Bio: Judge David Pierson, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller Source:Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 495-496. Published by the Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892. ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Judge David Pierson, of the Eleventh Judicial district, was born in Stewart county, Ga., August 80, 1837, and is a prominent citizen of this parish, respected and esteemed for his sterling integrity, sober, sound judgment, broad intelligence and liberal, progressive ideas. He is a man whose career has been above reproach. His parents, William H. and Mary (Collins) Pierson, were natives of South Carolina, the father born 1808 and the mother in 1810. The family came to Louisiana in 1847, and settled in Claiborne, now Bienville parish, where the father followed agricultural pursuits for many years. The mother died in 1848, in Louisiana, and the father at Natchitoches, in 1886. Judge David Pierson is one of ten children born to this union, four of whom are now living. He received an academic education at Mount Lebanon academy, Louisiana, having spent three years there, and then began the study of law, being admitted to the bar of Louisiana in 1859. The same year he located at Winfield, La., and practiced his profession at that place. In 1861 he was elected a delegate to the state secession convention, from Winn parish; was the youngest man in that convention, and was one of five who refused to sign the ordinance of secession after it was adopted by the convention. In April, 1861, he joined the army and was elected captain of Company C, known as the "Winn Rifles," and was attached to the Third Louisiana infantry, commanded by Col. Louis Hebert, who afterward was made major-general, and participated in the battle of Oak Hills, Mo., Elkhorn, Ark., and other minor engagements. He then followed General Price to Corinth, Miss., and was then in the battle of Iuka, Miss., where he was wounded and captured. In 1863 he was promoted to the rank of major of his regiment, and subsequently to lieutenant-colonel of the same; then later, in the siege of Vicksburg, where he was again wounded, he was part of the time commanding officer of the regiment. After being exchanged he reorganized the regiment and surrendered at Shreveport, in May, 1865. The following year he was elected district attorney of the then Ninth Judicial district, composed of Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine and Winn parishes, by the soldier vote, and held that position until the adoption of the constitution of 1868. From 1868 to 1876 he was engaged in the practice of law in partnership with W. K Jack, under the firm name of Jack & Pierson. Judge Pierson removed to Natchitoches in 1866 and in 1876 he was elected judge of the Seventeenth Judicial district, having been nominated without his knowledge and while in Canada for his health. The Seventeenth district was composed of De Soto, Red River, Natchitoches and Sabine parishes. He held this honorable position until the adoption of the constitution of 1880, when he was elected judge of the Eleventh Judicial district, being re-elected in 1884 and 1888. His term will expire in 1892, after nearly sixteen consecutive years on the bench. The Judge was married in 1886 to Miss Sidney A. Pipes, a native of West Baton Rouge parish, born in 1847, and they have the following children: Clarence, Alice, Maude and May. Judge Pierson is one of the leading men and one of the prominent characters of north Louisiana. He was a delegate to the national democratic convention that nominated Mr. Cleveland at St. Louis, Mo., in 1888, representing the Fourth Louisiana Congressional district; also president of the democratic convention for the Fourth Congressional district in 1884, at Shreveport. He served as the president of the first board of administrators of the Louisiana State Normal school, located under an act of the legislature, at Natchitoches, and to his efforts and excellent judgment is due, to a large extent, the success of that institution. He has represented the parish of Natchitoches in several democratic state conventions, and in 1874 was president of the executive committee of the White League of the parish, under the name of "Tax Reform Association," and as such the recognized leader of the revolution that prevented the collection of the 79 mills local taxes, and overthrew the corrupt carpet-bag government. His name has often been mentioned by the press of north Louisiana, in connection with the office of governor of the state. He has never suffered a defeat, either for nomination or election, before the people, for any position to which he has aspired. In all the relations of life, public or private, his character for honesty and integrity has been unquestioned, without blot or stain. Beginning life anew after the close of the war, with no capital save a sound mind and body, and the esteem and confidence of his fellow-soldiers, he has reared and educated a family, attained high rank in his profession, held honorable positions, accumulated enough to make a comfortable home, and is now ready to retire upon a record alike honorable and brilliant.