William Gibbons Pearson (b. March 29, 1841, d. September 12, 1915)
Great Grandfather William G. Pearson in 1885 at age 44 years
William Gibbons Pearson (son of Gibbons Pearson and Jane Wilson)7 was born March 29, 1841 in Parish of Leck, County Donegal, Ireland, and died September 12, 1915 in Hutchinson, Reno Co., Kansas. He married Ellen [Nellie] Anna Edwards on July 03, 1866 in New York City, New York, Baptist Church.
Notes for William Gibbons Pearson: Research on the probable birthplace of Great Grandfather William Gibbons Pearson suggests that the Pearson clan lived in the Townland of Lismonaghan, Parish of Leck in County Donegal, Ireland.
William Gibbons Pearson was just a babe when his parents brought him from Ireland to America and he was only two years old when his father died. He attended public schools in New York City and at the age of fourteen began learning the carpenter trade. William Pearson was a veteran of the Civil War. When 20 years of age he responded to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers in May 1861 to help put down the rebellion of the Southern states, enlisting in New York City in Company F, 79th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, the "Highlanders", with which he served for a little more than 3 years, being mustered out in June 1864. During this term of service, Mr. Pearson was a participant in some of the most important and bloody engagements of the Civil War. His regiment was attached to the Ninth Army Corps, First Division of the Burnsides' army, and was present at both battles of Bull Run, of Port Royal Ferry, South Carolina; of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, Jackson, Blue Springs, the siege of Knoxville, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Hatcher's Run and Petersburg.
After the war he returned to New York City where in 1867 he became partner with his brother, Alexander, who was engaged in the manufacture of sewing machine cases for the Grove & Baker factory. In 1872 he became engaged in the furniture business in the city of Brooklyn and became quite successful in that line. In the meantime in 1866 he married and established his family in a fine three-story house in the city.
In 1874 his chronic asthma condition became so grave that he found it imperative to seek out a better climate in search of relief. He came to Reno county, Kansas where he batched with a homesteader during the summer and fall of 1874. His asthmatic condition was greatly relieved by the far-sweeping and health-giving breezes of Kansas. While there he bought a quarter of land as an investment. After returning to New York his asthmatic condition quickly returned. Thus he decided to return to Kansas and make that his permanent home. There in Medford Township he homesteaded a quarter section adjacent to the quarter section he had purchased earlier. The he began the construction of a large frame house, one and one half stories in height, said to have been the largest and best house in the county at that time. After having closed out his business in New York he sent for his wife and children who arrived on July 4, 1876.
Mr. Pearson became a successful farmer and gradually enlarged his original holdings until he became the owner of 400 acres of good farm land. He retired from the farm in 1902 and with his wife moved to Hutchinson, where they lived the rest of their lives at 221 West 11th Avenue in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Mr. and Mrs. Pearson were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and their children were reared in that faith. ['History of Reno County Kansas" by Sherian Ploughe, 1917, B.F. Bowen & Company, Indianapolis, IN]
Name: William Pearson Home in 1900: Medford, Reno, Kansas Age: 59 Estimated birth year: 1841 Birthplace: Ireland Race: White Relationship to head-of-house: Head Occupation: View Image Immigration year: 1843 Image source: Year: 1900; Census Place: Medford, Reno, Kansas; Roll: T623 496; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 195.
The U.S. Census of 1910 reveals that William G. Pearson immigrated to the U.S in 1843.
More About William Gibbons Pearson: Burial: Unknown, Eastside Cemetery, Hutchinson, Kansas. Immigration: 1843, County Donegal, Ireland to New York City.
More About William Gibbons Pearson and Ellen [Nellie] Anna Edwards: Marriage: July 03, 1866, New York City, New York, Baptist Church.
Children of William Gibbons Pearson and Ellen [Nellie] Anna Edwards are:
+Alexander Pearson, b. June 02, 1867, Brooklyn, New York, d. November 12, 1950, Los Angeles, California.
Ellen [Ella] Pearson, b. November 02, 1869, Brooklyn, New York, d. November 27, 1889, Reno County, Kansas.
William Gibbons Pearson (b. March 29, 1841, d. September 12, 1915)
Notes for William Gibbons Pearson: