Son of Benjamin Franklin Pearson and Nancy Sofia Kelley of Cecil County Maryland according to State of Iowa Adjutant General and genealogical records.
Mr. Pearson was a brick mason and building contractor who constructed some of the best known homes and public buildings in Appanoose, Davis and Van Buren Counties, Iowa. He owned two farm properties near Keosauqua, one along the Des Moines River north of the city and his personal residence, situated about a mile below the community. An active and ardent abolitionist, Mr. Pearson's large two story stone and brick home was a haven for runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War.
When he learned that a new regiment would be raised for war service, he enrolled in the service in Centerville and with David C. Campbell he immediately commenced recruiting volunteers there; he also submitted his application to Governor Samuel Kirkwood for an officer's commission which was quickly approved on July 28, 1862 when he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant. Together with Mr. Campbell they raised a company of more than 100 men in Centerville and vicinity which became Company G of the Thirty-Sixth Iowa Infantry Regiment. The regiment was mustered into United States Service Oct 4 1862 at Camp Lincoln in Keokuk.
His war service included participation in the Yazoo Pass-Fort Pemberton Expedition against Vicksburg Feb-Mar 1863; the Battle of Helena, Arkansas, Jul 4th 1863; the capture and occupation of Little Rock, Sep 10 1863 and the Camden Expedition Mar-Apr 1864. During the latter Expedition, Lt. Pearson participated in the Battle of Elkins Ford 3-4 Apr 1864; the Battle of Prairie De Ane, 9-13 Apr 1864; the Capture of Camden 15 Apr 1864 and the Battle of Marks Mills, 25 Apr 1864.
At the last named engagement, Lt. Pearson and most of his company and regiment were taken prisoner when the 1,100-strong brigade in which the 36th Iowa Regiment was attached was ambushed and overrun by approximately 5,000 Confederate Cavalry under the command of General James Fagan during a desperate and sanguine 5 hour fight at a remote crossroads in a pine forrest known as Mark's Mills, Cleveland County, Arkansas.
As a prisoner, Lt. Pearson volunteered to remain behind to assist the Union and Confederate surgeons with the wounded and to help bury the dead while the remainder of the prisoners were marched to a POW stockade at Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas. He was given permission to search the battlefield for his son, Private Amandus Pearson, whom he feared was killed in the battle. Not finding his son's body, Lt. Pearson assumed that he had been taken prisoner. While ministering to the wounded, Pearson was asked by his Confederate captors to ride under escort into the Federal lines at Pine Bluff, some 30 miles northeast of Marks Mills to request medicine with which to treat both rebel and Union wounded. Pearson complied with the request and after procuring the medicine he handed it over to his escort and ordered the man to return without him. Thus he managed to escape his captors and returned to Federal Army headquarters at Little Rock where he was overjoyed to meet Amends, who had been one of the 90 federal soldiers who managed to escape capture. Lt. Pearson spent most of the remainder of the war.
As an ardent abolitionist and pro-active member of the Methodist-Episcopal Church, Lt. Pearson also took on the role of an auxiliary chaplain in his regiment and he worked closely with African-American congregations at both Helena and Little Rock while stationed for extended periods in those cities. Lt. Pearson also frequently ministered to sister regiments. So thorough was his command of scripture and so strong were his preaching and speaking skills that while at Helena he was invited to join the Army Chaplains Association in Arkansas. In the winter of 1864-1865 at Little Rock, Lt. Pearson became a Deacon in the M E Church. His military duty after escape from the rebels was limited due to illness and he was placed on the disability list. His Army duties consisted only of serving on the Court Martial board at Little Rock. After a brief assignment with his regiment at St. Charles, Arkansas, Lt. Pearson resigned and was mustered out in May 1865.
His detailed day by day war diary was published in The Annals of Iowa by the Iowa State Historical Society in 6 installments between 1926-1927.
Mr. Pearson's son, Phineas Amandus Pearson (called Amandus by the family) enlisted in the 36th Iowa as a replacememt recruit at age 17 in Feb 1864 and escaped capture during the Marks Mills battle. (See Findagrave # 17350765)
Daughter - Emma Pearson b. c1842
Son - Phineas Amandus Pearson b. May 13, 1847 - March 17, 1894
Son - Franklin A. Pearson b. c1854
Son - Augustus Clay Pearson b. c1856
Five other Children who died before 1860.
Mr. Pearson was a brick mason and building contractor who constructed some of the best known homes and public buildings in Appanoose, Davis and Van Buren Counties, Iowa. He owned two farm properties near Keosauqua, one along the Des Moines River north of the city and his personal residence, situated about a mile below the community. An active and ardent abolitionist, Mr. Pearson's large two story stone and brick home was a haven for runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War.
When he learned that a new regiment would be raised for war service, he enrolled in the service in Centerville and with David C. Campbell he immediately commenced recruiting volunteers there; he also submitted his application to Governor Samuel Kirkwood for an officer's commission which was quickly approved on July 28, 1862 when he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant. Together with Mr. Campbell they raised a company of more than 100 men in Centerville and vicinity which became Company G of the Thirty-Sixth Iowa Infantry Regiment. The regiment was mustered into United States Service Oct 4 1862 at Camp Lincoln in Keokuk.
His war service included participation in the Yazoo Pass-Fort Pemberton Expedition against Vicksburg Feb-Mar 1863; the Battle of Helena, Arkansas, Jul 4th 1863; the capture and occupation of Little Rock, Sep 10 1863 and the Camden Expedition Mar-Apr 1864. During the latter Expedition, Lt. Pearson participated in the Battle of Elkins Ford 3-4 Apr 1864; the Battle of Prairie De Ane, 9-13 Apr 1864; the Capture of Camden 15 Apr 1864 and the Battle of Marks Mills, 25 Apr 1864.
At the last named engagement, Lt. Pearson and most of his company and regiment were taken prisoner when the 1,100-strong brigade in which the 36th Iowa Regiment was attached was ambushed and overrun by approximately 5,000 Confederate Cavalry under the command of General James Fagan during a desperate and sanguine 5 hour fight at a remote crossroads in a pine forrest known as Mark's Mills, Cleveland County, Arkansas.
As a prisoner, Lt. Pearson volunteered to remain behind to assist the Union and Confederate surgeons with the wounded and to help bury the dead while the remainder of the prisoners were marched to a POW stockade at Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas. He was given permission to search the battlefield for his son, Private Amandus Pearson, whom he feared was killed in the battle. Not finding his son's body, Lt. Pearson assumed that he had been taken prisoner. While ministering to the wounded, Pearson was asked by his Confederate captors to ride under escort into the Federal lines at Pine Bluff, some 30 miles northeast of Marks Mills to request medicine with which to treat both rebel and Union wounded. Pearson complied with the request and after procuring the medicine he handed it over to his escort and ordered the man to return without him. Thus he managed to escape his captors and returned to Federal Army headquarters at Little Rock where he was overjoyed to meet Amends, who had been one of the 90 federal soldiers who managed to escape capture. Lt. Pearson spent most of the remainder of the war.
As an ardent abolitionist and pro-active member of the Methodist-Episcopal Church, Lt. Pearson also took on the role of an auxiliary chaplain in his regiment and he worked closely with African-American congregations at both Helena and Little Rock while stationed for extended periods in those cities. Lt. Pearson also frequently ministered to sister regiments. So thorough was his command of scripture and so strong were his preaching and speaking skills that while at Helena he was invited to join the Army Chaplains Association in Arkansas. In the winter of 1864-1865 at Little Rock, Lt. Pearson became a Deacon in the M E Church. His military duty after escape from the rebels was limited due to illness and he was placed on the disability list. His Army duties consisted only of serving on the Court Martial board at Little Rock. After a brief assignment with his regiment at St. Charles, Arkansas, Lt. Pearson resigned and was mustered out in May 1865.
His detailed day by day war diary was published in The Annals of Iowa by the Iowa State Historical Society in 6 installments between 1926-1927.
Mr. Pearson's son, Phineas Amandus Pearson (called Amandus by the family) enlisted in the 36th Iowa as a replacememt recruit at age 17 in Feb 1864 and escaped capture during the Marks Mills battle. (See Findagrave # 17350765)
Daughter - Emma Pearson b. c1842
Son - Phineas Amandus Pearson b. May 13, 1847 - March 17, 1894
Son - Franklin A. Pearson b. c1854
Son - Augustus Clay Pearson b. c1856
Five other Children who died before 1860.
Son of Benjamin Franklin Pearson and Nancy Sofia Kelley of Cecil County Maryland according to State of Iowa Adjutant General and genealogical records.
Mr. Pearson was a brick mason and building contractor who constructed some of the best known homes and public buildings in Appanoose, Davis and Van Buren Counties, Iowa. He owned two farm properties near Keosauqua, one along the Des Moines River north of the city and his personal residence, situated about a mile below the community. An active and ardent abolitionist, Mr. Pearson's large two story stone and brick home was a haven for runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War.
When he learned that a new regiment would be raised for war service, he enrolled in the service in Centerville and with David C. Campbell he immediately commenced recruiting volunteers there; he also submitted his application to Governor Samuel Kirkwood for an officer's commission which was quickly approved on July 28, 1862 when he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant. Together with Mr. Campbell they raised a company of more than 100 men in Centerville and vicinity which became Company G of the Thirty-Sixth Iowa Infantry Regiment. The regiment was mustered into United States Service Oct 4 1862 at Camp Lincoln in Keokuk.
His war service included participation in the Yazoo Pass-Fort Pemberton Expedition against Vicksburg Feb-Mar 1863; the Battle of Helena, Arkansas, Jul 4th 1863; the capture and occupation of Little Rock, Sep 10 1863 and the Camden Expedition Mar-Apr 1864. During the latter Expedition, Lt. Pearson participated in the Battle of Elkins Ford 3-4 Apr 1864; the Battle of Prairie De Ane, 9-13 Apr 1864; the Capture of Camden 15 Apr 1864 and the Battle of Marks Mills, 25 Apr 1864.
At the last named engagement, Lt. Pearson and most of his company and regiment were taken prisoner when the 1,100-strong brigade in which the 36th Iowa Regiment was attached was ambushed and overrun by approximately 5,000 Confederate Cavalry under the command of General James Fagan during a desperate and sanguine 5 hour fight at a remote crossroads in a pine forrest known as Mark's Mills, Cleveland County, Arkansas.
As a prisoner, Lt. Pearson volunteered to remain behind to assist the Union and Confederate surgeons with the wounded and to help bury the dead while the remainder of the prisoners were marched to a POW stockade at Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas. He was given permission to search the battlefield for his son, Private Amandus Pearson, whom he feared was killed in the battle. Not finding his son's body, Lt. Pearson assumed that he had been taken prisoner. While ministering to the wounded, Pearson was asked by his Confederate captors to ride under escort into the Federal lines at Pine Bluff, some 30 miles northeast of Marks Mills to request medicine with which to treat both rebel and Union wounded. Pearson complied with the request and after procuring the medicine he handed it over to his escort and ordered the man to return without him. Thus he managed to escape his captors and returned to Federal Army headquarters at Little Rock where he was overjoyed to meet Amends, who had been one of the 90 federal soldiers who managed to escape capture. Lt. Pearson spent most of the remainder of the war.
As an ardent abolitionist and pro-active member of the Methodist-Episcopal Church, Lt. Pearson also took on the role of an auxiliary chaplain in his regiment and he worked closely with African-American congregations at both Helena and Little Rock while stationed for extended periods in those cities. Lt. Pearson also frequently ministered to sister regiments. So thorough was his command of scripture and so strong were his preaching and speaking skills that while at Helena he was invited to join the Army Chaplains Association in Arkansas. In the winter of 1864-1865 at Little Rock, Lt. Pearson became a Deacon in the M E Church. His military duty after escape from the rebels was limited due to illness and he was placed on the disability list. His Army duties consisted only of serving on the Court Martial board at Little Rock. After a brief assignment with his regiment at St. Charles, Arkansas, Lt. Pearson resigned and was mustered out in May 1865.
His detailed day by day war diary was published in The Annals of Iowa by the Iowa State Historical Society in 6 installments between 1926-1927.
Mr. Pearson's son, Phineas Amandus Pearson (called Amandus by the family) enlisted in the 36th Iowa as a replacememt recruit at age 17 in Feb 1864 and escaped capture during the Marks Mills battle. (See Findagrave # 17350765)
Daughter - Emma Pearson b. c1842
Son - Phineas Amandus Pearson b. May 13, 1847 - March 17, 1894
Son - Franklin A. Pearson b. c1854
Son - Augustus Clay Pearson b. c1856
Five other Children who died before 1860.
Mr. Pearson was a brick mason and building contractor who constructed some of the best known homes and public buildings in Appanoose, Davis and Van Buren Counties, Iowa. He owned two farm properties near Keosauqua, one along the Des Moines River north of the city and his personal residence, situated about a mile below the community. An active and ardent abolitionist, Mr. Pearson's large two story stone and brick home was a haven for runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War.
When he learned that a new regiment would be raised for war service, he enrolled in the service in Centerville and with David C. Campbell he immediately commenced recruiting volunteers there; he also submitted his application to Governor Samuel Kirkwood for an officer's commission which was quickly approved on July 28, 1862 when he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant. Together with Mr. Campbell they raised a company of more than 100 men in Centerville and vicinity which became Company G of the Thirty-Sixth Iowa Infantry Regiment. The regiment was mustered into United States Service Oct 4 1862 at Camp Lincoln in Keokuk.
His war service included participation in the Yazoo Pass-Fort Pemberton Expedition against Vicksburg Feb-Mar 1863; the Battle of Helena, Arkansas, Jul 4th 1863; the capture and occupation of Little Rock, Sep 10 1863 and the Camden Expedition Mar-Apr 1864. During the latter Expedition, Lt. Pearson participated in the Battle of Elkins Ford 3-4 Apr 1864; the Battle of Prairie De Ane, 9-13 Apr 1864; the Capture of Camden 15 Apr 1864 and the Battle of Marks Mills, 25 Apr 1864.
At the last named engagement, Lt. Pearson and most of his company and regiment were taken prisoner when the 1,100-strong brigade in which the 36th Iowa Regiment was attached was ambushed and overrun by approximately 5,000 Confederate Cavalry under the command of General James Fagan during a desperate and sanguine 5 hour fight at a remote crossroads in a pine forrest known as Mark's Mills, Cleveland County, Arkansas.
As a prisoner, Lt. Pearson volunteered to remain behind to assist the Union and Confederate surgeons with the wounded and to help bury the dead while the remainder of the prisoners were marched to a POW stockade at Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas. He was given permission to search the battlefield for his son, Private Amandus Pearson, whom he feared was killed in the battle. Not finding his son's body, Lt. Pearson assumed that he had been taken prisoner. While ministering to the wounded, Pearson was asked by his Confederate captors to ride under escort into the Federal lines at Pine Bluff, some 30 miles northeast of Marks Mills to request medicine with which to treat both rebel and Union wounded. Pearson complied with the request and after procuring the medicine he handed it over to his escort and ordered the man to return without him. Thus he managed to escape his captors and returned to Federal Army headquarters at Little Rock where he was overjoyed to meet Amends, who had been one of the 90 federal soldiers who managed to escape capture. Lt. Pearson spent most of the remainder of the war.
As an ardent abolitionist and pro-active member of the Methodist-Episcopal Church, Lt. Pearson also took on the role of an auxiliary chaplain in his regiment and he worked closely with African-American congregations at both Helena and Little Rock while stationed for extended periods in those cities. Lt. Pearson also frequently ministered to sister regiments. So thorough was his command of scripture and so strong were his preaching and speaking skills that while at Helena he was invited to join the Army Chaplains Association in Arkansas. In the winter of 1864-1865 at Little Rock, Lt. Pearson became a Deacon in the M E Church. His military duty after escape from the rebels was limited due to illness and he was placed on the disability list. His Army duties consisted only of serving on the Court Martial board at Little Rock. After a brief assignment with his regiment at St. Charles, Arkansas, Lt. Pearson resigned and was mustered out in May 1865.
His detailed day by day war diary was published in The Annals of Iowa by the Iowa State Historical Society in 6 installments between 1926-1927.
Mr. Pearson's son, Phineas Amandus Pearson (called Amandus by the family) enlisted in the 36th Iowa as a replacememt recruit at age 17 in Feb 1864 and escaped capture during the Marks Mills battle. (See Findagrave # 17350765)
Daughter - Emma Pearson b. c1842
Son - Phineas Amandus Pearson b. May 13, 1847 - March 17, 1894
Son - Franklin A. Pearson b. c1854
Son - Augustus Clay Pearson b. c1856
Five other Children who died before 1860.
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