Jesse Pearson

As printed in 1887

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" 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.

Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson were the parents of seven children, all of whom are yet living, as follows: Julia P., the wife of Joseph Boiler, now living at Walnut, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa, engaged in the real-estate business; Levi, a farmer, now living in Danbury, Iowa; Ocran, proprietor of the New London Hotel, New London, Iowa; Abbie M., the wife of William Lucas, a farmer, of Monmouth, Kan.; Maria L., the wife of Charles VVilson, a retired farmer, of Marcus, Iowa; Hannah, the widow of our subject; and Frank, the wife of Albert Sheldon, a farmer of Cowley County, Kan. Mr. Dickinson was of French descent. In early life he learned the trade of a harness-maker, but later those the occupation of a farmer, in which he was quite successful. Mrs. Dickinson was for many years a member of the Congregational Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Letts the following children were born, namely: Madison L., Freddie D., Clarence F., Emma F., Ernest G. and Gladys G., all of whom are residing at home.

In his farm work Mr. Letts was eminently successful, and at the time of his death, which occurred May 16, 1884, he was the owner i.if 1,000 acres of as fine land as can be found in Washington County, all of which he had highly improved. For some years he had made a specialty of stock raising and shipping, in which lines he was likewise suceessfid.

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Mrs. Letts is still carrying on the large farm, and, like her late husband, has good executive abilities, and, under her management, the"farm is highly remunerative, every' detail being carcfullj considered, and no part left to look after itself. Few farms present a neater or more attractive appearance. Religiously, she is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Washington County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and (1887). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.