BIOGRAPHY: George W. PIERSON, Cambria County, PA 

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann 
Olsen. 

Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty 
Mirovich and Sharon Ringler.

USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives 
remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in 
accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of 
providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by 
anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities 
so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic 
pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including 
copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to 
uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb 
Archives to store the file permanently for free access. 
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ 
____________________________________________________________

From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 135-6
____________________________________________________________

GEORGE W. PIERSON, justice of the peace and general merchant, of Dysart, Dean 
township, this county, is a son of Charles A. and Mary (Hench) Pierson, and was 
born near Iowa city, Iowa, November 18, 1866. His father, Charles A. Pierson, 
was born in Saxony, Germany, and when about fourteen years old emigrated to 
America. He learned the trade of a tailor, and followed his trade a few years. 
About 1867 he located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and embarked in the mercantile 
business. In 1873 he removed to McGregor, Iowa, and from there removed to 
Mazomanie, Wisconsin. After a residence of nine years in the above place, he 
returned to the east, and established himself in the mercantile business in 
Altoona, Pennsylvania. About 1883 he removed to St. Augustine, this county, and 
from there located in Dysart in 1886, and opened a general store. He remained 
there until his death, which occurred March 10, 1895. He was a member of the 
German Lutheran church, and in politics belonged to the Democratic party. In 
connection with his store he was appointed postmaster, and held the position 
eight years. 
     He married Miss Mary Hench, a daughter of Augustine Hench, who emigrated 
from Germany in 1841, and located in Altoona, Pennsylvania. To their marriage 
nine children were born, six sons and three daughters, of whom four sons and one 
daughter grew to maturity: Frank, employed in the railroad service and located 
at Fort Worth, Texas; George W.; William, located at Dysart; Michael, a 
Pennsylvania railroad employee at Dysart, and Rosa at home. 
     George W. Pierson was educated in the common-schools at Mazomanie, and 
finished at the State normal at Madison, Wisconsin, and on leaving school 
learned the trade of a barber, which he followed several years at Chicago and 
St. Paul, but has made the mercantile business his principal vocation in life. 
He located in Dysart in 1890, and in 1895, in connection with his other 
business, he embarked in the mercantile business and opened a store, where he 
handles everything usually found in a first-class mercantile establishment. 
     He is a member of the Baptist church, and in politics is identified with 
the Republican party; he takes an active part in local affairs, and in 1894 was 
elected justice of the peace at Dysart. He is a member of Logan Lodge, No. 1059, 
I. O. O. F., of Altoona, Pennsylvania. 
     March 30, 1891, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Mary Elizabeth Kear, 
who is a native of England.