Edward Pierson

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Edward Pierson

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899.

The death of the subject of this memoir occurred May 29, 1896. He was for more than three-quarters of a century one of the most highly respected citizens of Morristown, and in the autumn of life he received that veneration and honor which should ever crown old age. His history touches an early epoch in the annals of the county and his days were an integral part of that indissoluble chain which linked the early formative period with that of latter-day progress and prosperity. His ancestors were connected with the founding of the county, the progenitor here being Thomas Pierson, who settled at Morris Plains, when the work of development was in its incipiency. The grandfather, Samuel Pierson, and the father, Stephen Pierson, were both natives of Morris county, and Edward Pierson was born in Morristown on the 13th of March, 1813.

He first opened his eyes to the light on the old family homestead owned by his father, on South street, and throughout a long and useful career of eighty-three years he aided in the progress and upbuilding of the city, being imbued with earnest purpose and unswerving fidelity. He was an active business man, not only in his early manhood, but throughout his career. In his younger years he engaged in merchandising in connection with his brother, Samuel Pierson, and later entered into partnership with George Cramer. On his retirement from that line of activity he became connected with the banking interests of the city, as cashier in the old Morris County Bank, which went out of existence during the war of the Rebellion, Mr. Pierson continuing with the institution until that time. In 1865 he accepted the position of secretary and treasurer of the Morristown Gas Light Company, and from 1869 until his death he held a similar position with the Morris Aqueduct Company. His business ability never waned with advancing years and his duties were discharged with the utmost reliability up to the time of his last illness. The strictest integrity and the most unbending fidelity characterized all his dealings, and the most painstaking care was evidenced in even the slightest detail of his business life. Mr. Pierson was a man of domestic tastes, devotedly attached to his family and home. He was thrice married, first to Margaret Cooper, secondly to Miss Elizabeth Guerin, who died early in life, leaving two sons: Dr. Stephen Pierson, of whom mention is made in the following article, and Charles E. Pierson, who died in 1875, having been an attorney and engaged in active practice of his profession for some five years prior to his death. He was a young man of distinctive ability and his death was most untimely. Mr. Pierson afterward married Anna Maria Sayre, a daughter of William Sayre, a representative of one of the old families of Morris county. She died in 1886, leaving the following children: Phil B. ; Laura A.; and Dr. Samuel, of Stamford, Connecticut.

Mr. Pierson was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian church of Morristown for more than forty years and was never absent from his place in the house of worship. He lived that practical religious life that is mindful of the unfortunate, the poor and the needy, and his charity was free, but unostentatious. In all life's relations he commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he came in contact, and the world is better for his having lived.

Transcribed by Brianne Kelly-Bly