Pierson Township
View a history of Pierson Township.

GEORGE W. BOWNE, farmer, Pimento, was born in Butler county, Ohio, July 10, 1831, and came to this county in 1853, settling in Pierson township. He has been employed during the greater portion of his life in farming, and has also done a good deal of carpenter work, having built numerous houses and farm buildings in this township. By strict attention to business, thrift and good judgement, he has worked himself into a comfortable position. On April 12, 1855, he married Miss Henrietta WOODWARD, and they have a family of two daughters. His farm of 184 acres is well improved, all under fence and cultivation, with a handsome residence and substantial farm buildings. Mr. BOWNE is candidate for county clerk of this county before the democratic convention, and has every prospect of success.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Pierson Twp. - p. 433

PETER Y. BUSKIRK, farmer and merchant, Lewis, the oldest citizen in Centreville now alive, came there in 1843, at which time he was twenty-one years of age. He was born in Kentucky January 18, 1822, and until he was eighteen worked on the farm. He afterward served an apprenticeship to the cabinet-making business in Palestine, Illinois, at the end of which time he came to Centreville and built the first house erected there, and opened a store. On December 28, 1843, he married Elizabeth PIERSON, daughter of Moses PIERSON, the first settler in Pierson township and after whom it is named, and granddaughter of Joseph LISTON, one of the earliest settlers of Vigo county, and the man who plowed the first furrow in the county. Mr. BUSKIRK has had a family of twelve children, six of whom are now alive. In 1854 he was elected justice of the peace and held that office until 1858. He is a democrat in politics and a prominent and influential member of that party organization. He runs a large dry-goods and general country store, in which, by strict attention to business he has attained a large patronage and built up a good business. He is a man of considerable literary ability, and wrote an entertaining and lively history of Centreville, which was published in the local paper.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Pierson Twp. - pp. 431-432

THE COCHRAN BROTHERS, four in number, merchants, Lewis, are the sons of Charles P. and Louisa (WYNES) COCHRAN. They came from Farmersburg to Centreville toward the close of the war, and have been and still are among the foremost in that enterprising little town. WILLIAM B. COCHRAN was born in Terre Haute June 9, 1841, received a common school education, and in 1861 enlisted in the 31st reg. Ind. Vol, Co. E, in which he served four years and a half. On his return he engaged in farming some time, and then opened a dry-goods and grocery store in Centreville, then a drug store. He finally sold out and is now engaged in farming. He was married in June 1869, and has a family of one boy and one girl. RICHARD came from Farmersburg at the same time William did, and has been engaged in business most of the time, being in partnership with his brother. C.L. COCHRAN, who was born in Sullivan, July 17, 1857, and came to Centreville in 1863, went into partnership with his brother Richard and engaged in the dry-goods and grocery business very successfully. He sold out to Mr. BOSTIN and went into partnership with his brother, T.H. COCHRAN, who had come to the village in 1863, and was born December 15, 1859. He worked on a farm and went to school until he was seventeen years old, clerked in his brothers' store for two years, at the end of which time he opened a drug store on his own account. He sold out to the firm of HOOKER & SCOTT, and opened a grocery store in company with his brother C.L., July 30, 1879; since which time their business has increased greatly.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Pierson Twp. - p. 431

ISAIAH DONHAM, farmer and stock raiser, Riley, was one of the early settlers of the county, was the son of Robert and Ruth (FERGUSON) DONHAM, and was born May 12, 1810. At the age of twenty-three, on February 28, 1833, he married, in Clermont county, Ohio, Martha Ann CROSSLEY, she being then seventeen years old, and one month later they started for Vigo county, arriving in Pierson township April 7, 1833, where he has been located ever since. He has had a family of ten children, of whom only four are now living, three sons and one daughter. Mr. DONHAM's family is one of very ancient origin, dating back to a certain Spanish nobleman of the name of Don SINGLETON, who was banished from the Spanish court by the king, on account of his liberal principles; on leaving Spain he settled in Scotland, where he changed his name, dropping the SINGLETON, and retaining the title, to which he affixed the Saxon "ham," thus originating the present family name of DONHAM. Some of the descendants of Don SINGLETON moved out to the colonies, and the family has always been highly respected, and the members of it have filled various offices of trust and honor. In 1871 Mr. DONHAM was elected to the legislature, and in 1876 was elected state senator, which offices he has filled with honor. Most of his life he has engaged in farming and stock raising on a large scale, and has been very successful. His farm of over 600 acres is in a state of high cultivation, well fenced and improved.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Pierson Twp. - pp. 430-431

JOHN HARRIS, farmer and stock dealer, Riley, is the son of Thomas and Lucinda (WITHAM) HARRIS, was born in Owen county, Indiana, October 4, 1830, and has lived in this neighborhood all his life. His grandfather was one of the first settlers in Clay county, and filled several offices of trust and honor, including several terms as probate judge, and was generally known as the "father of Clay county." His father helped to build the first court-house erected in Terre Haute, and was one of the earliest settlers of Vigo county. Mr. HARRIS was married in Bowling Green, Clay county, March 29, 1854, and has a family of seven children, four boys and three girls. He engages largely in stock raising, and has the largest and most complete barn in the township, it being 40x70 feet, sixteen foot posts, and thirty-three feet from floor to ridge pole. In politics he is a republican, and is very popular in the township, having only missed being elected trustee by a few votes. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and is one of the charter members of the Vigo Lodge, No. 29, which meets at Centreville.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Pierson Twp. - p. 433

JESSE S. HARROLD, lawyer, Lewis, one of the most enterprising and energetic business men in the township, was born in Morgan county, Indiana, May 25, 1839. He settled in Owen county for some time, and there married Miss Mary J. BIDDLE, August 27, 1865, and they have a family of four children, all living. In 1861 Mr. HARROLD enlisted in the 14th Ind. Vols. at Terre Haute, and engaged in a number of the most important battles during the war. He has been wounded on three occasions: first, at the battle of Winchester, March 23, 1862; again at the battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862. He received four bails, and was shot in the bowels at the battle of Chancellorsville, May 8, 1863. That he recovered from the latter wound was almost a miracle, there only being one other case on record where a man shot in that part ever recovered. Mr. HARROLD is one of six brothers, all of whom served in the Union army, the total amount of their united service amounting to twenty-one years. He is a prominent member of the Masonic brotherhood, one of the leaders in getting up Vigo Lodge, No. 29, at Centreville. He is one of its charter members, and acted as W.M. for six years. During the most of his life he has been employed in blacksmithing, and now, in partnership with Mr. L.L. REYNOLDS, owns a large saw-mill with a capacity for cutting 5,000 feet a day, and gives constant employment to five hands.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Pierson Twp. - pp. 433-434

WILLIAM JORDON, farmer, Riley, was born in Rush county in 1826, and is the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (HOFFMAN) JORDON, who came originally from Pennsylvania. He has traveled around a good deal, having eaten, drank and slept in twenty-seven states. During the war he enlisted in the 57th Ind. Vols., and was engaged at the battles of Franklin, Nashville and Spring Hill. September 27, 1849, he was married in Warren county, Ohio, to Miss Martha J. SMARTY, of Virginia, and they have a family of ten children. He came to this county twenty-seven years ago, settling in Pierson township, at which time that part of the county was entirely unimproved, but by his industry, good management and energy he has now one of the finest farms in the county, with a large, handsome residence and substantial farm buildings. He does a large business in the neighborhood with his threshing machine and steam engine.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Pierson Twp. - pp. 432-433

ABRAHAM LAREW, farmer, Pimento, was born in Ohio county, Indiana, April 29, 1822, and has been a resident of this township since 1851, having come here April 1 of that year. He is an active and prominent member of the United Brethren church, the church building known as the Pleasant Grove Centenary being located on his land. He has been married twice, the first time to Miss Sarah TYRON, in Montgomery county, June 16, 1842, and to his present wife, Miss HINDS, in Putnam county, March 14, 1865. He has quite a large family. His occupation through life has been farming and stock raising, and by his own industry and unaided exertions he has attained a comfortable position in life. His farm of 240 acres is well improved, fenced, and in good cultivation, with handsome residence and comfortable farm buildings.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Pierson Twp. - p. 432

AARON MOON, farmer and stock dealer, Lewis, was born in Vigo county, Indiana, November 22, 1840, on the farm which he now owns. He has been engaged during life in farming and raising stock. He is one of the largest land holders in the township, owning 260 acres in this town and 436 acres in Clay county just across the line, 696 acres in all. His farm is well improved, cleared, fenced, and in a high state of cultivation, he having devoted his whole time and attention to farming, with the exception of one year that he was in the army, having enlisted in the 57th Ind. reg. In 1869 he married Miss Amanda BRYAN, and they have a family of four children, all girls. Mr. MOON is a popular man in the neighborhood, and is a candidate for sheriff before the democratic nominating convention.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Pierson Twp. - p. 431

ROBERT J. PAYNE, cabinet-maker, Lewis, is the son of Woodford and Annie T. (TWYMAN) PAYNE, and was born in Lawrenceville, Kentucky, in 1834. His advantage in obtaining an education were limited, not going beyond a few terms at a subscription school. He served an apprenticeship with his father to the cabinet-making business, and eventually commenced business on his own account. He was located in Farmersburg, this state, for some time, having moved there from Kentucky, and in 1878 he commenced business in the village of Centreville, in Pierson township, where he is now located, carrying on a large business in furniture, coffins, and general cabinet-making. He has branches of his business established at Jacksonville, Greene county, and Pittsburg, Sullivan county. His stock is large and complete, and as he pays close attention to business he is well patronized. He has about $3,500 invested in his stock. Mr. PAYNE has been married three times, the third time to Miss SUTHERLAND, in 1878, and they have a family of four children, three sons and one daughter. He owns two town lots in the village, also one lot 46x60 feet, on which his handsome show-rooms and work-shops are built.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Pierson Twp. - pp. 434-435

FRANCIS M. PICKINS, physician, Lewis, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (BALDWIN) PICKINS, was born in Owen county, Indiana, October 8, 1842, and received the early part of his education at a literary school in Franklin. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the 31st Ind. reg., serving as second lieutenant, and finally captain, commanding Co. B. He served three years in the army, leaving after the evacuation of Atlanta, and then attending two classes at Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1864-5 and 1865-6, graduating in 1870 from the Rush Medical College. September 3, 1868, he married Miss Martha E. SMIDER, and they have one child, a daughter. The doctor has a very large practice, is one of the most enterprising men in this part of the county, and is a leader in everything that tends to elevate and benefit the communtiy.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Pierson Twp. - p. 434

THOMAS J. SCOTT, farmer and merchant, Lewis, was born in Vigo county October 28, 1846, and is the son of Levi and Mahala (LISTON) SCOTT. His grandfather, William LISTON, was one of the first settlers of Vigo county, having come there in 1824, and was one of the organizers of the Union Baptist church in Pierson township. Mr. SCOTT was married May 25, 1868, to Miss Elizabeth BAILEY, and they have a family of two children, one boy and one girl. During the greater part of his life he has engaged in farming, and has taught several terms at the surrounding schools, and is now senior partner of the firm of SCOTT & HOOKER, who are in the drug and general grocery business in Centreville, commencing business there November 6, 1879. He owns fifty acres of land in Sec. 3, Sullivan county, where he resides, and which is in a good state of cultivation.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Pierson Twp. - p. 432

J.C. STOUT, real estate agent, Lewis, born in Spencer county, Kentucky, March 7, 1825, is the son of Rev. William STOUT, the well known Baptist minister, who preached over fifty years thoughout the country. He came to this township with his parents in 1826, and received the principal part of his education at Burbank Seminary. He married Miss Mary RHODES, in the city of Lawrenceville, February 22, 1849, and they have two children living. Mr. STOUT is a very prominent man in the county, and is respected highly by his fellow-citizens, they having elected him assessor at different times, and at present he is acting as deputy assessor of the township. He has held the office of justice of the peace for over twenty years, and is administrator of several estates, and is also agent for a great deal of the real estate in the surrounding country.

HISTORY OF VIGO AND PARKE COUNTIES, Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley
H.W. Beckwith - 1880
Pierson Twp. - p. 430

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