J. G. W. PIERSON  --1897

Mr. Pierson was one of the few early settlers in Hamilton who was born in Texas.  He was born in Grimes County, July 10, 1850, and came to Hamilton in 1862, settling with his father on the Leon River about 10 miles east of Hamilton in 1867.  The early settlers were suffering from attacks by Comanche, Apache, and Kiowa Indians, and while yet a boy Pierson helped fight them.  He entered Salado College in 1869 and later attended Texas Military Institute where he became Captain of Cadets.  He then read law in the office of Terrell & Walker and was admitted to the bar at Comanche in 1874.  He practiced law with C. N. Rutherford and later with J. A. Eidson.  He was elected county judge in 1878 and served two terms.  During his administration four iron bridges were constructed in Hamilton County.  In 1889 he went to Oklahoma and started a newspaper at Purcell, Indian Territory, and was afterwards sent to Washington to lay before Congress some important matters in the interest of the territory.  In 1891 he entered the Comptroller's office and was made chief clerk of the tax department, where he remained four years.  He then resigned and returned to Hamilton where he spent several years preparing an abstract of land titles in Hamilton County for J. T. James.  He was a Democrat and belonged to the part of the Christian Church called "progressive."

The County News has been informed that Mr. Pierson was an uncle of Craik Pierson, F. C. and J. M. Williams, all now (1938) living in Hamilton.

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Friday, June 24, 1938

W. F. Billingslea, Publisher, Hamilton County, TX