This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Pierson, Stephenson, Crutchfield, Waynick, Benham, Bolen
Classification: Biography
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Di.2ADE/1977
Message Board Post:
This book has no cover, and no index, and no author. I bought it on Ebay; it just has the
insides, but it is full of Indiana biographies. I am not researching this family, just
thought I would share. I do not know anymore about these families or these surnames. NOTE:
I don’t know if there is any additional mention of this family in the book, it has no
index. I do not want to sell this book. I am typing the biographies from it.
Typed by Lora Radiches:
Other surnames mentioned in the biography of HON. JOHN BENTON PIERSON are, Pierson,
Stephenson, Crutchfield, Waynick, Benham, Bolen,
HON. JOHN BENTON PIERSON. While men frequently make a mistake when they change from one
profession to another, especially after their first youth is past, the ability to
recognize opportunity and the courage and enterprise to seize it has in many lives proved
to be the most important factor in the achieving of success. Hon. John Benton Pierson,
former prosecuting attorney for Crawford and Harrison counties, one of the most prominent
lawyers of English, and a man successful in life, was for many years an educator before he
studied law, was admitted to the bar, and entered upon another phase of his useful and
eventful life. The birth of John Benton Pierson occurred in Orange County, Indiana, July
8, 1874, and he is a son of James W. and Elizabeth (Stephenson) Pierson, the latter of
whom was born in Boone County, Kentucky, and died in 1905. James W. Pierson was a native
of Crawford County, a millwright by trade, and a man who was very industrious, continuing
work at his trade !
until his death in 1896. Five children were born to the parents, two of whom died in
infancy. The others are as follows: Elizabeth, who married Arthur Crutchfield, lives in
Orange County, and has five children; Thomas, who lives at Marengo, Indiana, married
Stella Waynick, and they have two children; and John B. Growing to manhood in his native
state, John Benton Pierson attended the public schools, Marengo Academy and Oakland,
Indiana, College. His first ambition was to become, a teacher of solid attainments, but,
although he taught school for nearly a quarter of a century, he found that he possessed
aspirations in another direction. Having been an active Democrat for many years and
influential in his party, his associates induced him to become a candidate for the office
of county treasurer. He was elected and served for four years, and during that period in
his leisure time continued the law studies he had already begun. In 1920 he was admitted
to the bar, and entered at !
once upon the practice of law. In 1926 he was elected prosecuting atto
rney, and was re-elected in 1928, on the record he had made as an honest and fearless
official during a time of great stress and disturbance. He retired from office January 1,
1931. On January 30, 1919, Mr. Pierson was married to Miss Hattie Benham, of Crawford
County, Indiana. There are no children by this marriage, but he has four by a former one,
namely: Cohan G., born March 7, 1901; Lelah, born October 14, 1906; Carmen, born January
10, 1909; and Carlin, born December 28, 1917. Cohan G. is a teacher in history at DePauw
University, married Miss Viva Bolen, and they have two sons, John, born May 27, 1925, and
Robert, born January 1, 1927. Carmen died September 7, 1909, and Lelah died December 28,
1918. Carlin is in the English grade schools. Mr. Pierson and his family belong to the
Christian Church, and are active in its good work. He belongs to the Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons, of which he has served as senior deacon; to the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, the Kn!
ights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, in all of which he has passed all
chairs; the Crawford County Bar Association and the Indiana State Bar Association. He is a
member of the State Grand Lodges of both the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.