Webb Nicholson Pearce

 

Webb Nicholson Pearce, Oakland agent for the Sewer Pipe Association of San Francisco, was born in Downieville, Sierra county, California June 14, 1854, a son of Richard and Martha (Driver) Pearce, both natives of England, and now residing in Oakland.  The father, born about 1825, came to America at the age of seven with his father, John Pearce, who settled in Wisconsin, and lived to the age of eighty.  Grandmother Pearce died in England, and Mrs. Driver emigrated to America while her daughter Martha was quite young.  They also settled in Wisconsin, and the daughter, born about 1832, was married to Richard Pearce.  Grandmother Driver died at an advanced age in Wisconsin.  Richard Pearce came across the plains to California in the spring of 1850 and settled on a farm near what is now Chico.  Driven from that section and pursuit by malaria, he went to mining for a time in Sierra county, and afterward settled in Downieville, where he conducted the United State hotel, a livery stable and a bowling alley.  In 1859 he changed his business to freighting between Downieville and Marysville.  During the Virginia City excitement he ran what might be called a saddle-train from Downieville to Virginia City and moved to that city in 1862.  Being a carpenter by trade he there engaged in business as a contractor and builder for about a year.  From 1863 to 1874 he lived in Austin, Nevada, where he followed the same line, adding thereto the business of undertaker.

 

Webb N.Pearce, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the district schools of Downieville, Virginia City and Austin until about the age of thirteen, when he was placed in the old Brayton Academy of this city.  Twenty months later he entered the Pacific Business College, from which he received a diploma February 22, 1870.  In 1871 he entered the “fifth class of the university,” and in 1872 the University of California, from which he was graduated in the class of 1876.  He had some intention of studying law, but was handicapped for that profession by an aversion to pleading regardless of the justice or merit of his cause.  He felt that he could not do justice to a client whose case could not win his personal approval.  After graduation he received the appointment to a clerkship in the Oakland postoffice, under J. E. Benton in 1876.  He retained that position under Mr. Benton and his successors until 1884, being the first Superintendent of Letter Carriers in this city.  He also had charge at one time of the money-order and registered, letter department, and was Assistant Post-master for some six months.  Resigning his position in the postoffice December 1, 1884, he took charge of his present business February 1, 1885.

 

Mr. Pearce enlisted in 1878 as a private in the Oakland Light Cavalry, N. G. C., and was elected Captain, June 16, 1883. He was appointed Adjutant of the Fifth Infantry, N. G. C., September 30, 1885; resigned July 1, 1886, and joined the Veteran Corps October 10, 1888.  He is member of Oakland Lodge, No. 188, F. & A. M., and was its Junior Warden in 1882.  He was High Priest of Oakland Chapter, No. 26, R. A. M., in 1887-88; three times Illustrious Master of Oakland Council, No. 12, R. & S. M.  He is also a P. M. W. of Oak Leaf Lodge, A. O. U. W., having been M. W. in 1878;  and Chief Ranger, in 1890, of Oak Court, No. 535, I. O. F., being also Vice-Chief of the High Court of the State of California.

 

Mr. Pearce was married in Oakland, April 23, 1880, to Miss Nellie T. Trowbridge, born in Wisconsin in 1855, a daughter of T. F. and  _____ (Hugunin) Trowbridge.  The maternal grandmother, Mrs. Captain Hugunin of Chicago, born in 1815, with whom Mrs. Pearce resided for several years in that city, is still living.  Mr. and Mrs. Pearce have one child, Edward Richard.