John Pierson

As printed in 1902

JOHN PIERSON.

John Pierson, who was connected with farming interests for many years, and whose life record indicated the possibilities which lie before young men in America, was a native of Yorkshire, England, his birth occurring in that country between York and Leeds, on the 21st of July, 1823. Upon a farm he was reared. His parents were John and Mary Pierson, who spent their entire lives in England where the father followed the occupation of farming. Thus the son early became familiar with the work of tilling the fields and caring for the crops, and in the schools of his home neighborhood he acquired his education.

Like most young men starting out on life's journey, Mr. Pierson desired a companion to walk with him and at the age of twenty-two years he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Burnley, who was born March 26, 1826, two miles from her husband's birthplace. She was a daughter of John and Hannah (Burt) Burnley, of Lincolnshire, England, who with their family of several children sailed from England for Australia when Mrs. Pierson was but five years of age. Her mother, an aunt and a sister of Mrs. Pierson all died on shipboard and after a few years the father returned to England. He died at Weathersby, in that country, several years after Mrs. Pierson came to America.

A year after their marriage our subject and his wife decided to come to America and thus about 1846 they sailed for the new world, hoping to enjoy better business opportunities in the new world. Making their way across the country to Clark county, Ohio, they settled upon a tract of land in the southeastern part of Springfield township, where they lived for four years, and on the expiration of that period they removed to Iroquois county, Illinois, but after four years they returned to Ohio and Mr. Pierson purchased eighty acres of land in Springfield township. There he lived for twenty years, developing his farm into a very productive tract, which returned to him a good profit. When two decades had passed he removed to a home on High street, just east of the corporation limit of the city of Springfield, making it his place of residence until his death. He was unusually ambitious and energetic, was industrious and frugal and by the exercise of economy and unflagging industry, together with the assistance of his estimable wife, he accumulated a good competency, although he started out in life with very little capital. A public-spirited man, he was interested in everything pertaining to the general good and aided in making many of the early improvements of the county, including the building of the Charleston pike and the London railroad. At the time of Mrs. Pierson's death she owned over thirteen hundred acres of farm property in this county.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pierson were born nine children. William B., the eldest, died at the age of sixteen years. John died in early childhood. George Edward reached maturity, was married and at his death, which occurred in 1889, when he was thirty-seven years of age, he left four children. Eliza became the wife of Francis Sultzbaugh and resides on South Fountain avenue in Springfield. She has three children: Mary Ellen, the wife of Murray Ramsey, by whom she has a son, Robert Pierson; James Francis; and John. All three reside with their mother. James, the next member of the Pierson family, resides upon the farm upon which the father spent his last days. He married Miss Mussleman, and they have one child, Daisy, at home. Mary is the wife of Joseph Hinkle, and they have one son, Clarence. Martha Ann is the wife of William H. Snyder, and they have two children, Vera and Derothy E. William J. died at the age of six years, and another member of the Pierson family died in infancy.

The father passed away March 6, 1889, and the mother died August 1, 1892, the remains of both being interred in Ferncliff cemetery. Mrs. Pierson was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and both were people of the highest respectability. With courageous hearts and strong determination they came to America, and though they had little means they made the most of their opportunities and as the years passed prosperity attended They were worthy and esteemed citizens of their community and England thus furnished to America two representatives of value to the new world.

them.

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.