In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1902) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1827
From A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902), The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881)
JOSEPH PEARSON, hotel and merchant, Catawba; son of William Pearson, a native of England, who came to America in the year 1832, and located in Catawba. At that time there were only two cabins here, Mr. Pearson erecting the third ou the site where the M. E. Church stands. When young he learned the carpenter and cabinet trades, serving seven years as apprentice. He followed his business in the town until death. Joseph was born Feb. 12, 1827, in England; came to America with his parents when small; was raised in Catawba. When 16 years old, he engaged in carrying the United States mail between LaFayette and Urbana, and also several other long routes for two years. He then went to Cincinnati, Ohio; was employed as clerk on a merchant boat that run from Cincinnati to New Orleans; was engaged in that business three years. After he began for himself, he learned the cooper trade, and worked at it twenty-three years in Catawba. When the late rebellion broke out, he enlisted in the 44th O. V. I. He held the office of Sergeant; re-enlisted in the 8th O. V. C. as veterans at Knoxville, Tenn. He was engaged in some of the hardest battles of the war. He was four times married; first, April 8, 1848, to Miss Nancy Golden. His second marriage occurred Jan. 30, 1849, to Miss Mary Pliner. From this union they had six children—Joseph W., F. B., Elizabeth J., George F. and Charles L. Mrs. P. died Dec. 10, 1862. Her death was caused by her clothes catching fire and burning her so severely that death soon followed. His third marriage was celebrated Feb. 11, 1864, with Mrs. Elizabeth A. Palmer. From this union they had two children—Ettie May and Elizabeth A. Mrs. Palmer had three children by her first marriage—Jonathan C., Charles and Laura E. Palmer. Mrs. Pearson died Dec. 24, 1868. Mr. Pearson was married the last time Sept. 30, 1869, to Miss Sarah E., daughter of Benjamin Porter. They have one child— Levi Thomas. Mr. Pearson embarked in the hotel and mercantile business in 1875. He is doing a good business in both branches of his occupation. He has held-several public offices, such as Trustee, Corporation Treasurer, Council, and member of the Republican
Central Committee fur the last nine years. He owns a nice farm a short distance north of Catawba, and also the hotel and business room in Catawba. —
As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOSEPH PEARSON.
Joseph Pearson is now living a retired life in Catawba. He is well known throughout the county, where he is called “Uncle Joe” by his many friends, and among his military acquaintances he goes by the title of “Sergeant. He was born in London, England, February 12, 1827. His father, William, Pearson, was also born there and was a cabinet maker and wagon maker by trade, serving an apprenticeship to both. He would walk twenty-one miles from his work each Saturday night in order to spend Sunday at home. Although a self-educated man, he became well informed, and reading kept him abreast with the topics of the times. In 1832 the family came to America and sought a home in Clark county, Ohio. They were of strong Methodist faith and came to the United States because of their favorable impression of the form of government. The father had carried on wagon making and cabinet making in his native country until 1832, when with his wife and children he
- crossed the Atlantic and, making his way westward, proceeded down the Ohio river, settling in Pleasant township. - His mother, who after her second marriage became Mrs. Elizabeth Inman, had come to Ohio at an early day and owned three hundred and twenty acres of land in Harmony township,
Clark county, where with the family she.
established a dairy farm. William Pearson conducted this farm for several years and assisted in caring for his mother, who reached the very advanced age of ninety years. Hers was one of the finest fruit farms in the county, as will be remembered by many of the old settlers. One of her sons, Martin Inman, who was formerly a merchant in Clark county, now lives in St. Louis.
After coming to America, William Pearson, the father of our subject, followed carpentering and cabinet making, and not only erected many of the old homes of the county, but also made the furniture with which they were equipped. He was well skilled in the use of swords and served as captain of a light horse company. He was likewise the strongest man in Clark county and at the general masters often gave exhibitions of his strength, as well as his skill as a swordsman. He married Elizabeth Lockhart, a daughter of Levi George Lockhart, who on _ one occasion was taken out to be hung because he preached the truth as he understood it. Two children were born unto William Pearson and his wife while in London, the eldest being Joseph, of this review. The younger, Henry, became a soldier of the Civil war and was killed below Vicksburg by the accidental discharge of a gun, when thirty-two years of age. After the arrival of the family in Ohio eight more children were added to the household: Maria, the widow of O. W. Davis, and a resident of Hardin county, Ohio; Elizabeth May, the deceased wife of Benjamin Golden, who is living in Catawba, Ohio; George, who was a soldier of the Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War and resides in Catawbai; Martha, of Findlay, Ohio, the widow of William
Shanks, who was a member of the Union army; Millie Ann, the wife of Edwin Gardner, station agent at Patterson, Clark county, and a veteran of the Civil war; Mary, the wife of John Young, a retired farmer of Hardin county, who was also one of the boys in blue in the war of the Rebellion; Thomas, who was a soldier of the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and is living retired in Catawba; and Samuel, who was a soldier of the Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and is now engaged in merchandising in Owatona, Kansas. The father of this family was a Republican in his political views, but never sought or desired office. A prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, he contributed liberally to church work and erected the Vernon and Pleasant Chapel churches. His house was the home of all the circuit riders in the early day and his hospitality was greatly enjoyed by other visitors to the locality.. He never accumulated a great amount of money because of his liberality, but he gained what is far better—the respect, confidence and friendship of those with whom he came in contact. He died in Catawba, in 1847 at the age of fifty-seven years, honored and esteemed by all who knew him. His widow afterward became the wife Edward Shanks and by this marriage there was one.son, David, who is now living in Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Shanks passed away in Catawba.
Like the other members of his father's household, Joseph Pearson was educated in the early common schools of Clark county. He was only five years of age when the family came to America, and being the eldest of the family his school privileges were somewhat limited, for his needed on the home farm.
services were
As a boy he
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.
The printed record stops around 1902. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.