John E. Pearson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1236-1239 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside
	a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at

	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm


				HON. JOHN E. PEARSON. 

	Hon. John E. Pearson has ably represented his district in the. 
state senate, proving himself a legislator of distinction. He is also a 
progressive and prosperous agriculturist, residing on section 16, 
Benton township, Minnehaha county. He was born in Sweden, June 3, 1868, 
a son of Nils and Netta (Knutson) Pearson. The father came to the 
United States in 1869, locating in Wisconsin. A year later he removed 
to Kansas, but at the end of six months returned to Wisconsin, settling 
in Lafayette county. In 1871 he was able to send for his family, who 
joined him in the new world, remaining in Wisconsin until 1878, when a 
removal was made to South Dakota. The family home was established on 
section 7, Benton township, Minnehaha county, the father filing on a 
homestead there, but another man had also settled on the same quarter 
and a contest arose, which was settled by each man receiving eighty 
acres. In 1880 the family removed to Sioux Falls, where the father was 
foreman in a stone quarry. operating the first drill for the building 
of the Queen B mill. In 1884 he purchased his present farm of four 
hundred acres on section 15, Benton township, where he has since 
resided. He is a man of excellent judgment and has taken part in public 
affairs, serving as a member of the town board and in other ways 
influencing the progress of the community. 

	John E. Pearson was reared at home and was a pupil in the public 
schools, passing from grade to grade until the course was completed. He 
also attended the Baptist College in Sioux Falls. Upon reaching mature 
years he was associated with his father in the latter's farming 
operations until 1902, when he located on his present farm, which he 
had purchased in the early '90s by an agreement with his father. Since 
locating upon this property he has continued to make it his home, has 
followed general farming, and has taken much interest in the breeding 
of horses. He is known as one of the progressive farmers in his 
section. He is a member of the board of directors of the New Hope Grain 
Company and is secretary and treasurer of the Crooks Lumber Company. 

	Mr. Pearson is a republican in his political allegiance and has 
taken an active part in politics. He is at present chairman of the town 
board of Benton township and represented his district in the state 
senate in the session of 1911. He was again reelected to the 1915 
session. Fraternally he is a member of Hartford Lodge, No. 136, A. F. 
&; A. M.; and of New Hope Camp, No. 6509, M. W. A., in which he served 
as clerk for five years. The honor which has come to him in election to 
the state senate has been amply deserved, as he is a man of much 
practical wisdom and of undoubted integrity of character. 

	Mr. Pearson has visited, on several occasions, many places of 
interest in the East, and in the summer of 1911 took a trip to Europe, 
visiting the countries of Sweden. Denmark, and some of England.