Pearson, Daniel C.

PEARSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 23:21:31

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.830

DANIEL C. PEARSON
Daniel C. Pearson, residing on section 15, Union Township, was born in Massachusetts on the 15th of January 1828. He was reared and educated in Ohio and when twenty-one years of age he adventurously set forth on horse­back to explore the western country. He passed by the states of Indiana and Illinois, but on reaching Iowa the country suited him. He first settled in Henry County, where he secured employment in a lour and saw mill, and the history of his life from that time is closely interwoven with the early devel­opment of the state.
His father, Joseph F. Pearson, son of John Pearson, was a native of Massachusetts, in which state he grew to manhood and wedded Mrs. Ruth (Foster) Kimble, who was a daughter of Amos Foster. He carried on farming operations first in Massachusetts, later in New Hampshire and eventually, in 1840, he removed to Knox County, Ohio, where he settled in the woods and undertook the arduous task of clearing the land and preparing it for the raising of grains and cereals. Here he spent the remainder of his days and to this place our subject returned for a visit in 1906, after an absence of fifty-six years, the mere fact of which demonstrates the strength and loyalty of his affections and is indicative of the depths of his nature. Needless to add that he found few traces of its early occupancy in the pioneer days, as its rugged appearance at that time has given way to a finely improved and highly developed country. Daniel C. Pearson was one of four sons, and is now the only one surviving. Jeremiah died at the age of twenty-two years. Dana reached the years of maturity, married and moved to California, where he died. Joseph died at Plattsmouth, Nebraska.
It was in the year 1849 that Daniel C. Pearson settled in Henry County, this state. There he remained for some years, and there he wedded Miss Rosanna M. Parker, who was born and reared in eastern Tennessee. One year after their marriage he started overland to California with a three-yoke ox team. He made the journey in safety and there he engaged in mining for a time. He returned to the states by way of Panama, landing at New Orleans and taking the boat up the Mississippi river to Burlington, Iowa, thence by stage to Mt. Pleasant. He then rented a farm in Polk County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming for nine years, coming from there to Warren County, where he bought his first eighty acre tract in Union Township, of which thirty acres were broken and cleared. The soil possessed the main requisite for con­verting it into a prosperous farm, that of fertility, and with characteristic energy Mr. Pearson set about the task of clearing the land and getting it under cultivation. He at first built a log house and other temporary struct­ures until his land should get to yielding good returns, and all of these build­ings have long since been replaced by good substantial structures. In addi­tion to the improvements made Mr. Pearson bought forty additional acres of land and has made this place his home for the past forty-three years.
On May 10, 1903, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who was laid to rest in Sandyville Cemetery. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pearson were born ten children, seven of whom still survive. They are: Ed M., who is a prosperous and prominent man in Payne County, Oklahoma, where he holds the office of County commissioner; Charles, who also resides in Payne County, Oklahoma; Alice, the wife of Parke Anderson, of Nebraska; Helen, the wife of Charles Spaulding, of Nebraska.; John, residing in British Columbia, Sher­man, who also resides in Canada; and Lizzie, the wife of Frank A. Lukenbill, whose sketch follows.
Mr. Pearson has ever taken an active interest in political matters, his support being given to the Democratic Party now, though formerly he was a Republican. He has served on the petit jury for years, also has served as township trustee. His interest in education has never flagged and for eighteen years he has been the school treasurer of his district. He has also acted as delegate to the county conventions. Religiously, he is a member of the United Brethren Church. He was a member of the first Grange organized in Warren County and has watched the development and growth of this section with keen interest, which has been heightened by the knowledge that he has con­tributed in no small measure to its onward progress.