Luther S. Pearsall, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Rock Island County in 1885,
and a resident of the township of Coe, is the third son of Deacon William C. and Jane
(Ellingham) Pearsall, and he was born in the city of Chicago, March 17, 1848. He was still in extreme
infancy when his parents removed to Rock Island County. He was brought up in Coe Township, and
educated primarily in the district schools. He studied two years at Knox College. Later, he entered the Freshman class in the university at Grinnell, Iowa. When he was 16 he taught a term of school
in the district where he resided, and after leaving college he again engaged in the same vocation,
teaching in all, six terms. In the fall of 1871 he went to Nebraska, and spent one year in Antelope County, where he pre-empted land on which he started a nursery ; but his hopes and plans came
to grief in common with those of others whose prospects were ruined by the grasshopper plague. He abandoned his purposes in that direction, and returned home. He was married in September, 1873, to Charlotte Wake, the daughter of Thomas and Maria Wake, and soon after that event he
bought a tract of land on section 14 in Coe Township, containing 80 acres, and has become the owner, by later purchase, of an additional 80 acres, and owns 80 acres on section 23, adjoining,
having in all 240 acres, which is in excellent tillage. His residence, which is represented by a full-page view in this Album, is located on section 14, and the farm is fitted with good and suitable buildings for farm purposes. The wife of Mr. Pearsall died in March, 1878, aged 29 years.
She left two children—Charles R. and Percy. Mr. Pearsall was again married Jan. 5, 1881, to
Ella, daughter of Mark and Mary Ashdown, and of the second union two children have been born
and he has since been his own successor. He belongs to Philo Lodge, No. 436, Order A. F. &
A. M., Barrett Chapter, No. 18, R. A. M., at Port Byron, and also to Evarts Commandery, at Rock Island. He is an adherent of the Republican party in political connection. He was a representative citizen and a gentleman in whom the people of Rock Island County repose great confidence.

Bio contributed by F-A-G member Bob K.



Prominent Resident of Coe
Township Expires After
10 Days' Illness.
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IS VICTIM OF PNEUMONIA
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Funeral to Take Place Under Masonic
Auspices in Port Byron Tomorrow.
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Port Byron, April 11-(Special.)-
Luther S. Pearsall, after an illness of 10 days of pneumonia, died at 4 o'clock yesterday morning at his home here. The funeral services will be held from the Congregational church Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock and interment will be in Oak Grove cemetery. Mr. Pearsall was born in Chicago March 17, 1848. He was an infant when his parents settled in Coe township. After his graduation from Grinnell, he spent six years in teaching school. The greater part of his life
here was spent In farming and stock raising. He had twice married, his first wife,
Charlotte Wake, dying in 1878. Mr. Pearsall was again married in 1881 to Ella Ashdown, who survives, together with four children, the sons by the first union and the daughters by the second: Charles R. and Percy Pearsall and Mrs. Conrad Block and Miss Rosle Pearsall. There are also
three brothers and five sisters: Robert, Jerry and William Pearsall and Mrs. Mary Rathburn, Mrs. Martha Miller, -Mrs. Phoebe Rathgeber, Mrs. Elizabeth Taber and Mrs. Sarah Jane Pearsall.
Mr. Pearsall had served several terms as a member of the county board, having first been elected in 1881 He was a republican in politics and took an active part in the affairs of his party in the county. Mr. Pearsall was prominent in Masonry. He was a member of Philo lodge, 436, A. F. & A. M., Port Byron, and Rock Island commandery 18, Knights Templar, this city. Rock Island commandery will attend the funeral In a body, coming from RockIsland by special train.
Rock Island Argus., April 11, 1910