Clarence Pierson, M. D. Winn Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Greggory E. Davies 120 Ted Price Lane Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Clarence Pierson, M. D. Dr. Clarence Pierson was born at Natchitoches, Louisiana, July 16, 1868, a son of Judge David and Sidney Amanda Pipes Pierson. Judge Pierson was born in Stewart County, Georgia, and Mrs. Pierson was born at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was educated at Mount Lebanon, Louisiana, and began the practice of law at Winnfield, Louisiana where he was the first prominent member of his profession. When the Secession Convention was called, he was elected to it, the youngest member of that body, but as he was elected to it as a Union supporter, he would not sign the ordinance declaring secession. However, once war was declared, he raised a company of which he was elected captain, and was assigned to the Third Louisiana Infantry. He surrendered at the fall of Vicksburg, at which time he held the rank of lieutenant colonel. Judge Pierson served in the Western Army and at first was under Sterling Price. He was severely wounded three times. After the close of the war, of which he longed retained many vivid memories, among them being the sound of General Grant's voice, at Vicksburg, issuing the command to "cease firing," he returned to Winnfield, and resumed his practice of law. In 1865 he was elected district attorney by the soldier vote. At that time the district was composed of five parishes, so his territory was a large one. Subsequently he became a resident of Natchitoches, and was a resident of that city during the reconstruction period. He was president of the White League movement, which played so important a part in restoring that region to normalcy. His family were Episcopalians, while his wife's were Baptists. Fraternally he was a Mason. After being a pupil of several excellent private schools of his native city, Doctor Pierson took a collegiate course at Baton Rouge, from which he was graduated in 1889, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Following his graduation he spent four seasons as a sugar chemist in Louisiana, during which period he studied medicine, and then, entering Tulane University, New Orleans, was graduated from its medical department, in 1894, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. During the time he was in the university, he worked as minute clerk of the Missouri State Senate (apparently an error; if attending Tulane, no doubt he worked in the Louisiana State Senate), in 1892 and 1894, and in the latter year entered upon the practice of his profession at New Iberia, Louisiana. There he remained until 1900, when he was called home to attend to his father's estate, the latter having died. While at New Iberia, Doctor Pierson was very active in civic affairs. In 1901, he located permanently at Alexandria, but while continuing his private practice, he, for sixteen years, was head of the hospital at Jackson, Louisiana. In 1895 he was elected superintendent of the Louisiana Insane Hospital at Pineville, Louisiana, but resigned when placed in charge of the hospital at Jackson. While at New Iberia he served for three years as county superintendent of schools, and for the same length of time was coroner. In 1921, he began specializing in mental and nervous diseases, having taken up these branches of study in post-graduate courses in New Orleans, and at different clinics. He eventually bought the Louisiana Hot Wells property with the intention of erecting a hospital for those suffering from mental and nervous troubles. In March, 1903, Dr. Pierson married to Pattie Hunter, a daughter of Robert P. Hunter, and they had the following children: Clarence P., Junior, who graduated from Tulane University in 1924, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts; Louise, and Hunter. Doctor Pierson was Episcopalian, and his wife Catholic. Fraternally, he was a Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, and belonged to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he served as Exalted Ruler. He was a Rotarian and served as president of tha organization as well as delegate to the international convention of Rotary Clubs. In military matters Doctor Pierson was examining surgeon during the Spanish-American War, and also for the World War. (Source: Chambers "A History of Louisiana", 1925. Submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, Winn Parish, La.)