"Jim" was born on his parents' farm on Rosedale Road in Lawrence Twp. He was named for his maternal grandfather, James H. Everett. At 15 years old, about 1883, he entered Pennington Seminary (now Pennington Preparatory School), remaining there for two years. His brothers Theodore (Dory) and George also attended. Their father payed for the boys' tuition once with "one fresh cow." Jim completed his education at Stewart Business College in Trenton, which later merged with Rider-Moore Business College to become what is now Rider University.
Jim learned to judge and deal in cattle working with his father, Joseph Pierson. He was also an early baseball player. In June 1893, he was an organizer of the Hopewell Baseball Club, which competed against other local teams. Jim played first base, while his brother Dory played second base.
On 23 Aug. 1893, Jim married Mary Luetta ("Lou") Campbell of Trenton. They had met through Lou's friend Clara Mae Sutphen, who was engaged to Dory Pierson. After their marriage, Jim and Lou rented at West Broad St. and So. Greenwood Ave., above the pharmacy, in Hopewell. Their first few children were born there.
About 1895, when he was 27, Jim was elected commander of the New Jersey Division of the Sons of Union Veterans. He had served as junior and then senior vice commander during the two years preceding. At the time of his election as commander, he was described as representing "the young and progressive element of the division."
In 1899, Jim purchased the Meadowdale stock farm off Carter Road in Rosedale, Hopewell Township. He earned a reputation as one of the best judges of cattle in the state. According to the Hopewell Herald in Sep. 1900, by "sheer pluck and hustling he has been very successful and is today regarded as the representative factor in his particular branch of trade." The family moved to the farm in March 1901.
Jim and Lou enjoyed great success for a time at Meadowdale. In August 1903, they celebrated their 10th anniversary with 180 guests at the farm. In November 1903, they entertained "about 150 friends and relatives" for Thanksgiving dinner. And in 1905, they hosted a May party in honor of their nieces Louie and Carolyn Braunworth. The event was attended by about 90 children, transported to Meadowdale in wagons from the surrounding towns. "Mr. Pierson gave phonograph selections."
The success was not to last, however. Jim's business partner absconded with the bankroll during a livestock-buying trip (the two men would take turns travelling to New York State and other locations to purchase cattle and drive them to New Jersey). This bankrupted the Pierson family. Jim and Lou could not pay the mortgage on the farm, which they had to sell in 1906. They moved back into town, and lived on Washington and Front streets in Hopewell Borough during the next few years.
Tragically, Jim developed lateral sclerosis (also known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease") in 1907 and his health declined rapidly. Family photos from the time show that he aged dramatically from the onset of his illness until his death, at 41, on 22 July 1909. Jim's funeral was held at his parents' house on Blackwell Avenue in town.
James Everett Pierson Sr. was namesake for at least three of his descendants, two of whom are living today. They are: his son James E. Pierson Jr. (1902-1981); his grandson James H. Hall, and his great-great-grandson James Pierson Klett.
Jim learned to judge and deal in cattle working with his father, Joseph Pierson. He was also an early baseball player. In June 1893, he was an organizer of the Hopewell Baseball Club, which competed against other local teams. Jim played first base, while his brother Dory played second base.
On 23 Aug. 1893, Jim married Mary Luetta ("Lou") Campbell of Trenton. They had met through Lou's friend Clara Mae Sutphen, who was engaged to Dory Pierson. After their marriage, Jim and Lou rented at West Broad St. and So. Greenwood Ave., above the pharmacy, in Hopewell. Their first few children were born there.
About 1895, when he was 27, Jim was elected commander of the New Jersey Division of the Sons of Union Veterans. He had served as junior and then senior vice commander during the two years preceding. At the time of his election as commander, he was described as representing "the young and progressive element of the division."
In 1899, Jim purchased the Meadowdale stock farm off Carter Road in Rosedale, Hopewell Township. He earned a reputation as one of the best judges of cattle in the state. According to the Hopewell Herald in Sep. 1900, by "sheer pluck and hustling he has been very successful and is today regarded as the representative factor in his particular branch of trade." The family moved to the farm in March 1901.
Jim and Lou enjoyed great success for a time at Meadowdale. In August 1903, they celebrated their 10th anniversary with 180 guests at the farm. In November 1903, they entertained "about 150 friends and relatives" for Thanksgiving dinner. And in 1905, they hosted a May party in honor of their nieces Louie and Carolyn Braunworth. The event was attended by about 90 children, transported to Meadowdale in wagons from the surrounding towns. "Mr. Pierson gave phonograph selections."
The success was not to last, however. Jim's business partner absconded with the bankroll during a livestock-buying trip (the two men would take turns travelling to New York State and other locations to purchase cattle and drive them to New Jersey). This bankrupted the Pierson family. Jim and Lou could not pay the mortgage on the farm, which they had to sell in 1906. They moved back into town, and lived on Washington and Front streets in Hopewell Borough during the next few years.
Tragically, Jim developed lateral sclerosis (also known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease") in 1907 and his health declined rapidly. Family photos from the time show that he aged dramatically from the onset of his illness until his death, at 41, on 22 July 1909. Jim's funeral was held at his parents' house on Blackwell Avenue in town.
James Everett Pierson Sr. was namesake for at least three of his descendants, two of whom are living today. They are: his son James E. Pierson Jr. (1902-1981); his grandson James H. Hall, and his great-great-grandson James Pierson Klett.
"Jim" was born on his parents' farm on Rosedale Road in Lawrence Twp. He was named for his maternal grandfather, James H. Everett. At 15 years old, about 1883, he entered Pennington Seminary (now Pennington Preparatory School), remaining there for two years. His brothers Theodore (Dory) and George also attended. Their father payed for the boys' tuition once with "one fresh cow." Jim completed his education at Stewart Business College in Trenton, which later merged with Rider-Moore Business College to become what is now Rider University.
Jim learned to judge and deal in cattle working with his father, Joseph Pierson. He was also an early baseball player. In June 1893, he was an organizer of the Hopewell Baseball Club, which competed against other local teams. Jim played first base, while his brother Dory played second base.
On 23 Aug. 1893, Jim married Mary Luetta ("Lou") Campbell of Trenton. They had met through Lou's friend Clara Mae Sutphen, who was engaged to Dory Pierson. After their marriage, Jim and Lou rented at West Broad St. and So. Greenwood Ave., above the pharmacy, in Hopewell. Their first few children were born there.
About 1895, when he was 27, Jim was elected commander of the New Jersey Division of the Sons of Union Veterans. He had served as junior and then senior vice commander during the two years preceding. At the time of his election as commander, he was described as representing "the young and progressive element of the division."
In 1899, Jim purchased the Meadowdale stock farm off Carter Road in Rosedale, Hopewell Township. He earned a reputation as one of the best judges of cattle in the state. According to the Hopewell Herald in Sep. 1900, by "sheer pluck and hustling he has been very successful and is today regarded as the representative factor in his particular branch of trade." The family moved to the farm in March 1901.
Jim and Lou enjoyed great success for a time at Meadowdale. In August 1903, they celebrated their 10th anniversary with 180 guests at the farm. In November 1903, they entertained "about 150 friends and relatives" for Thanksgiving dinner. And in 1905, they hosted a May party in honor of their nieces Louie and Carolyn Braunworth. The event was attended by about 90 children, transported to Meadowdale in wagons from the surrounding towns. "Mr. Pierson gave phonograph selections."
The success was not to last, however. Jim's business partner absconded with the bankroll during a livestock-buying trip (the two men would take turns travelling to New York State and other locations to purchase cattle and drive them to New Jersey). This bankrupted the Pierson family. Jim and Lou could not pay the mortgage on the farm, which they had to sell in 1906. They moved back into town, and lived on Washington and Front streets in Hopewell Borough during the next few years.
Tragically, Jim developed lateral sclerosis (also known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease") in 1907 and his health declined rapidly. Family photos from the time show that he aged dramatically from the onset of his illness until his death, at 41, on 22 July 1909. Jim's funeral was held at his parents' house on Blackwell Avenue in town.
James Everett Pierson Sr. was namesake for at least three of his descendants, two of whom are living today. They are: his son James E. Pierson Jr. (1902-1981); his grandson James H. Hall, and his great-great-grandson James Pierson Klett.
Jim learned to judge and deal in cattle working with his father, Joseph Pierson. He was also an early baseball player. In June 1893, he was an organizer of the Hopewell Baseball Club, which competed against other local teams. Jim played first base, while his brother Dory played second base.
On 23 Aug. 1893, Jim married Mary Luetta ("Lou") Campbell of Trenton. They had met through Lou's friend Clara Mae Sutphen, who was engaged to Dory Pierson. After their marriage, Jim and Lou rented at West Broad St. and So. Greenwood Ave., above the pharmacy, in Hopewell. Their first few children were born there.
About 1895, when he was 27, Jim was elected commander of the New Jersey Division of the Sons of Union Veterans. He had served as junior and then senior vice commander during the two years preceding. At the time of his election as commander, he was described as representing "the young and progressive element of the division."
In 1899, Jim purchased the Meadowdale stock farm off Carter Road in Rosedale, Hopewell Township. He earned a reputation as one of the best judges of cattle in the state. According to the Hopewell Herald in Sep. 1900, by "sheer pluck and hustling he has been very successful and is today regarded as the representative factor in his particular branch of trade." The family moved to the farm in March 1901.
Jim and Lou enjoyed great success for a time at Meadowdale. In August 1903, they celebrated their 10th anniversary with 180 guests at the farm. In November 1903, they entertained "about 150 friends and relatives" for Thanksgiving dinner. And in 1905, they hosted a May party in honor of their nieces Louie and Carolyn Braunworth. The event was attended by about 90 children, transported to Meadowdale in wagons from the surrounding towns. "Mr. Pierson gave phonograph selections."
The success was not to last, however. Jim's business partner absconded with the bankroll during a livestock-buying trip (the two men would take turns travelling to New York State and other locations to purchase cattle and drive them to New Jersey). This bankrupted the Pierson family. Jim and Lou could not pay the mortgage on the farm, which they had to sell in 1906. They moved back into town, and lived on Washington and Front streets in Hopewell Borough during the next few years.
Tragically, Jim developed lateral sclerosis (also known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease") in 1907 and his health declined rapidly. Family photos from the time show that he aged dramatically from the onset of his illness until his death, at 41, on 22 July 1909. Jim's funeral was held at his parents' house on Blackwell Avenue in town.
James Everett Pierson Sr. was namesake for at least three of his descendants, two of whom are living today. They are: his son James E. Pierson Jr. (1902-1981); his grandson James H. Hall, and his great-great-grandson James Pierson Klett.
Gravesite Details
Heartfelt thanks to Wayne Irons for creating this memorial, and to Wayne and cousin Bob Gantz for the photos.
Family Members
Siblings
