HENRY DAVIS PEARCE, Obituary, 1911, Coke County, TX - Adams Co, IL
The Robert Lee Observer, December 1911.
Mr. H. D. Pearce, one of the county's oldest and best loved citizens passed away at his home in this city, Friday, December 8th, at 1 o'clock. The cause of his decease was paralysis.
The funeral services were conducted at the First Baptist Church, Sunday at 12 o'clock by Rev. W. N. White, pastor of the church. Rev. White preached a splendid sermon on the life and character of the deceased. Rev. W. K. Simpson of the Methodist church, also paid a high tribute to the sterling character of the dead.
The remains were laid to rest in the Robert Lee cemetery at 1 o'clock. They were followed by one of the largest funeral processions ever witnessed in this city.
The deceased was born in Adams county, Illinois, in 1845. He joined the Confederate army in the town of his birth at the age of 16, and followed the fortunes of the Confederacy throughout the four years of struggle being discharged at New Orleans at the close of the war. He moved to Texas in that year, settling in Collin county, afterwards moving to Runnels and later on to Coke county, assisting in organizing these counties.
Mr. Pearce was Adjutant of the Colorado Concho Confederate Veterans Association, for a number of years. He was also an honored officer in the Richard Coke Camp, and at the last meeting of the Colorado-Concho Association, he was elected honorary Adjutant for life.
The deceased was one of the best known men in West Texas, and assisted in every laudable cause to blaze the way for our excellent citizenship. He was a lifelong, consistant christian and a member of the Baptist church, and a man of strong convictions. The world was made better, by the concientious Christian life he led.
He leaves a loving wife and six children to mourn his death, besides a number of other relatives and a great host of friends. The children are: H. H. Pearce, of Dallas; Mrs. W. L. Hayley, of Bronte; Mrs. W. B. Hamilton, of this city; Mrs. Martha Rankin, of Howe; Mrs. R. H. McFarland, of Winters; and Miss Hattie Pearce, of this city.
The Observer in common with the many friends offers condolence to the bereaved ones in their great sorrow.
Submitted by Mary Love Berryman.