Captain John J. Pearson

Captain John J. Pearson went on the lakes at the age of twelve years as second porter on the Lake Breeze. He was born in Birmingham, England, August 8, 1868, and in 1873 came to this country with his father, Richard Pearson, who is still living in Parsons, W. Va., engaged in the lumber business. The Captain lived in Au Sable, Mich., until he commenced sailing. For several years following 1880 he was before the mast on different lake vessels until 1891, when he became mate on the Atlantic. In 1892 he was given command of the Flora, on which he remained one season, transferring from this boat to the Atlantic and the Champion, and sailing them the following seasons. He then came on the State of Michigan, in command of which he has since been retained. Captain Pearson is a young man for such a responsible position, but his fortunate experience on the water has given his employers the greatest confidence in him and he has every prospect of a brilliant career.

Captain Pearson was married, November 24, 1886, to Miss Luella V. Edgar, whose father, Andrew K. Edgar, was one of the pioneers of Alcona county, Mich.; he died in 1881. The Captain and his wife have two children: Armand J., born May 11, 1888; and Lois Mabelle, born January 17, 1890.

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Volume I

This version of Volume II is based, with permission, on the work of the great volunteers at the Marine Captains Biographies site. To them goes the credit for reorganizing the content into some coherent order. The biographies in the original volume are in essentially random order.

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.