Company D Dr. Peareson's Confederate Service Record
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Upon his return, he located in Talladega, Alabama, where he was married to Margaret C. Shortridge (May 7, 1822 - July 21, 1903). In 1946 Dr. Peareson's family, including his parents, moved to Victoria; they then moved to Matagorda in 1848. Dr. Peareson began development of a ranch in 1852, but soon after construction began, the building was damaged in a storm. Work was suspended for a year and a half until Colonel Hawkins purchased the property and resumed building. Dr. and Mrs. Peareson had six children: Philip Edward Peareson (b October 20, 1841 - 1895), Margaret Caroline Peareson (b April 17, 1844), Adolphus Butler Peareson (b September 13, 1847), John S. Peareson, Sidney F. S. Peareson and George Howard Peareson (October 26, 1950 - November 9, 1850. The three oldest children were baptized at Christ Church on January 4, 1849. Dr. Peareson was a member of Matagorda Masonic Lodge # 7 and was also publisher-editor of the Matagorda newspaper in 1846. When Ira Ingram died in 1837, he left a school fund estimated at $75,000 to the inhabitants of Matagorda. On June 23, 1856, Dr. Peareson was appointed as one of the commissioners to manage the fund. Dr. Peareson was active in the Democratic politics of Matagorda. On July 25, 1861, at a public meeting, Dr. E. A. Peareson was authorized to "raise a company of men to be held in readiness, to march at a moments notice" to serve as a patrol for the county. The company, originally known as the Matagorda Coast Guards, was officially organized and later mustered into Confederate service in October of the same year. Before the company left Victoria, Dr. Peareson made the decision to return to Matagorda, since his absence would leave Matagorda with no doctor. The Peareson's oldest son, Philip, entered the University of Virginia and then completed his collegiate course at the University of Alabama. He was a member of the senior class when the university was destroyed by Union forces. He was in Company D which was, for a time, under the command of his father, Dr. E. A. Peareson. The company was a part of the Sixth Texas Infantry that transferred to Granbury's Brigade, Cleburn's Division, Army of Tennessee. When Dr. Peareson returned to Matagorda, a portion of the command devolved to his son, Philip Edward Peareson, and it was in this way he derived the familiar title by which many knew him--Captain (though he was never commissioned as such). The register of the Christ Episcopal Church in Matagorda states that Dr. Peareson died on December 29, 1865, "after a lingering illness."
Historic Matagorda County, Volume I, pages
158-159 |
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Dr.
Edward A. Peareson (Pearson or Pierson), son of Philip Edward and
Rachel Peareson, was from Fairfield District, South Carolina.
He received his diploma from the literary and medical department of
the Citadel, South Carolina, and then went to Paris, France where he
received a diploma from one of the medical universities there.
