Pearson
James Madison Pearson II was born September 4, 1843 in Dadwile, Alabama, the son of James Madison Pearson and Elizabeth Ann (Brown) Pearson. On his paternal side they were English and some were members of William Penn's Colony. On his mother's side the family were Scotch-Irish.
His early education was in schools of Alabama. Later went to Emory College in Georgia and later the University of Alabama. At the outbreak of the Civil War he ran away from school and enlisted in Company E. Thirtieth Infantry of Alabama. He soon became a 2nd Lt. and served in eastern Tennessee under Kirby Smith. He was in the Kentucky Campaign and fought several battles in Mississippi. He was taken a prisoner during the battle at Vicksburg, May 12, 1863 and taken to Johnson's Island in Lake Erie, where he was held for 22 months. He later said that during this long confinement he memorized Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. In March of 1865 he was returned to the South where he began to study law. He was admitted to the Bar in Mississippi. In 1871 he entered the law department of Washington University and in 1873 won his L.L.D.
In 1875 he came to McKinney to practice law. In 1878 he married Mary Belle Powell and made his home at 318 South Tenn. Street. In 1893 he became McKinney's first mayor and served five terms, unopposed. During his tenure he established the first waterworks system, established the first sewage system, built the first public school, improved the streets and sidewalks, extended the city limits, revised the City ordinances, and received $1.00 as mayor.
In 1901 he was appointed by the Governor to entertain Eastern Capitalists, the New York Chamber of Commerce, and eastern merchants who wanted to tour Texas. In his speech he referred to McKinney as "the diamond pin on the bosom of Texas", a term that was widely used by the press. In March 31, 1903 he was appointed judge of the 59th district of Texas by Governor Latham. He served for three terms until ill health forced him to retire. He died May 1, 1915.
Judge Pearson was a Confederate soldier, a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Odd Fellows, and the Benevolent Order of the Elks. He is written up in the Encyclopedia of Famous Texans, p. 92, published by Southern Publishing Company 1880.
James Madison Pearson, son of Judge Pearson,, was born in McKinney February 8, 1887. After finishing school he entered the real estate business with his cousin, Dan Jones, and helped promoted the suburb of Urbanton built on the Interurban route. Pearson street was named for him.
In April 1914 Matt Pearson passed the state bar examination and was license to practice law. December 1, 1914 he was killed turning on a light in his parent's home. He is buried in Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney.
Elizabeth Ann Pearson was born in Alabama near Bell's Landing on a plantation. She was the daughter of John B. and Isabella Johnson Powell. She came with her family to Texas in 1870 and located in Van Alstyne and later settled in McKinney. After her marriage to James Madison Pearson, they made their home at 318 South Tennessee Street in McKinney. They were the parents of Leslie, Annie Belle, J. Matt. She was a sister of Yancy Powell.
His early education was in schools of Alabama. Later went to Emory College in Georgia and later the University of Alabama. At the outbreak of the Civil War he ran away from school and enlisted in Company E. Thirtieth Infantry of Alabama. He soon became a 2nd Lt. and served in eastern Tennessee under Kirby Smith. He was in the Kentucky Campaign and fought several battles in Mississippi. He was taken a prisoner during the battle at Vicksburg, May 12, 1863 and taken to Johnson's Island in Lake Erie, where he was held for 22 months. He later said that during this long confinement he memorized Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. In March of 1865 he was returned to the South where he began to study law. He was admitted to the Bar in Mississippi. In 1871 he entered the law department of Washington University and in 1873 won his L.L.D.
In 1875 he came to McKinney to practice law. In 1878 he married Mary Belle Powell and made his home at 318 South Tenn. Street. In 1893 he became McKinney's first mayor and served five terms, unopposed. During his tenure he established the first waterworks system, established the first sewage system, built the first public school, improved the streets and sidewalks, extended the city limits, revised the City ordinances, and received $1.00 as mayor.
In 1901 he was appointed by the Governor to entertain Eastern Capitalists, the New York Chamber of Commerce, and eastern merchants who wanted to tour Texas. In his speech he referred to McKinney as "the diamond pin on the bosom of Texas", a term that was widely used by the press. In March 31, 1903 he was appointed judge of the 59th district of Texas by Governor Latham. He served for three terms until ill health forced him to retire. He died May 1, 1915.
Judge Pearson was a Confederate soldier, a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Odd Fellows, and the Benevolent Order of the Elks. He is written up in the Encyclopedia of Famous Texans, p. 92, published by Southern Publishing Company 1880.
James Madison Pearson, son of Judge Pearson,, was born in McKinney February 8, 1887. After finishing school he entered the real estate business with his cousin, Dan Jones, and helped promoted the suburb of Urbanton built on the Interurban route. Pearson street was named for him.
In April 1914 Matt Pearson passed the state bar examination and was license to practice law. December 1, 1914 he was killed turning on a light in his parent's home. He is buried in Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney.
Elizabeth Ann Pearson was born in Alabama near Bell's Landing on a plantation. She was the daughter of John B. and Isabella Johnson Powell. She came with her family to Texas in 1870 and located in Van Alstyne and later settled in McKinney. After her marriage to James Madison Pearson, they made their home at 318 South Tennessee Street in McKinney. They were the parents of Leslie, Annie Belle, J. Matt. She was a sister of Yancy Powell.
