John F. Pierson

from The New York Times, December 21, 1932:

   GEN. FRED PIERSON
    DEAD AT AGE OF 93
   -----------
 Oldest General of Federal Army
  in Civil War---Victim of Heart
   Attack After Day's Illness.
   -----------
   AT WORK FOUR DAYS AGO
   -----------
President of Several Corporations,
  Including Ramapo Foundry---
  Cited for Gallantry in '61.
   -----------
 Brig. Gen. J. Fred Pierson, oldest
surviving General of the Federal
forces in the Civil War and one of
the oldest corporation presidents in
the United States, died suddenly at
10 o'clock last night of a heart at-
tack at the age of 93. He was at
his office, 11 Park Place, as usual,
four days ago. Since then he had
not been feeling well but he came
down to dinner on Monday. Yester-
day he remained in bed all day.
 Mrs. Susan Augusta Rhodes Pier-
son, the General's wife, died on Oct.
7, 1929, at the age of 84. Four chil-
dren survive, J. Fred Jr., and James
R. Pierson, Mrs. George H. Hull of
this city, and Mrs. Edward W. Scott
of Warren, Va.
 Born in New York on Feb. 25, 1839,
General Pierson was a son of Henry
L. and Helen Maria Pierson and was
seventh in descent from Abraham
Pierson, the first president of Yale.
In 1857 he enlisted as a private in
Company K of the Seventh Regiment
of the New York State National Guard.
Subsequently he was attached to the
staff of Brig. Gen. William Hall.
 Winning steady promotion through
the grades of the First New York
Volunteer Infantry, he attained com-
mand of the regiment on Oct. 9, 1862.
He was brevetted a Brigadier Gen-
eral on March 13, 1865, "for gallant
and meritorious services." During
the war he was attached to the Army
of the Potomac and took part in
most of that army's battles. At Glen-
dale he was wounded and his horse
was killed under him. At Chancel-
lorsville he was shot through the
chest. Taken prisoner at Bristol Sta-
tion, he was confined to Libby prison.
 The wounds and the prison con-
finement had little weakening effect
on the General's vitality, as may be
guessed from this partial list of the
positions he has held for years and
retained at his death. He was presi-
dent of the Ramapo Foundry and
Wheel Works, of the Ramapo Hunt-
ing and Villa Park Association, of
the Ramapo Manufacturing Com-
pany, of the New York Association
for the Protection of Game, the New
York City Marble Cemetery, of the
A. and N. Realty Company, and of
the New York Stamping Company.
In addition he was a trustee of the
East River Savings Bank and vice
president of the Northern Dis-
pensary. His clubs included the
Union, New York Yacht, Tuxedo and
Army and Navy. He belonged to
the Sons of the Revolution and the
Loyal Legion.
 In January, 1927, General Pierson,
with several other prominent citizens
of New York, flew over the city in a
flight designed to afford aid in solv-
ing our traffic problems.

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PIERSON--General J. Fred, at his residence,
 20 West 52d St., on Tuesday, Dec. 20,
 1932, in the ninety-fourth year of his age.
 Funeral services at the Fifth Avenue Pres-
 byterian Church, 5th Av. and 55th St., on
 Friday morning, Dec. 23, at 11 o'clock.
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