My Genealogy Hound

ELI PEARSON, Sr., farmer; P. O. Tippecanoe City; is well known in the county, and perhaps there is no one who is so well skilled in all branches of mechanism as himself, who never served an apprenticeship; his parents were Samuel and Mary Pearson, whose maiden name was Coats; her parents were among the first settlers in this township, and are mentioned in this history; they were the parents, of eleven children, four are living—Henry, aged 82; Hiram, 80; Sampson, 70 and Eli, 62, their united ages amounting to 294 years. Eli was married to Miss. Rebecca Mooney, daughter of Sarah and John J. Mooney, Oct. 15, 1837; they were the parents of Joseph J., Mary J., Benjamin S., Martha A. and William H.; Mary is the wife of G. K. Westlake, and Joseph married Miss Phoebe Stewart; Mrs. Pearson died Jan. 14, 1854. His marriage, to Hannah Julien, was celebrated April 15, 1856; they have two sons, Sylvanus E. and Warren J. Among the relics of olden times, in possession of Mr. Pearson, are a wooden clamp to catch wild hogs, made by his father in 1804, which is now as strong and efficient as ever; a mirror, that was made in 1680, and has been in the possession of his ancestry two centuries; and a wagon, built by his father in South Carolina, in 1799, that carried them to this county from that State, was used in transportation of supplies for the army in 1812, and was driven by his brother Benjamin; it has been used by every son of his father’s family until he could buy himself one, and is now used for heavy work on the farm. His son Joseph enlisted during the war in Co. A, 11th O. V. C, under command of Maj. O’Farrell; his battalion was ordered to the frontier, and guarded the United States mail during the war; he was honorably discharged in 1865, having passed through the whole campaign without a wound. Mr. Pearson is one of the most social men in the county, and, with his wife as hostess, there cannot be a more inviting place to visit. The products of her dairy cannot be excelled in the State of Ohio. The finest spring in the county bubbles from a fissure in the rocks; and, passing through the dairy room, furnishes water enough to supply all the stock bred in the State. The beautiful spring-house was planned and built by Mr. Pearson, the stones of which were squared and laid with his own hands; the tasteful appearance of everything shows his skill and energy. He is a member of Coleman Commandery, No. 17. They are both professed Christians, he being a member of the Christian, and she of the Baptist, Church. His farm of 160 acres is a beautiful one, and is well tilled. His son, Benjamin, was also a soldier in the late war, enlisting in Co. G, 147th O. V. I.; he died in 1867. Mr. Pearson was a member of the Board of Education for thirty-nine consecutive years.