PIERSON, Robert Harvey

PIERSON, TALLEY, FICKEL, LISLE, PARKER, SOWERS, WILSON, STURGEON, BUELLS, SUMMERS, WIATT, CLARK, BUCK, HORTON

Posted By: Jeffrey L Wiatt (email)
Date: 4/16/2006 at 16:21:06

The Malvern Leader 18 January 1923

The funeral services for Robert Pierson, mention of whose death was made in last week's Leader, were held from the Wesley Chapel Church Friday afternoon, January 12, at one o'clock.

It was one of the most largely attended funerals ever held there, people coming from nearly every point in the country, for Mr. Pierson was not only widely known but greatly respected and honored. The little church was too small to hold all who wished to come in.

The services were in charge of Dr. M. R. Talley, District Superintendent and a former pastor of the deceased, assisted by the local pastor, Rev. Mr. Horton.

A quartet; Mr. and Mrs. Ward Fickel, Mrs. June Fickel and H. H. Lisle sang. The floral offerings were extensive and beautiful, reflecting in a small measure the love and esteem felt for the deceased.

The remains were laid to rest in the beautiful Wesley Chapel cemetery whither they were attended by a guard of honor from the American Legion and G. A. R. Harry Hammons Post, A. L. conducting the services at the grave giving military honors to the departed.

The pall bearers were: George H. Parker, J. B. Fickel, G. B. Fickel, James Sowers, Elmer Sowers, George C. Wilson, Perry Wilson and M. S. Sturgeon.

The following obituary was read:

Obituary

Robert Harvey Pierson was born at Gallatin, Tenn., March 20, 1841, and died at his home near Henderson, Iowa, January 10, 1923 at the advanced age of 81 years, 9 months and 21 days.

He had always had a very robust constitution, but the last few years had been affected somewhat with paralysis; the last stroke coming some three weeks before his death. Due to his advanced age his system was not able to withstand this attack which, with other complications caused his death.

When he was eight years of age, his father and older brother went to the gold fields of California, where the father died leaving the mother and six children most of them quite young, which fact very early in life taught him the necessity of work and thrift. At the age of 14 he went to work for an uncle near Frankfort, Ky., continuing in this locality until the outbreak of the Civil War. Although most of his relatives and friends were Southern sympathizers, yet his desire to be in the right led him to align himself with the Union Cause, therefore on the 12th of October, 1861, he enlisted in the 11th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. He served in the Campaign along the Western front, participating in many of the famous battles. At the battle of Shiloh, when the Union Army was almost put to route he came in with Gen. Buells Army and helped change the defeat into victory. His only living brother being on the opposite side in this battle.

He was wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro, January 2, 1863, the last day of one of the bloodiest contests of the War, where one out of every four men engaged were lost. Here he was initiated into all the hardships and pains of warfare as he lay (after receiving only the most meager of first aid) for 10 days suffering untold agonies,without relief from the bullet in his body, or even a change of clothing. He spent the next 5 months in Army hospitals, after which time he received his discharge on May 25th, and was sent home to rest. His great patriotism would not let him forget the cause which he believed just, so as soon as he gained sufficient strength, he re-enlisted and helped organize a company of the Kentucky State Guards in the rank of First Lieutenant, with which company he served to the end of the war. He was a member of Milton Summers Post, G. A. R.

Hearing from some of his comrades of the greater possibilities so as soon as possible he started for Ia. coming up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers by boat and landing at what is now known as Plattsmouth. He then started across the country on foot, until he came to the White Cloud neighborhood, where he found work on the farm of Wm. G. Summers. Here he worked for 2 or 3 years, demonstrating his early training in honesty and thrift by making friends and saving his money, with which to start farming for himself, his greatest ambition.

About the year 1870 he rented what was then known as the Russel farm, but now a part of the land belonging to J. B. Fickel, farming it for two years, Then in 1873 he bought the land on which he has ever since made his home.

On December 19, 1875, he was united in marriage to Cynthia Ella Wiatt and to this union were born three children; Daisy Pearl Clark, Edna Joy Wilson and Robert Ray Pierson, all of whom were with him at his death. He is survived by his wife, the three children and four grandchildren: Vera, Hazel and Edna Clark and Joyce Pierson. Also one sister, Mrs. Malvina Buck of Redding, California; an infant grandson having preceded him in death.

Early in life he united himself with the church, ever remaining faithful to his Christian duties and loyal to his fellow men.

As a husband and father he was always kind and just, ever mindful of the comforts and happiness of those depending on him.

As a neighbor and friend he was always to be found ready to help and to do his full share and many are the men who tell of some good bits of advice which he gave them.

As a Patriot and Christian, he was always true, a man of strong convictions, ever to be found on the side which he believed to be right, sometimes even willing to forfeit a friendship rather than to surrender to a principle which he did not believe to be right or just.

He was indeed a self made man, and while he was denied the blessings of school mates and school training (having only attended school six months) yet few indeed are the men who were better posted or more inteligently informed on all subjects than was he.

His greatest enjoyment seemed to be in his attendance at all patriotic gatherings and Church, and it was indeed a great hardship to him when his hearing became impaired to the extent that he could not hear and enjoy the Sunday sermon.