Chittenden

PIERSON, James Smith

1st Biography of James Smith PIERSON

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 314 
(portrait p 314)

James Smith PIERSON, of Burlington [Chittenden County, Vermont], was born 08 
December 1840 in Shelburne [Chittenden County, Vermont], son of Smith F. and 
Lydia R. (TABOR) PIERSON. After attending the public schools of Burlington 
until he was seventeen years of age, he went to Janesville [Rock County], 
Wisconsin, where he found employment as a clerk in his brother's sore for a 
few months; then returned to Burlington where he was occupied with learning 
the trade of a machinist until 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Company 
C, Twelfth Vermont Volunteers, but was discharged on account of sickness 
before his term of service expired. For nearly five years owing to disease 
contracted while in the army the state of his health prevented any active 
employment. He next removed to the city of New York and gave his attention 
to the development of Professor LOWE's invention of water gas, the success of 
which is due largely to the improvements he invented and perfected in the 
apparatus for manufacturing the gas, which is now universally used in 
America, and has reduced the cost of gas to customers in the United States by 
millions of dollars per year. He was for several years engaged in 
constructing gas works in most of the large cities in this country and for 
two years was general superintendent of the United Gas Improvement Company of 
Philadelphia, the largest gas corporation in the world. After accumulating a 
fortune he retired from active business in 1886 and returned to Burlington, 
where he purchased his father's old farm and has since occupied himself with 
the improvement of the same. He is a director in the Burlington [Chittenden 
County, Vermont] and Waterbury (Connecticut) [New Haven County] Gas-light 
companies and president of the latter; also a director in the Burlington 
Electric Light Company, and has official connection with various other water 
gas companies. Republican; has never sought or held any office. Belongs to 
several social organizations in the city of Burlington and attends the 
Protestant Episcopal church. On 07 December 1872 Mr. [James Smith] PIERSON 
married Lucille, daughter of James and Elenor (PELLEATRUE) BLAKE, of Brooklyn 
[Kings County], New York. They have an adopted daughter, Constance.



2nd Biography of James Smith PIERSON

Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont: A Record of the 
Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding 
of a Nation. Carleton, ed. Chicago: Lewis, 1903, pp 342-343

James Smith PIERSON, who carved for himself a niche in the temple of fame, in 
the line of inventions, unsurpassed, if equaled, by any man of modern 
times, was born 08 December 1840 in Shelburne [Chittenden County, Vermont], 
son of Smith F. and Lydia R. (TABOR) PIERSON. His forefathers were pioneers 
in the town of Shelburne, where they made a clearing in the primeval forest, 
and by incessant toil and thrift rose to a place in advance of their 
neighbors. They located upon a tract of land where the WEBB farm now stands, 
a large part of which they at one time owned; they erected a log cabin, which 
was in time succeeded by a stone house, the first of its kind in this 
section. Some member of the family had learned the art of carpet-making, and 
the floors of the dwelling were later covered with these, which at that time 
were considered great luxuries and rare curiosities, and which people drove 
miles from all directions to see.

Here the father of James S. PIERSON, Smith F., was born 29 August 1802; he 
followed the vocation of a farmer, and was a man who was very highly 
respected by all who knew him, and died aged eighty-two years. His wife, who 
was Miss Lydia B. TABOR, was born in Shelburne [Chittenden County, Vermont], 
her family, like her husband's, being pioneers of that town; she died at the 
age of seventy-six years. After attending the public schools of Burlington 
until he was seventeen years of age, James Smith PIERSON went to Janesville 
[Rock County], Wisconsin, where he found employment as a clerk in his 
brother's store for a few months. He then returned to Burlington, where he 
was occupied in learning the trade of a machinist until 1862, when he 
enlisted as a private in Company C, Twelfth Regiment, Vermont Volunteers, but 
was discharged on account of sickness before his term of service expired. 
For nearly five years, owing to disease contracted while in the army, the 
state of his health prevented any active employment. He next removed to the 
city of New York and gave his attention to the development of Professor 
LOWE's invention of water gas, the success of which is due largely to the 
improvements he invented in the apparatus for manufacturing the gas, which is 
now universally used in America and has reduced the cost of gas millions of 
dollars per year. He was for several years engaged in constructing gas works 
in seventy of the largest cities in this country, and for two years was 
general superintendent of the United Gas Improvement Company of Philadelphia, 
the largest gas corporation in the world; he received a salary of ten 
thousand dollars per year. After accumulating a fortune he returned to 
Burlington, where he purchased his father's farm, and substantially improved 
it. He also became interested in the gas works, which he practically 
rebuilt, and to which he added his attachments. He took an active interest 
in the management of this plant up to the time of his death. He was a 
director in the Burlington and Waterbury (Connecticut) Gaslight Companies, 
and president of the latter, also a director in the Burlington Electric Light 
Company, and had official connection with various other gas companies.

Had Mr. PIERSON lived, the extent to which his inventive faculties might have 
demonstrated themselves, is almost incomprehensible. He held the patent on 
an invention for placing telegraph wires underground, which has been used 
extensively throughout the world. He also patented what is now known as the 
"chute" coal wagon, used in all the large cities throughout the Union. He 
also patented a machine for stamping and cutting soap, and had a number of 
others in progress. He constantly studied the best works upon mechanism, and 
was a deep thinker.

Mr. PIERSON was an adherent of the Republican party, but never sought or held 
any office. He belonged to several social organizations in the city of 
Burlington and attended the Protestant Episcopal church. He [James Smith 
PIERSON] died 10 April 1898; he married 07 December 1872, Lucille, daughter 
of James and Elenor (PELLETREAU) BLAKE, of Brooklyn [Kings County], New York. 
They adopted a daughter, Constance. Mrs. PIERSON's father, James BLAKE, was 
a very prominent silk (Corticelli) manufacturer and died at the age of 
sixty-three years. Her mother, who had seven children, died at the age of 
sixty-four.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly