John H. Pearson

As printed in 1909

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 History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.