My Genealogy Hound

ALLEN PEARSON, farmer; P. O. Jaysville; one of the old pioneers of Darke Co.; was born in South Carolina in 1806, and when about 6 years of age, came with his mother (his father having died when he was but an infant), to Ohio and settled in Warren Co., where he remained till about 15 years of age, when they settled in Darke Co.; at the time Mr. Pearson came here, it was a perfect wilderness; in most directions there were no settlers within twelve to fifteen miles of him, and many Indians roamed through the forests; at that time, they would pack their corn to mill for a distance of twenty miles or more. Mr. Pearson was united in marriage in 1827, to Mary, daughter of Moses Arnold, also from South Carolina, who came here prior to Mr. Pearson, hence making them among the very oldest settlers of Darke Co.; to them eleven children have been born, of whom only four are now living, viz., Maria, Mary Ann, Edney and Westley; the children are married and settled in life, the three daughters in this county, and Westley in Illinois. Mr. Pearson and wife are among those industrious old pioneers, who came here poor and endured all the hardships incident to such life, in fact, endured perhaps more than most of other residents; as an illustration—when they came here they constructed a little log hut, with an opening to answer for an entrance, and hung up an old quilt for a door; this was early in the summer of 1818; the floor of the house was the “mother earth;” they had no chimney, but built their fire on the ground, in the middle of the room; in this manner, they lived till fall, when some little improvements were made; from this commencement, step by step, they advanced along life’s journey, gradually making such improvements as their wants and means demanded and would justify till at the present time, they have 200 acres of land, and about three-quarters of it under cultivation, a good brick house, good barns, etc., with all necessary comforts of life, thus being an example to rising generations of what industry coupled with frugality, will accomplish.