He received a common school education until age 12, when his father moved the family to rural Ripton, Vermont, for work.

[1] At this time, there was no road through the area other than the indian trails, and they traveled over the frozen Lake Winnebago for a portion of the journey.

[2] After returning to Green Bay, they met with the directors of the Fond du Lac Company and each of the Pier men agreed to purchase adjoining portions of the Fond du Lac land, with an option to extend their purchases for other members of their family if they joined them in Wisconsin.

[2] Colwert returned to their land in the Summer of 1836 and remained there to look after the family's claim, opening the Fond du Lac House inn and tavern, the first such building in the area.

On his return, his father commented that their mother would have to come join them, because "three of her children are here now and the rest of them will come, and they will never leave such a country as you and Colwert are in and go back to Vermont.

In the Winter, he attempted another trip to bring provisions to his brother, but while traveling over the frozen Lake Winnebago, he and a horse broke through the ice into the icy water.

The 1859 Wisconsin legislative manual incorrectly listed Pier as a Democrat, and the error has propagated to other sources that used that as a reference.

On his first arrival, Pier invested extensively in land in Fond du Lac County, and sold off parcels over time, earning significant profit.

Their twins, Colwert and Carrie, are considered the first white children born in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.