John F. Pearce, son of Davidson D. Pearce, Jr. and Mary Frazer, was born:  Feb. 25, 1860; educated in Wilmington Public Schools; graduated Delaware College, 1881; and Jefferson Medical College in 1883.

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As all of his immediate family, except my mother, had died, he decided to go West.  I have been told that he went in the Philadelphia Railroad Station; laid down most of his money, and said: "I want a ticket as far West as that amount will take me."  He landed at Santa Fe, New Mexico.  As he did not have sufficient funds to open a medical office, he prospected in Southern New Mexico.  No luck.  He managed a cattle ranch for a Boston Syndicate until the Indians killed all the people on a nearby location.  At this point he decided that it was time to go to Albuquerque and establish a medical practice.

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Dr. Pearce was a rather short man--about five feet, seven or eight, but perfectly proportioned.  His cousin, Susan Ferris, said that when he drew himself up, he looked six feet tall.  He liked good clothes, and always looked well groomed.  In his boyhood he had contracted smallpox and some scar remained.  While he was in Medical School he developed a serious nose infection and most of the cartilage removed.  His head and face was of the round variety with blue grey eyes--the most direct and penetrating I have ever seen.  His jaw was heavy with a deep dimple in the center of his chin.  In most cases, these facial markings would be disfiguring, but in his, they all blended together and added to his look of distinction.  He was of those men who stand out in any gathering.

 

To me, he was my hero--Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill Hitchcock and Wyatt Erp, all wrapped in one.  He really did have a very steady nerve.  A dentist who had bad lungs and an office in the Professional Building, was always saying: "I'm sick, if I had a gun, I would blow my head off."  One day he made a bad mistake in a group of men.  He made his usual statement.  Dr. Pearce handed him his gun and said: "There's a gun, it's loaded.  Now, blow your brains out."  Their eyes met for a moment.  He handed the gun back and walked off.  That remark was never heard again.

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He married Eva Marie Lockwood of Middletown, Delaware, on September 22, 1888.  Unfortunately, one day while they were out riding in a buggy, the horse became frightened and upset the carriage.  She suffered a broken hip and was lame the rest of her life.  A daughter, Rebecca Brevard, born September 11, 1889; educated in local California and New England Schools; married (1) Barbee Hook of California, (2) in Holy Trinity Church, Paris, France, on September 1, 1914, Edwourd, Baron, Reud de Wardener--Austrian, Title.  The family was French, then Austrian and finally American.  The father, an Army Officer (North) in our Civil War; married a wealthy girl on Long Island.  Edwourd, a Columbia graduate, supplied coal for ships in European Ports; Captain 0on Perishing's Staff in W.W. I.  A son was born in 1915; educated in European and English Schools and Medical College; Commissioned an Army doctor; captured by Japs at Singapore; P.O.W. for remainder of war.  On his return to England he became an English citizen, and Anglicized his name to Edward Wardner; a Medical specialist; married a time or two and has several Children.  (Prof. Hugh Edward de Wardener: 9 Dungarvan Ave., London. S.W.15)

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Rebecca married James Carlton Gauld in Europe.  They returned to the U.S. about 1937, and lived in New York City until November 1969.  They expect to remain permanently: address - 2 Rue Du D'Orme, Auteutil Le Roi 78 Thoiry, France.

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Rebecca Brevard Pearce Gauld died at Thoiry, France December 11, 1972.

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