collapsed over a chair, succumbing to his injuries instantly.

After the murder, the intruder changed into a suit belonging to Charles Jr., took two shotguns, a revolver, and ammunition, and fled the scene, leaving behind bloody footprints throughout the house and leading out the kitchen door. Strangely, no money or valuables were taken, even though Pierce carried a substantial sum in banknotes.

Young Charles and a hired hand cut Mary loose, and despite her injuries, she managed to seek help from a neighbor. Bloodhounds were brought in to track the killer, but no trace of him was ever found. Authorities were left with unanswered questions: How had the intruder entered the house? How long had he been hiding there? And why did he commit such a senseless act?

Charles Pierce's murder left an indelible mark on the Cascade community. His funeral, held at the Consolidated Church, was one of the largest the town had ever seen. Charles was laid to rest in the Protestant Cemetery, mourned by his wife, son, daughter Iva, and many siblings.

The crime remains unsolved to this day, a dark chapter in Cascade’s history that serves as a reminder of the fragility of life, even in a close-knit community. Charles Pierce’s legacy endures through his contributions as a farmer, blacksmith, and devoted family man.