Last time, we examined the Pearson family’s real estate situation and learned that they did not own their farm outright, and were constantly re-mortgaging the farm. Five-year mortgages were apparently typical for this era, and it was not uncommon to make interest payments only during the term of the mortgage. This time we’ll look at the medical […]

In previous posts on this topic, I’ve examined the will that he signed on February 2, 1920 and we recalled the letter written to the family by Pastor Granlund just the day before. I surmise that Will (P.W.) must have confided in his Pastor on Sunday, February 1 that he knew his illness was terminal and […]

I have several documents from the 1917-1926 time period that, when viewed alongside the Probate file, bring the family’s situation into much clearer focus. I also have photos from this same time period. So this multi-part study of the P.W. Pearson probate file will extend over several more posts than I originally anticipated – there’s […]

The next document in the probate file after the will is the “Petition for Probate of Will”. This document was filed by Clara on September 15, 1920, three months after P.W.’s passing. This document gives just a rough outline of his assets (real estate plus $3,500 in personal estate) and identifies the heirs: At the time of […]

In June of this year (2014), I obtained copies of the Saunders County probate file for P.W. Pearson. Peter William Pearson was my great-grandfather. He was also known as “Will” or “Willie” by family and friends. He had an untimely death, succumbing to cancer of the mouth at the age of only 43. He died on June […]