DAVID PIERSON, the pioneer banker, was born in Cazenovia, Madison county, N.Y., July 9, 1806, and is a son of Josiah and Naomi Pierson. When 13 years of age his parents immigrated west, arriving at St. Louis, Mo., on the 3d of June, 1820, and after a short sojourn removed across into Illinois, locating near Collinsville, Madison county. In 1821, his father, Josiah, died of bilious fever, after an illness of only five days, leaving his widow and a family of five children - two daughters and three sons - in a strange land and among strangers, in rather destitute circumstances. After the death of Mr. Pierson, the family removed to Greene county, settling two and a half miles north of Carrollton, about the close of the year 1821. In the spring of 1827, after having got a portion of the farm into a state of cultivation, David rented it out, and with others, went to the lead mines near Galena, and engaged in mining, but returned to the farm in the fall of 1828, where he remained with his mother until her death, in Sept., 1829. On the 25th of Aug., 1830, Mr. Pierson was married to Eliza J. Norton, a daughter of David Norton, an early settler of Illinois, from Herkimer county, N.Y., who continued the faithful, trusting partner of his joys and sorrows for over 50 years. Mr. Pierson continued to reside upon his farm until the beginning of 1834, when he disposed of the same and entered into the merchandising business in the then village of Carrollton, with a capital of less than $2,000, coming into competition with several experienced merchants who were worth many times as much as he was. In politics Mr. Pierson was from early youth a Clay Whig, but with the disruption of that party he became a republican, and acted with the Union party during the war of the Rebellion. In 1843, he extended his business operations largely, purchasing stock and grain, sometimes on a large scale. From 1848 to 1854, he was the owner of the capital and the leading member of the firm of Mark, Pierson & Co., who, in addition to the dry goods trade, did a large business in the purchase and shipment of grain. About the commencement of the year 1854, Mr. Pierson closed his connection with the firm and entered into the banking business in connection with the dry goods trade. In 1855 his banking business had increased so much that he procured a new safe, happily just before the night of the 3d of April, 1855, when a gang of robbers from Calhoun county, broke into the store, probably hoping to obtain a large amount of gold belonging to the sheriff of the county; but fortunately, they were unable to force the safe, and escaped with only about $280, which they found in the desk. Mr. Pierson immediately raised a company of 10 men, crossed over into Calhoun, and captured the whole gang, five in number, all of whom were finally convicted, and landed in the penitentiary. It was said by the state's attorney, that he manifested a large amount of skill, not only in capturing the robbers, but in having them convicted. In Jan. 1858, Mr. Pierson disposed of the dry goods business, and turned his attention exclusively to banking, and in 1859, erected the large and commodious house which has since been occupied by the bank. He was appointed special agent for the sale of United States bonds, during the time the government was borrowing money to crush out the rebellion, and while many who sympathized with the South, opposed and ridiculed the idea of loaning money to the government, to coerce our southern brethren, Mr. Pierson succeeded in selling about $600,000 worth of bonds of the different issues, to the citizens of the county. He was also collector of internal revenue for several years, and paid more taxes for the poor than the receipts of his office amounted to. In 1862, Mr. Pierson purchased the Carrollton flouring mill, which he ran with great success for some years. In 1862-3 he aided in building a woolen factory, which was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1872 causing a severe loss to him. Mr. Pierson and wife are members of the Baptist church, having been connected with that organization since 1832. Mr. Pierson was a director of the construction company, in the building of the L., C. & W. R.R., and at present owns $10,000 worth of the stock, and is also vice-president, chairman, and financial agent of the same. His wife died May 11, 1879. Four children survived her - Ornan, David D., Robert and Mary J. And now, taking into view the poor pioneer boy, shivering with chills and fever, in the rough log cabin, partaking of the humble fare of the backwoodsman, more than 50 years ago, and what he accomplished in life, it can but raise, in the estimation of all good men, the straightforward principles that has actuated his business career through life. He is, ostensibly, a self-made man, and needs no eulogy at our hands, as the work of his life speaks more eloquently for itself.