The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17
COL, R, H, PEARSON
PASSES AWAY
Distinguished Citizen Goes to
Great Beyond
Due TO HEART FAILURE
Death Comes After Several Months of
Suffering From a Weak Heart.
Took Trip to Mountains
Without Any Relief.

Death yesterday removed another of
Birmingham's pioneer citizens in the de-
mise OF Col. R. H. Pearson. DISTINGUISHED
as an attorney, respected as a citizen and
beloved as a friend. his death comes as
shock to the entire community although
1t had not been altogether unexpected.
Funeral services will be held at the
Church of the Advent this afternoon at
8 o'clock and interment will be in Elm
wood cemetery. The pail bearers will
be the surviving members of the vestry,
Robert Jemison, Maj. E. M. Tutwiler.
Judge S. e. Greene, Col. T. o. Smith,
Dr. p. P. Riggs, R. A Terrell, John
B. Coe, j. w. Mcqueen, S. E. Thomp-
son and J. Rivers Carter The Rev.
DR.. w. E. Evans, rector of the Church
Of the Advent, will officiate.
His death occurred at $50 o'clock yes
terday morning at the family residence,
900 South Twentieth street, and result
ed from heart failure His condition
had been very bad for the past several
weeks and he took a trip to the noun
tains of North Carolina in the effort to
recuperate. There was no improvement,
ham, where everything that medical skill
could do was used to prolong his life,
but without avail.
He was 81 years of age and is survived
by his widow, who was Miss Sallie Har-
rison, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. L. c.
harrison of Dallas county; two daugh-
tiers, Mrs. L. A. Rix and Mrs James
Bridges, and three grandchildren.
colonel Pearson had been a resident of
birmingham for nearly 40 years, coming
to birmingham in 1872 He was born
IN Barbour county in 1913, his parents be-
ing Benjamin r. and Harriet NJ Pearson,
whose native state was North Carolina.
lie was raised on farm and as a young
man taught school for several years, then
entered the law department of the Cum
berland university at Lebanon, Tenn.
As lawyer Colonel Pearson won dis
tinction and in point of service before the
local bar was the Oldest member of the
local Bar association His ability was rec
ognized long years ago, and he served as
city attorney for many years. He was
also assistant prosecuting attorney for the
circuit court for a long while, and was
one of the first mayors of Birmingham.
He was senior warden of the Church of
the Advent for over 90 years. While he
mad no polltlcal aspirations he stood high
in the democratic ranks, and served sew
eral terms as chairman of the county
democratic executive committee.
At the time of his death he was inter
ested largely in mining operations. He
organized the Pearson Coal and Iron
company, and also the Central Iron COM
pany. He was director In the Birming
ham Railway, Light and Power company
and was connected with large number
of industrial and banking institutions.
In 1903 he was selected as a member of
the arbitration board which settled the
coal miners strike, and on which Judge
George Gray of Delaware was chairman.
Two years ago he was appointed as one
of the commissioners by the City Council
to investigate graft charges against GER
tain members of the Board of Alder
men.
His marriage was the first to occur in
the old Relay house, the famous Birming
ham hosiery. The ceremony was per-
formed by the Rev. Phillip Fits, rector
of the Church of the Advent at that
time.
Everything in his life tended to build
up Birmingham and Alabama. Possessed
of rare foresight and level-headedness he
did much to help and cheer others at the
time gloom prevailed in the city. He
numbered his friends by the thousands.