St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-12-13
RECENT DEATHS.



William l.. Pearl died at his home on
Summer street Tuesday night at little
before 1 / O'Clock.
Mr.. Pearl was born in Sheffield in 1888
and was the son of William and Mary
Pearl. His parents limited means pre-
vented his receiving a liberal education
and beyond the common school his edu-
cation was completed at the Orleans
Liberal Institute in Glover. When IA
years of age he began work and up to
the time he was 27 all he earned went to
help his parents. For few years he was
employed by George Ide at Lyndonville
and later he was proprietor OF general
country store in Sheffield for several
years. He came to st. Johnsburyin 1873
and first travelled for Joel Fletcher, the
pioneer grain dealer. These trips took
him all through northern New England.
For short time he was employed by
Martin l.. Hall & Co. of Boston and in
1879 he went into the grocery business
with George w. Spencer. Two years
later E. B. Merriam, now ofTopeka, was
admitted to the firm and the name be-
came Spencer, Pearl & Merriam. A few
years later this firm was dissolved and
he entered the employ of Rodee, Bill &
Co. of Ogdensburg, N. Y, wholesale flour
and grain dealers, as travelling salesman
which firm he faithfully served up to the
time OF his death. In March, 1887, he
formed partnership in the -four and
grain business with Capt. Edward F.
Grlswold and in September, 1890, Robert
Mackinnon joined the firm and the name
was changed to Griswold, Pearl & Co.
Mr.. Pearl was held in high esteem as
financier, being at one time trustee of
the Lyndon Savings Bank, and for many
years he has been director in the Mer-
chants Bank, and was vice-presdent at
the time of his death. He was also one
of the vce-presidents of the Board of
Trade, and deeply interested in all the
business welfare of the town.
While resident of Sheffield he was
clerk and treasurer of that town for sew
eral years, and represented the town in
the legislature in 1S70-72. He was a
thorough believer in the principles OF pro-
hibition, and was at one time candidate
J for ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS On that ticket
He had the courage of his convictions or
all temperance matters, and was a strong
man because he sometimes stood most
alone" He united with the Methodist
church while resident of Sheffield, and
when he came to st. Johnsbury he joined
the North church, where he has always
been an active member. He never lost
his interest in the Methodist church at
Sheffield, and was always good con-
trbutor to this little church.
Mr.. Pearl died of congestion of the liver
accompanied by other complications. He
bore his sickness OF about a month with
great patience and never lost his courage.
In 1867 he married Miss Lucina S. AL
bee of Hardwck, who with two daugh-
ters, Lillian M. and Bertha NJ, and one
son, Raymond A., survive him. The fu-
neral will be held at the house today at 2
o'clock, and the friends generally are in
vited to this ceremony.
Mr.. Pearl was one of the kind of men
that this town can i'll afford to lose, and
his successful business life is but the
natural result of his untiring industry,
his unfnching integrity and his courage
to champion the right at any cost. He
was man of tender nature, caring for
his parents all through their lives and
making many sacrifices for their sake, and
was equally devoted and considerate for
every member of his own family. His
loss will be greatly teltin the community,
and the family have the sympathy of a
large circle Of friends here and through.
out the state.