Mary's parents were:
John Andrew Pearson (1797 - 1880)
Nancy Elizabeth Carlton Pearson (1800 - 1861)

Mary came from a large family being the second of ten children. When she was about 10 years old her parents & her Uncle Joseph Pearson, moved from NC to MO. This included seven of her siblings and eight Negro slaves. Whether the two families were accompanied by others in a large wagon train is unknown. Their first stop was Callaway County, the central part of MO, where they lived for a few months before moving to the unsettled wilderness where her father acquired a goodly amount of land. This land became part of Audrain County in December 1836 and the little town of Mexico was established. He donated three acres of land to Mexico to help it along. Mary & her family lived in two small cabins for a number of years. It was here that she grew to adulthood.

Mary married Samuel Black Gass on June 12, 1841. She gave birth to 7 sons & 3 daughters; five children were born in the month of August.

1. Albert Galletin b December 13, 1842 – 1921
2. Mary "Polly" Ann b August 1, 1844 – 1910 (married George Thomas Fox)
3. Lucille "Lucy" Ann b October 05, 1845 – (married Joseph Edward Sharp) See link to her memorial at bottom of page.
4. John Patrick b August 01, 1849 – 1937
5. William Knox b August 17, 1850 – 1938
6. Howard Allan b August 22, 1853 – 1916
7. David W. b November 24, 1854 – 1943
8. Nancy "Nannie" Carlton b June 22, 1858 – 1928 (married Jasper Kidwell)
9. James Barnard b August 15, 1860 – 1899
10. Alex S. b May 1863 – 1941

Samuel & Mary were buried on their farm. "There was also a burying ground on the old Gass place where Mr. Gass (the father of the Professors Gass and Albert Gass) and his wife are buried. It is now known as the Hedges place." . . .
THE INTELLIGENCER
March 28, 1907
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ON AUG. 24, 1850,
Saml B. & Mary Gass, ages 30 & 26, lived in District 4, Audrain Co, MO. Samuel was a farmer, owning land valued at $1500. Their children were Albert, age 8; Polly, 6; Lucilla, 4; & John, 2.

ON JULY 1, 1860,
S.B. & M.E., ages 40 & 35, lived in Salt River Township, Audrain Co, MO. The post office was located in Mexico. Their land had increased in value to $6500. Their personal wealth was valued at $986.

Their children were A.G., age 18; Mary A., 16; D.L., 14; John P., 11; W.K., 9; H.A., 8; David M., 4; & Nancy C., 3.
Their son, Albert, helped Samuel with the farm work; Mary had a job as a seamstress.

Mary gave birth to a son, James B., on August 15, 1861. Why his name wasn't shown in the above census is unknown. He gave birth to another son, Alexander S., in 1865.
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Marriage of their children:
Lucy - April 2, 1857
Albert - December 20, 1864
Mary "Polly" - July 4, 1866
John Patrick - April 22, 1875
Howard Allan - December 25, 1876
William Knox - February 26, 1878
Nancy Carlton - October 31, 1880
James Barnard - September 17, 1890
David - August 24, 1895
Alexander S. - May 7, 1896
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Some believe that Mary died in October 1867; others in 1869; still yet others in 1871. She was not shown in the Federal Census with her husband & children, which was taken on July 14, 1870.

Samuel married Sarah Elizabeth McGlothlin in Audrain County on June 8, 1871. Sarah gave birth to their son, Emmett, May 28, 1872. Samuel died on November 10, 1873, almost one month before their last child, named Samuel Black, was born on December 13, 1873.

No doubt, Sarah helped raise Samuel & Mary's younger children.
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Samuel & Mary's daughter, Lucy, was buried in Long Branch cemetery, which is located at the Monroe and Audrain County line west of Santa Fe.
Link to her memorial:
Lucy Sharp