Charles Winfield PEARSON, residing on the Solano Ranch, section 16, township 12, range 36 east, Walla Walla county is an importan factor in the agricultral development of this section, and is successfully operating more than five thousand acres of land.
HE is a native of Rio Vista, California, and was born August 3,1870, a son of Josephus and Anna (WATSON) PEARSON, the former a native of either of Virginia or Kentucky and the latter of Nova Scotia, Canada, and of Scotch parentage. The PEARSON family came to the west by the overland route in 1856, and the WATSONS made the long journey by way of the Panama isthmus about eight years later. Both families located in Rio Vista and there Mr. PEARSON and Miss WATSON were married in 1869. They continued to reside there until 1878, when they removed to Columbia county, Washington, locating a mile east of Starbuck, where the father bought railroad land. He took a prominent part in the organization of the first school district in that locality and was also the first postmaster of Starbuck. His time and energy were, in part, devoted to farming, and he became the owner of about one thousand acres. For twenty years he also engaged in the meat business and did considerable contracting in that line for the railroad. He passed away March 10,1908, and is survived by his widow, who resides with a daughter in Spokane.
Charles Winfred PEARSON received a good common school education and also pursued a commercial course at the Empire Business College in Walla Walla. Subsequently he conducted a bicycle store for about two years in San Francisco, after which he returned home and joined with his father in the operation of the latter's land. In 1896, however, he began farming on his own account, leasing school land which he cultivated, and as he was a practical and up-to-date farmer his capital steadily increased. He invested his money in land and now holds title to two thousand five hundred acres, which he operates together with two thousand six hundred acres of leased land. He conducts his agriculture affairs in the same careful and progressive manner as a great business man would control large commercial enterprises, and his annual income is a highly gratifying one.
In December, 1906, Mr. PEARSON was united in marriage to Miss Jean HUKILL, a teacher in the public schools of Starbuck, and they have become the parents of two children, Josephus and Francis W.
The republican party has a loyal supporter in Mr. PEARSON, but he has confined his political activities to the exercise of his right of franchise. Fraternally he belongs to Walla Walla Lodge, No. 287, B.P.O.E., and is popular in that organization. His wife is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church and is interested in all movements for the promotion of the moral welfare of her community. Both are widely known and highly esteemed. Eastern Washington has rapidly come to the front as one of the great farming districts of the country, and this development has been made possible by such men as Mr. PEARSON-men who are energetic, alert and keen in judgement and, throughout the same time, willing to cooperate for the advancement of the public interest.
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Source: Book: Lymans HISTORY of OLD WALLA WALLA, COLUMBIA, GARFIELD, and Asotin Counties. by. W.D. LYMAN, M.A., Lit.D Illustrated Volume 1 Chicago, The S.J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1918 pages 665-666