Stillwater Valley News
April 21, 1930

Rev. O. S. Thomas and Rev. W. A. Freeman In Charge Of Last Rites For James Pearson Killed in Fall Friday Evening

Services for James Pearson, 14, son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Pearson, living two miles southwest of Covington were held this afternoon.  Rites were held from the Christian Church with Rev. Omer S. Thomas and Rev. W. A. Freeman in charge.  James was killed by a fall from a tree Friday afternoon about 5:00 o'clock, when his neck was broken and his body crushed by the force of the fall. The tragedy occurred late Friday afternoon when James with a group of agriculture students and their instructor Lester George, were out spraying apple trees. The group were preparing to return home when James, espying a crow's nest in the most remote branches of a tree, climbed to the nest, while the entire group gathered to watch, only to have the branch upon which he was standing give way, hurling him to his death. The boy was taken to the Covington hospital immediately but he passed away before reaching it. The body was then removed to the G. W. Miller undertaking establishment. An examination revealed that his neck had broken and his ribs crushed, possibly puncturing a lung. The group estimated that the height of the spot from which James had fallen was nearly 70 feet. According to a later investigation, it was disclosed that at some previous time the tree had been crushed on one side, as though another tree had fallen against it. The branches below the one on which he stood were broken completely off and others were cracked. Consequently the branch could not bear his weight and there was nothing to break the force of his fall. Besides the parents, two sisters, Wilma and Jean, and one brother, Ned survive. James was the oldest child. The grandfather, J. W. Pearson, who resides with the Pearson family also survives. The Pearson boy was an active worker in the 4-H club activities and was a Sophomore in Covington high school. His father is secretary of the Newberry Township Farm Bureau and well known........

Stillwater Valley News
April 22, 1930

James Madison Pearson, son of Russel and Grace Pearson was born on the farm where he spent most of his life. He was not only born on the farm but was born to the farm. In the less than fifteen years that he was permitted to live, his life was so closely knitted into the farm that to be there now and see the things with which he so closely associated and which were the foundations for his plans in life, there is the impression of personality which speaks of character. For one so young he lived intensely, that is, he took such keen interest in his activities. Life to him was a very real thing and with a strong athletic body he sought channels of expression for that body in athletics and in work. His athletic abilities were recognized in his school where he was very popular and well loved. So was also his interest in his future life's work as he was one of the most popular of the Agriculture boys. For four years he has been a member of the 4-H club and last year took a state prize for potatoes proving his practical knowledge of the calling which he had selected to be his. He was also a member of the Future Farmer's Association.  In his untimely death, cut off from the foundations which gave promise for so much, one feels the great tragedy of it all, and yet in the eternity stretching both back into the ages and forward in the ages to come, we believe that God has a place still for a boy of the type of James Pearson. The things he began are not lost because they really become more real to his loved ones. Now to them his character is idealized into a greater beauty than they ever dreamed it could be to them. Therefore, though he is dead, yet does He live and will live.  He was born August 23, 1915 and died April 18, 1930, not yet fifteen years old. He attended the grade school near Greenville Falls and was in his second year in the Covington Christian Church and was baptized by Rev. W. A. Freeman the pastor of that church. His fine character gave a natural expression to a life that had God in it.  He leaves his father and mother and his grandfather Pearson, also two sisters and one brother who suffer most for the vacant place in the home. There are also many other relatives and friends who feel most keenly the sorrow of his death.