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Archiver > ILGALLAT > 1998-10 > 0909462429


From: Frank Pearce <>
Subject: Re: [ILGALLAT-L] Judge R. D. Pearce
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 22:27:09 -0600


Jon Musgrave wrote:
>
> Hi!
>
> In latest October issue of Springhouse, Gary DeNeal reprinted an article
> from the Hardin County newspaper of Oct. 7, 1908. The article deals with a
> Southerner who helped a runaway slave get to Equality sometime before the
> Civil War. The slave, whose name was "Carter" later worked for Judge R. D.
> Pearce, "one of Gallatin County's early county judges... Uncle Carter as he
> was calld was a fixture at Equality for years..."
>
> First off, I can't find an R. D. Pearce as a county judge in the 1887
> history. However, I do know there appears to be an anti-slavery, anti-slave
> catcher/kidnapper justice of the peace operating in Equality in the mid
> 1850s. I don't know a name, but does anyone know if this is R. D. Pearce.
>
> I can't find either Pearce or a black or mulatto man named Carter in
> Equality in the 1880 Census. Can someone check their copies of the 50, 60,
> or 70 census for Equality precinct and see if there is an R.D. Pearce and/or
> a black or mulatto man named Carter.
>
> I appreciate the effort. It might help prove that the aptly named town of
> Equality, actually lived up to its name for a while as a point on the
> Underground Railroad. We've never been able to trace the UGRR to there, but
> to places around it.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jon Musgrave
>
> Check out Jon's Southern Illinois History Page
> at http://users.midamer.net/users/jonm
>
> Gallatin County ILGenWeb Page
> at http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilgalla2/index.html
I'm not sure exactly what your looking for, but R D Pearce is most
likely Robert D. Pearce, son of Moses Pearce, Jr. I'm a Pearce
researcher for the area and have listed all the Pearces that lived in
Saline, Gallatin, and White Counties. If this is the same guy, and it
most likely is, then he was living in Saline County in 1880 in the
Cottage Grove precinct. That precinct borders Gallatin Co. R.D.Pearce
was born 1822 and died in 1886 and is buried in Saline County. The 1880
census lists him as a farmer at the time. I looked in the 1860 and 1870
census and did not find him, however he is listed in the 1850 Saline Co.
census living in the Curran Precinct, age 25 occupation as Farmer. The
1860-1880 census does not list Curran Pct. so I don't know where that
was, most likely it is what is now Cottage Grove, since that precinct
wasn't in the 1850 census. I don't know if this is any help, but let me
know if I can help you further.
Frank Pearce

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