Blair Pierson, chairman of the county court, was born June 29, 1858, in
Lauderdale County, and in the house in which he is at present living. His
parents, John F. and Susan E. (Lee) Pierson, were born in Connecticut and
Virginia, respectively, the father in 1810 and the mother in 1829. They both
came to this county when young, and were married in 1849. To them were born
eight children, five of whom are now living. In politics the father was a
Whig before the death of that party, and after that event he has never
affiliated with any party. By profession he was a lawyer, practicing his
profession in Ripley about twenty years. He died in 1878, and in his death the
family lost a kind and loving father, and the bar an able member. The mother
lived till 1881. Our subject is of Scotch-Irish descent. He was born in
Ripley and received the greater part of his early education at that place. In
1873 he entered the University of Tennessee, where he completed his education.
He then began farming and continued this occupation about five years, after
which he taught school for a short time. He then engaged in the mercantile
business in Ripley. In 1881 he opened a livery stable in partnership with T.
P. Ferguson, and is engaged in that business at the present. In 1880 he
wedded Ella E. Jones, and to this union were born two children: John E. and
Lucy A. Mr. Pierson is a Democrat in politics, and has been elected to the
office of magistrate a number of times. In October, 1882, he was chosen
chairman of the county court. When but twenty years of age he was elected
mayor of the town, and ever since has served the people in some place of
public trust. He is also recorder of the town, and is a young man well known
and highly respected. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
his wife of the Presbyterian.

Goodspeed’s Biographies of Lauderdale Co., TN