The Pearson Families of Washington County, Iowa

JESSE PEARSON, farmer and stock-raiser, section 33, Oregon Township, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Allegheny County, April 17, 1825, where his ancestors settled in 1796, coming from Essex County, Mass. His f.other, himself and his oldest son, were all born In the same house, and in which his father died. Jesse, of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and has made farming his life-long business. He was married in Allegheny County, Pa., Oct. 11, 18-17, to Miss Mary J. Frew, who was born in the same county in 1827. They have had seven children, four of whom are now living: John H., Postmaster, and editor of the Ainsworth Clipper; Mary R. is the wife of J. B. McCoy, and they have four children: Jesse H., Mary E., Charles and Henry H.; Samuel C, who resides in this township, married Mattie Colthurst, and Emma J. is the wife of 1). H. Miller; they reside with Mr. Pearson. The deceased are William F., Charles K. and Henry H. In 1855 Mr. Pearson turned his face westward, and with his family moved to Iowa and settled in Dubuque County, where they remained until Sept. 5, 1856, when they came to this county and located on his present homestead, which consists of 160 acres of fine land, under the best cultivation, and on which is one of the finest residences in the township). The family lived in the house which wilson the place when purchased, went'-one years to a day, and on reaching its majority, '-moved out

" of the old house into the new." Mr. Pearson's ancestry for several generations back were Yankees, while his wife was of Irish descent.

The life of Mr. Pearson affords another example of what may be acquired by a young man in this country. Starting in life with but limited means, he went to work, and with a determination to do, has by the lalior of his own hands, assisted by his wife, nc(haired CDiisiderable property, and is to-day one of the leading and intlnential citizens of Oregon Township. Politically, he is independent, voting for the best men regardless of party. Religiously he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which body his wife is also a member. A resident of the county for almost a third of a cently, he is well known and universally respected by all who know him.

\*j AVID (t. LETTS, deceased, was for many j'ears a resident of Iligliland Township. He was a native of Illinois, lion Dec. 1 9, 1843, and was the son of Nehemiah Letts, and of German descent. His mother's maiden name was Graves. They were among the early settlers of Louisa County, Iowa, where they were well know'n, and where the mother died in 1850. The father is yet living at a ripe old age.

David G. Letts was reared upon a farm, and followed the occupation of a farmer through life, but unlike many farmers' sons, his educational advantages were superior, having for some time the privilege of attending one of the colleges at Galesburg, Ill. When the war for the Union was at its height, when men were urgently needed to put down the most gigantic rebellion of modern times, a rebellion that was really without excuse, young Letts offered his services to the General Government and became a member of the 4oth Iowa Infantry, and did his duty manfully and well. The war being ended, he returned to his home in Louisa County, and once more resumed the peaceful vocation of a farmer, a branch of business which he especially seemed fitted for by nature as well as by training.

In 180G our subject came to Washington County and purchased 640 acres of land and located upon section 31. For five years he continued to run the farm without a "helpmeet," and then, on the 12th of September, 1871, he was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Dickinson, a native of Muscatine County, Iowa, and daughter of O. and Miranda (Gale) Dickinson, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts, but who came to Muscatine County at an early day. Her father is yet living at the age of seventy-five, while her mother died in March, 1887, at the age of seventy-four. The were married in 1826, and in September, 1876, celebrated their golden wedding, at which time they received the congratulations of a host of friends, and received a number of valuable presents, as a reminder that the golden period of their wedded life had commenced and that all thereby expressed the wish that their love one for the other should be as precious as gold.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN H. PEARSON.

John H. Pearson is pre-eminently a man of affairs and one who has wielded a wide influence in business circles. In all that he undertakes he displays an aptitude for successful management and his energy, perseverance and enterprise have carried him into important relations with commercial, industrial and agricultural interests. He is now the owner of valuable farming property and of a splendidly equipped printing establishment.

Mr. Pearson was born near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, March 31. 1849, and is a son of Jesse and Mary (Frew) Pearson. The Pearsons are of an old New England family of English origin and the first representative of the name settled in Massachuesetts two hundred years ago. The father's birth occurred in the same house in which John H. Pearson first opened his eyes to the light of day and although it was then situated outside the corporation limits of Pittsburg, it is now a part of the city. In April. 1855, Jesse Pearson arrived in Iowa, making the journey by steamboat. He first located in Jackson county, where he remained for a year and a half and then on the 15th of September, 1856, located on a farm southwest of Ainsworth in Washington county. With characteristic energy he began the development of the fields, plowed, planted and cultivated his land and year after year.gathered abundant harvests as he carried on his farm work, remaining on the old homestead until about ten years prior to his death. He then removed to Ainsworth, where his last days were passed, his demise occurring in October, 1905, at which time his remains were laid to rest in the Ainsworth cemetery. In his business affairs he had always been regarded as a reliable, substantial man whose integrity was above question. He had been reared in the faith of the republican party but later became a democrat. An earnest Christian gentleman, he held membership in the Presbyterian church until about six years prior to his demise, when he joined the Methodist church. He took a great interest in church work, gave liberally of his means to the suppKjrt of the cause of Christianity and did all in his power to further its influence. His wife was also born in the vicinity of Pitts'burg. Pennsylvania, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. Her death occurred about 1899. In their family were seven children: John H., of this review; Mary, the wife of J. B. McCoy, of Crawfordsville; William, who died at the age of nine years: Calvin S., a farmer of Oregon township; Charles, who died when two years of age; one who died in infancy: and Emma, the wife of David Miller, a farmer living near Washington, Iowa.

John H. Pearson was educated in the common schools and in the Ainsworth high school, in which he spent one term. He had been trained to habits of industry, thrift and enterprise during the period of his boyhood and after he put aside his text-books he started a seed and fruit farm about two and a half miles southwest of Ainsworth. There he remained for ten years, winning success through the careful conduct of his business affairs, after which he turned his attention to journalistic interests by establishing the Ainsworth Clapper on his farm with an outfit which he possessed. After seven years he removed the paper to Ainsworth and has made it one of the leading country newspapers of this part of the state and has a splendidly equipped office, including a fine linotype machine of the latest model and all modern appliances for the careful and successful conduct of a newspaper business at the present time. The paper has secured a large circulation list and he also does considerable job printing. In addition to his journalistic interests Mr. Pearson is the owner of a valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres under a high state of cultivation. He likewise has many other substantial investments which return to him a most gratifying income. No higher testimonial of the confidence and trust reposed in him could be given than the fact that he has been chosen guardian for twenty-three children. He transacts a large amount of business for others and also conducts a real estate and collection agency and an abstract business. He likewise does considerable legal work, and while thus controlling extensive business affairs, at the same time he takes an active and helpful part in measures relative to the welfare of town and county as a public-spirited and progressive citizen.

On the 29th of December, 1871, Mr. Pearson was married to Miss Nancy Ellen Utterback. Her mother bore the maiden name of Bryan and was a relative of W. J. Bryan. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pearson have been born seven children: Charles, who has passed away; Mary, the wife of J. S. Hartwick, of Davenport, Iowa, who is head bookkeeper for the Rothschild Grain Company; William and Emma, who have passed away; John Harry, who married Miss Quince Hartwick and is living on the home farm: Madge, who is with her parents; and one who died in infancy.

In his political affiliation Mr. Pearson is a democrat and in 1887 was appointed under President Cleveland to the office of postmaster but was relieved when President McKinley was elected. He is now mayor of Ainsworth and to the discharge of his duties brings the same spirit of enterprise which characterizes his private business affairs. He seeks the good of the community through restrictive and constructive legislation and favors every movement that tends to benefit the community. He is a member of Orient

Lodge, No. 365, A. F. & A. M., and his religious faith is indicated in his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. In every relation of life he has put forth persistent effort that has resulted in the attainment of his purpose and he stands today among those whose successful leadership in business affairs well entitles him to be numbered among the captains of industry.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

SAMUEL C. PEARSON, who resides on section 34, Oregon Township, engaged in farming and stock-raising, is a native of Wasiiington County, born May 29, 18.57. He is the son of.Tesse and Mary J. (Frew) Pearson, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. He was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the district schools of Washington County. Bred to the life of a farmer, he h.as continued in that occupation till the present time, and is now the owner of 212 acres of land which is well-improved in every respect, and which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. His

A. TURBOTT is a farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 28, Oregon Township, lie is a n.ative of Ohit), born in Harrison County in 1841, and is the son of Peter and Margaret (Sands) Turbott, both natives of Ohio, the former of.Scotch- Irish, and the latter of.Scotch-English descent. They emigrated to this county in 1864 and settled in.jackson Township, where the father died in 188(' at the age of seventy-six years. The mother is still residing in J.jackson Township. They reared a family of nine children, eight of whom are still living in this county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HON. ABRAM PEARSON.

Making the best possible use of his talents and opportunities, Hon. Abram Pearson has not only become a successful man in business, but is regarded as a citizen of wide influence in the community and county in which he resides, having served two terms as a member of the legislature. Mr. Pearson was born near Kansas City, Kansas, July 15, 1837, a son of Moses and Sarah Pearson, who were natives of South Carolina, whence they removed to Miami county, Ohio. Both were of English origin. In their family were eight children, all born in Miami county, Ohio, with exception of our subject. They were Mahala J., the wife of Eli Jay, of Richmond, Indiana; Timothy, deceased; Anna, the wife of Robert L. Kelly, of Richmond, Indiana; Joshua, a resident of Laura, Ohio; Nathan, who enlisted for three years as a member of Company D, Forty-fourth Ohio Regiment and died in the service; Rhoda and Serepta, both deceased; and Abram, of this review. In 1835 Moses Pearson and Henry Harvey were sent out by the Society of Friends, to which they belonged, to establish schools among the Indians in Indian Territory, where the Methodists and Baptists had established similar institutions. These gentlemen took their families with them and maintained their schools for three years, although their were the only white families in the neighborhood. In 1838 the Pearson family returned to Miami county, Ohio, locating on the home farm near West Milton, where the parents of our subject continued to reside until their death. Mr. Pearson was a great favorite with the Indians and two of their celebrated chiefs paid him a visit at his Ohio home several years after his return.

Abram Pearson was reared to maturity under the parental roof, during which time he began his early education in the common schools of the neighborhood, this knowledge being supplemented by two years' study in Antioch College, at Yellow Springs, Ohio. After completing his education, he engaged in teaching, following the profession with success until the time of his marriage in 1862, when he wedded Miss Julia Applegate, a daughter of Elias and Emma (Dehart) Applegate, both of whom were natives of New Jersey.

Subsequent to his marriage Mr. Pearson continued teaching for two years and then removed to Kokomo, Indiana, where he spent one year, while the year 1865 witnessed his arrival in Washington county, Iowa. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Highland township but after a year disposed of that tract and invested his money in the farm on which he now resides, this place comprising four hundred and eighty acres, situated in Jackson township. This farm has been brought to its present state of fertility through the efforts of Mr. Pearson, who has spent many years of earnest effort in cultivating the land, while he has also placed substantial buildings on the place and now has one of the most valuable farms in Washington county. He has always made a specialty of raising and feeding stock and has met with very desirable success.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Pearson was blessed with seven children: Lysander, who is deceased; E. Grant; Nathan Colfax; Anna, the wife of C. E. Brown, of Jackson township; Howard, deceased; Clara Myrtle, who after graduating from the Washington schools engaged in teaching five years and is now at home; and A. P., who is a student of the State Agricultural College, at Ames, Iowa. The wife and mother departed this life May 4, 1906, her remains being interred in Elm Grove cemetery at Washington.

Mr. Pearson is a member of the Presbyterian church and in his political views is a republican and is recognized as one of the local leaders of the party. He served two years, from 1879 until 1881, as a member of the legislature, showing himself qualified to fill the office to the satisfaction of the people whom he represented. He also served continuously for thirty-five years on the school board, during which time he gave efficient service. While giving much of his time to public interests, Mr. Pearson has gained creditable success, being the owner of a valuable farm of four hundred and eighty acres, one of the best in Washington county.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.