The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-04
VETERAN
ANSWERS
LAST CALL
Pearson Had Served
as Court Official Lsng
and Well.
WAS BORN In ENGLAND
Came to Newark When Young
Man and Had Held Many
Positions in City and
County-.M Member Several
Clubs and Societies.
WAS BORN IN ENGLAND

Thomas Pearson, Civil Wa veteran,
for many years a criminal court clerk,
and who had held man city and county
offices under Republican administra-
tons, died at 8 o'clock this morning at
his home, 36 Myrtle avenue, of heart
failure, after being in q. poor state of
health for close on to a year.
Last week Mr.. Pearson felt a little i'm
proved and. after stating that 1903
would see him well again, he left the
house New Years day and visited the
City Hall, to witness the various Off
ella ceremonies, and returning home
went back to bed and remained there
until his death.
Mr.. Pearson first saw the light of day
on September 5. 1871. in the little town
of Upton, Warwickshire, England. He
came to this country in 1852, after hav-
ing earned to be a watch-case maker.
He took up his trade in Newark and be-
came a factor in the Republican party.
When the news of the firing on Fort
Sumter became. known he was among
the first in line that stood in front of
the old City Hall, then the City Hotel,
to enlist, and fought in some of the
principal engagements of the war in
Company A, Twenty-sixths New Jer-
sey Volunteers, and while compli-
mented several times for bravery on
the field, escaped without a scratch.
When his enlistment expired he re-
turned to this city and took up his
trade again, and shortly afterwards
when his party gained supremacy in
the city his efforts were rewarded by
a position in the city clerks office.
He afterwards engaged in the manu-
facture of watch cases in a factory
of his own and soon after was made
a street commissioner, when the SUI
pervision of the highways was under
the direction of the Common Council,
previous to the creation of the Aque-
duct Board, which since has been SUI
perseded by the Board of Works.
While in this position he was instru-
mental in starting the crusade for bet
ter paving, n advocated the cutting
through of streets to enlarge the town,
and at the expiration of his term was
appointed to a county court position
by the late Justice Miller. He resigned
from this to accept a commissionership
on the City Tax Board, where he again
instituted a number of reforms.
Ten years ago he was appointed court
ClClh NY 1Itiliildl SOuII JuuEG AuB Is
tus Eggers, now Board of Works Com
missioner. Soon after the veteran act
was passed preventing the removal of
veterans from public office, and he re-
tanned his position under the tenure
until his death.
In his official capacity as clerk he
often served as judge and his official
duties were performed In every precinct
~ flo aftx- ,Yl 1fe o~s,;aa ,o,,-l, -,
all the judges who were in office in late
years. OF late his failing health has
kept him from fulfilling the active du-
ties of his office, and since the death of
his wife two years ago he lost n great
part of his accustomed vigor. and dur-
ing the time he was confined to his bed
spoke constantly of his life partner.
Judge Eggers, when told of the death
of his old friend today, expressed great
sorrow, and stated that Mr.. Pearson
had all the qualifications of a lovable
friend and a true man, and his loss
would be felt by the city. Another of
his old friends, Amos H. Won Horn,
spoke in praise of the deceased, and
said hat as a soldier, an official and a
man he was a man to be proud of.
He was a member of Lincoln Post,
G. A. r., Twenty-sixth New Jersey Vet
Grams Association, a director of the
Lincoln Club for years, Protection
Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fell
lows, and a number of other political,
social and fraternal associations.
He was the oldest member of st.
Barnabas's Episcopal Church, having
attended the first service held in the
church. fifty-f1ve years ago, and a con-
slant attendant since. During the half
century he was connected with the
church he held many important offices
In it.
He is survived by three children,
William c. Pearson, Mrs. Theodore Low
and Mrs. Frank b. Gardiner, all of this
city, and by a brother and sister,
Charles Pearson and Miss Anna Pear
son.
The funeral service will be held at his
late home at 3 p. M. Monday, the Rev.
Stephen H. Cranberry, rector of the