Hiram College - Spider Web Yearbook (Hiram, OH)

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ARTHUR CHESTER PIERSON

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1In flbemoriam

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Hfllllll' Q. PiQl'S0ll. Arthur C. Pierson was the oldest of a family of three children His father, who had chosen the law as his profession, was of New England stock, and his mother was a native of Pennsylvania. Some time after his marriage the young lawyer, brilliant, ambitious, and full of hope, started with his wife for the West. They stopped for a time at Keosauqua, Iowa, where the subject of this sketch was born, May 20, T852- His parents continued their journey and settled at Jacksonville, Oregon, making that their home until Arthur was a lad of eight years, when his father determined to move to San Francisco. The methods of travel then in that part of the country were quite primitive and the boy was put in charge of some travelers, with whom he rode the entire distance upon a mule. He reached San Francisco early in '61, little knowing what was in store for him, for his father died in '63 and his mother in Ulanuary. '65, leaving him an orphan indeed. His mother's relatives sent for him and his two younger sisters to come to them and so in August of that same year they started on an ocean voyage for that far-off Pennsylvania home. 'When they arrived, Arthur was given a good home with an uncle. Although kindly treated. he desired to be inde- pendent and resolved to begin life for himself. Fearing, however, that his uncle might not approve'his plans, he kept his secret and when opportunity came left home without taking leave of any one. He came to Ohio and found employment with the farmers near Canton. His varied experience was a schooling that taught him the manly virtues of patience, diligence and self-reliance. As he was naturally ambitious, early in life he set his heart upon having a thorough education that his infiuence in the world and power for good might be in- creased. By the strictest economy he saved up a little sum of money which en- abled him to attend Ada Normal School, where he prepared himself for teach- ing in the public schools. Soon after leaving Ada he met Hon. S. E. Young as a fellow-teacher at Kenton, O. Mr, Young, seeing in him a young man of promise, advised him to go to Hiram College to hnish his education, which he did, beginning his study here in 1874. Before coming to Hiram he had united with the church under the preach- ing of Wfilliam Dowling and had resolved to make the ministry his life-work. lt I3