New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-21
HENRY g. PEARSON DEAD.
LAST HOURS AT HIGHwooD. N, J-A
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER

-,
he became unconscious at about noon on Friday, and
during the afternoon and evening his pulse was not
perceptible Around his bedside were his wife, ex.
Postmaster General and MIS-. James, Mrs. Heiser, Mr.
Parsons aunt, the Misses Heiser and Charles D.
Freeman, of Henry Clews 4 Co., who was he
long friend Of Mr.. Pearson's.
In October last Mr. Pearson complained OF WEAKNESS
pains In his body DR. AZ jacob told him that ne
was ovarworked and that should take rest About
weeks ago he went South Carolina, but atter ne
had been there a short time the weather became so
bad that he grow worse and returned TO New fofk'
After returning DO attended to his duties IN the POSI-
Office regularly until last Tuesday, when ne became
worse and went TO the home OF bis iatberlnla" ~
Highwood and took 10 his bed On Thursday morn
ing two tumors broke, followed By oeyere henorr-
hsge. and another at .. on Thursday, ana stu
another at @ D. m. the same day. Dr. jacob put the
case In the hands of DR.. d. A Curry, OF EneleWoou'
who has been with Mr.. Pearson nearly all OF the time
since no reached Highwood On Wednesday night his
mother-n-law, Mrs. James, had about the last con-
yersation that any one had with Mr. Pearson: He said
TO her: at have spent my life in fighting the spois
system, and It gieves me to know that those ION
whom have fought have misunderstood me"
The news OF Mr. Pearscn's death was received af
an early hour at the pOstofhce, ana MI '@h0o
brought later in the day the particulars OF his laS'
hours Expressions of sorrow were universal amohs
Mr. Pcarson's associates. Mr. James took charge OF
the Office as Acting Postmaster. in pursuance OF the
designation by the bondsmen He telegrapneo 70
Postmaster. General wanamaker telling OF the sc.on
of the bondsmen and the death OF Mr. PEARSON 1n0
selection Of Mr.. James Acting postmaster was az
proved In telegram from the Posmaster-ae r
Mr.. James reappoInted Mr. Gaylor as Assistant fos'
master and no change made in the routine OF inc
Office. -, ,r+srv1ou With MIR
Pearson soon after Mr. Van Colt had been appointed
Postmaster that he would take charge OF bne onep VI
pOcfma
charge Mr.. James viii take charge OF the ONCE
Mr.. Pearson's desk at which he spent all MS WORK
,Dc hours was covered by q piece OF Grape HIS
chair was heavily draped with back cfoon Sno
wreath of flowers lay upon the desk. fne room was
partiay darkened. The nag on the Postolnco ouoins
was placed at haltmast. The superintendent Oh inc
siaerent dsoarsments OF the Posto6ice VIII meet al
Room 47 In the PostoBce at 2 100 p m 'o~SS /"
make preparataons for attending the funeral.
The following is DR. Curry's statement concerning
nv Parsons condition, made yesterday afternoon :
sMr Pearson is dying from internal hemorrnAses
snperindlced by fougcontinued mental and physical
strain. He is worn out by overwork ana over
worry and he is simply martyr TO tho puonc service
The fact that Mr.. Pearson was at the Postomee rs
,,. .s esday of last week Is one Of the most sur
,rstno instances of will power and determination
have ever known. He must have suffered un'oio
apoaie IN szaggng himself to his Office to perform his
duties"
Henry G.. Pearson was torty-four years old at the
time OF his DEATH and two-tSrds of those years had
,,esn s,,ant IN the postal service. BE born in
this ctty ON July o. 1916. He was for short time
employed in the New-YOrk Custom House. ana was
hookReeper in a private business house He nrst Do
came connected with the postal service on OCTOBER TO-
1860 when he was in his fifteenth year. he was q
stamper and dis lrbutor in the New-York once. Ater
serving for two years he was discharged Oecaus
he was not an active politician, but be was immeoiaeN
81 hocau M ne
he He became an assistant clerk on the route De-
tween New-York and Washington In tho railway mai
service on October 10, 1864, and few months later
became clerk in the same service ON August a.
1871 he was promoted to the position OF head CLERK
and month later that Of chief head clerk nc DO
came connected with the General Postofoe as supern
tepdent of MATHS on February 1879 and continued IN
that ONCE until November, 1878, when Thomas Ia
James, the Postmaster, appointed him as Assistant
Postmaster in April, 1876 Mr. Pearson married
Ella Mason James, the Oldest oaugnter
of Mr. James He was throughout the years OF Mr.
Jamess postastershp his faithful colaborer and be-
came closely acquainted with all the work Of the ONCE
Wis HABITS of industry were formed before that trne
He was mover absent from his desk on any day OF the
week Even Sunday was only partial holiday with
him.
wben.Mr. James was appointed PostmasterG General
by President Garfield In March, 1881. the name OF Mr.
was at once suggested that OF his successor
Mr. James refused to make any recommendation on the
subject on account Of his relationship with Mr. Pear
son. but 1t was well understood that Mr.. James ap-
prectated the knowledge and industry OF
his son-in-law Mr. Pearson was appointed
Ptstmsstcr and confirmed by the Senate on March
90 He at once assumed the duties of the once, which
he continued 10 perform for eight years. He was
respponted by President Cleveland April 1885.
HIS habits and characteristics Postmaster arc well
known. He was approachable to remarkable de-
gree The large Office IN the front Of the Post once
Building where he sat never closed Any one,
whatever his business, c0urteously received, ano
his business quickly dispatched. His remarkable In
dustry and attention the duties Of MS Office wore
his most marked characteristics. He was at his once
at an early hour, and rarely left It before or :So
O'Clock He took no holidays II don't know wha'
10 do when / am away from o1ce,7 he frequently
said His hours Of work did not end with the close
of tho day for he worked hour In the evening" and
frequently until late at night whenever the quarterly
statistics or any compilation OF figures arrangement
of work required his special attention He rarely tool
exercise, an occasional walk from his home al
Grameray Park to the Postonice being his only
recreation.
From May q. 1873, to March %, 1881, he wa
chairman of the New-York Posto1ce Civil Service
BOARD ana from March %, 1881. TO June 2e, 1882 h'
was Custodian for the Treasury Department OF Thu
New-York Court House, and the Postoface Building
The work of the Office under Mr.. Pearson va
systematized to the greatest possible extent he az
not spare his men no uiu hot SPeio ""n'oA ~'
10 meet public demands with force whlon no oi'e'
considered inadequate His main principle In In
.sna,anant ~ the Office was that the first thin
~ Consider was the public need. II change In
volving additional labor seemed 70 MN 10 DC cos
~ bimseH and the clerks. The occasional OK
nresstons BY some of the clerks OF az hi
Bbnsps,nss ma1acement spraDg from this cause
III devotion 70 the work of the office wlthou
regard even 70 public holidays or the usual a nos
nn work even when several months ago IL pecan
apparent that he really ILL he oniy gave HR
s2e n,ydde Of the winter for short time 70 WISH
health resort Ia the South His experience there wa
lnplessant Almost every day was rainy ana go. co,
not at ain improved by his trip. He again TOOK ei
place at his desk in spite OF the warnngS .,
nf,rcb He refused 10 believe that bis scAnoss wa