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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
REV. WILLIAM PEARSON, Sr., an old and honored resident of Prairie Township, is spending his declining years in the peace and quiet earned by a goodly life and conscientious labor in the cause of truth and justice. He is a native of Wayne County, N. C., and was born Oct. 22, 1797. In 1814 he removed with a married sister to Logan County, Ohio, and in 1816 was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Pickrell, the daughter of Henry and Achsa Pickrell. To them eleven children were born, two of whom died in infancy, the remainder attaining their majority, but only four are living at the present time; Lydia A., widow of John C. Williams; Mary, Mrs. Scott; William, Jr., and Catherine, wife of W. C. Bryan. Mrs. Pearson died Oct 8, 1864. Mr. Pearson resided in Logan County, Ohio, until 1850, and followed farming, being principally engaged in raising corn and hogs, and became one of the leading pork growers of Logan County. He came to Mahaska County in 1850, and located On the south side of South Skunk River, on a farm purchased of George Bare, and after a residence there of six years purchased the farm where he now lives, on section 23, Prairie Township. He at one time owned 300 acres of land, but as he advanced in years sold portions of it, until he has now only a life lease of ten acres. He was reared in the belief of the Society of Friends, and has been a minister of that church from the age of twenty-five years. While a resident of Ohio he was three times sent to North Carolina to confer with societies there, and once since he became a resident of this State. The Society of Friends do not send preachers to any place, but when one is prepared for the ministry be is liberated by the Society, and may go and preach anywhere. Mr. Pearson has traveled and preached in Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and other States. His early political leanings were toward the Whig party, but he became in early life a Free-soiler and an Abolitionist, and since the organization of the Republican party has affiliated with it. He was an attendant at the first free-soil meeting held at Oskaboa Father Pearson is now in his ninetieth year, and enjoys excellent health for one so aged, and at small religious gatherings still preaches to his people. It is to men who, like Father Pearson, had the courage to express their convictions, that the country is to-day indebted for the abolition of slavery, and the prosperity that has attended us since the removal of that foul stain upon our national hopor. His whole life has been spent in the cause of humanity, and he has sought to make men better, and consequently happier, by pointing out to them the way of salvation, and exhorting them to walk therein, and none enjoy in a greater degree the admiration and esteem of friends than does this noble old man.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy