businesswoman, lawyer, b. St. Albans, Vt. She moved with her parents to Wisconsin in 1853, settling in Fond du Lac. She graduated from Fond du Lac high school (1862), taught school briefly, and in 1866 married Colwer Kendall Pier of Fond du Lac. On her father's death in 1871 she was persuaded to manage his estate, and thus began an active business career in real estate. When the Piers' eldest daughter, also named Kate, left Fond du Lac to attend the Univ. of Wisconsin, Mrs. Pier accompanied her to Madison, enrolled in the University, and in 1887 both mother and daughter graduated from the Law School. Returning to Fond du Lac, they set up a law practice, continued the real estate business, and in 1888 moved to Milwaukee. In 1891 two other daughters, Caroline and Harriet, also graduated from the Univ. Law School, and joined their family in the Milwaukee law practice. In 1891 Mrs. Pier was appointed circuit court commissioner, the first woman lawyer in the state to hold that position. She continued to practice law in Milwaukee for several years, although her husband died in 1895, but in the 1920's retired because of her health and returned to Fond du Lac, where she resided until her death. Proc. State Bar. Assoc. Wis., 16 (1926), p. 42; J. R. Berryman, ed., Bench and Bar of Wis. (2 vols., Chicago, 1898); R. G. Thwaites, ed., Univ. of Wis. (Madison, 1900); Fond du Lac Daily Reporter, June 23, 1925.

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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]