My Genealogy Hound

William J. Pearce, proprietor of extensive greenhouses at Pontiac and owner of one of the best gravel pits in Oakland County, is one of the leading business men of the city. Mr. Pearce was born in the city of New York, but was taken by his parents to Port Hope, Canada, in infancy, where he resided until the age of 19 years, returning then to his native city. Some years were spent in Troy, New York and the city of New York, during which time he became thoroughly acquainted with the cultivation of plants and seeds.

Mr. Pearce has spent some 30 years as a florist, 13 of which have been passed in Pontiac. He is well established here at present, although he started in 1890 in a small way. The business has continually prospered and he has now greenhouses which outrank any other in the State, having 45,000 square feet of glass, growing mainly roses and carnations for the wholesale trade. The outside business is looked after by Mr. Pearce himself, his son, Hubert V. attending to home affairs during the former’s frequent visits over the territory from New York to St. Paul, which visits occupy his time from September 1st to June 1st. Some idea of the immense business done may be estimated from the fact that during the past year $12,000 worth of flowers were sold.

Another source of large income to Mr. Pearce is a valuable gravel pit on his place, consisting of 18 acres, and as it is of the finest quality he has difficulty in filling the orders fast enough, having usually demands for 1,000 cars ahead of possible delivery. Mr. Pearce was the first one to ship washed sand to Detroit. He is also ably assisted in this enterprise by his son, Hubert V., who in 1902 patented a washer, which promises to be adopted into general uses all over the country. These two lines fully occupy both Mr. Pearce and his son, with eight employees in the green houses and 15 at the gravel pit.

Mr. Pearce was married to Mariam K. Martin, a Canadian lady, and they have two sons, Hubert V. and Harry S., the latter being the engineer and foreman at the gravel pit. The beautiful family home is located on Orchard Lake avenue, Pontiac.

Although Mr. Pearce has been a very busy man ever since locating in Pontiac, he has taken a lively interest in public matters and is now serving his second term as a member of the Board of Public Works. In politics he is a Republican. His reputation as a successful florist is known all over the State and he belongs to various organizations devoted to the interests of horticulture. Mr. Pearce is ranked with the substantial men of Pontiac.