NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

The career of George PIERSON is a noble illustration of what independence, self-faith and persistency can accomplish in America. He is a self-made man in the most significant sense of the word for no one helped him in a financial way and he is self-educated. As a young man he was strong, vigorous, and self-reliant. He trusted in his own ability and did things single-handed and alone. Today he stands supreme as a successful business man and loyal and public-spirited citizen. Most of his attention has been devoted to farming and lumbering enterprises and for five years he was surrogate of Morris county, New Jersey. He maintains his home at Dover, of which city he was mayor for three terms.

August 19, 1838, in Randolph township, Morris county, New Jersey, occurred the birth of George PIERSON, a son of Henry and Nancy (POWERS) PIERSON, both of whom were likewise born and reared in Randolph township. Robert PIERSON, paternal grandfather of the subject of this review, was born in Morris county, was a farmer by occupation and was a gallant soldier in the war of the Revolution, having participated in the battle of Springfield. Beginning with Robert PIERSON and ending with William PIERSON, son of George PIERSON, four generations of this family have lived in Morris county. Henry PIERSON was reared a farmer and he was actively engaged in that line of work until he lost his eyesight in 1850. He died in 1861, age fifty-five years, and his cherished and devoted wife, whose maiden name was Nancy POWERS, passed to eternal rest in 1891, at the venerable age of seventy-eight years. There were five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry PIERSON:

• George, of this notice;
• Mary, wife of Jerome B. YOUNG at the time of her demise;
• Margaret, a resident of Dover;
• Martha, married William B. YOUNG and she is deceased;
• John H., also deceased.

The PIERSONS were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

George PIERSON as a boy availed himself of the advantages afforded in the district schools of Randolph township. At the age of twelve he was obliged to leave school in order to assist his father in the management of the farm, as the latter had just become blind. He remained at the paternal home until his twenty-second year and after the death of his father he inherited a portion of the old homestead farm. At the present time, 1913, he owns three hundred and fifty acres of land in Randolph township, the same being divided into three different plots. After his marriage in 1861 he engaged in the lumber business at Dover, where he is still a member of the well-known firm of The Park Union Lumber Company, dealers in lumber and supplies, of which he is president. Mr. PIERSON is one of the most prominent lumber merchants in Morris county. He is a shred business man and one who is honorable and straightforward in all his dealings.

A Democrat in politics, Mr. PIERSON was township committeeman for two terms and freeholder eight years. In 1892 he was elected surrogate of Morris county for five years, and for three terms, first in 1892, he was mayor of Dover. In the latter capacity he accomplished a great deal for the improvement of this city, his administration having been fraught with progressive action. Mr. PIERSON is now seventy-five years of age but his youthful spirit and innate cheerfulness make him seem much younger. He is a man of good judgement and liberal views and his advice is eagerly sought on many important matters. He has been a leader – was first to erect a four-story building, laid the first cement walk and put in the first plate glass store windows. Along about 1895 he began operations in the real estate line, and has erected eighteen stores in Dover, also a number of dwellings and has some sixty tenants. In 1912-13 the last building erected by him was a business block 25 x 100 feet, four stories. This building was erected entirely from the sand and gravel taken from the cellar, with the addition only of the required amount of cement; it is one of the most attractive building in Dover. He has done probably more than any other man toward building up Dover. He is a director in the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company.

Mr. PIERSON married (first) in January, 1861, Elmira YOUNGS, of Mount Freedom, who died in 1898 and who is buried in the Mill Brook cemetery. Married (second) Mrs. Anna E. (LYON) POOL, a native of Morris county, New Jersey. The first union was prolific of the following children:

• William H., engaged in the clothing business at Dover, married Laura HEDDEN and they have four children;
  • Elmer,
  • George,
  • Arrilla,
  • Ethel;
• Mary Emma, married Henry YOUNG and she died in 1894, survived by two children,
  • Grace and
  • Ida;
• Nora, at the paternal home.

Mr. PIERSON is a member of Mount Freedom Methodist Episcopal Church.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).

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