James Lowell Pearce

James Lowell Pearce was born April 29, 1892, in Snowflake, Navajo, Arizona, to parents James William Pearce and Vilate Oakley Pearce. They had been married June 27, 1891 in Snowflake, Arizona. James Lowell was their first-born child. A sister, Mildred, was born in November of 1893, a brother, Karl Grover, in May of 1895, who died in 1896, another brother, Virgil Harrison, born on Valentine's day in 1897, and died May 7th the same year, and anoter sister, Florence Oadell, was born April of 1898, and died in 1902.

In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census for Snowflake, Navajo, Arizona, they were listed as follows: James W. Pearce, 28, Vilate O. Pearce, 28, James Lowell, 8, Mildred, 6, Karl Grover, 5, and Florence O., 2 years old. James and Vilate had been married for 9 years and had 5 children, 4 of whom were still living. James W. was working as a sheep grower. Another daughter, Wilmirth Vilate, was born later in 1900 but passed away in 1902.

By 1910, the family was listed in the Snowflake census as: Jas. W., 39, Vilate O., 39, Jas. Lowell, 17, Mildred, 16, Willard Chester, 7, Orsen Fredrick, 5, and Dessie L., 3. James Lowell was herding his father's sheep. The family owned their own farm free from a mortgage. Another son, Lynford Leroy Pearce, was born in 1912.

When James Lowell Pearce completed his U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card on June 5, 1917, he described himself as being short and stout with brown hair and eyes. He was 25 years old and was working as a farmer for himself in Linden, Arizona. He was single but indicated he was caring for a mother and two children (siblings) who were dependent on him for their support, and he claimed them as an exception from the draft. I don't think he escaped service, however, because the photo of him shown above depicts him in a World War I military uniform.

James Lowell Pearce's parents, James W., and Vilate O. Pearce, must have divorced sometime between 1912 and 1920, because by 1920, James W. Pearce, was living alone in Cooley, Apache, Arizona, and was listed as a 48-year old "widowed" stock raiser. However, Vilate had not passed away and was living with her son, James Lowell, in the Linden, Arizona census, with his wife and daughter, as shown below.

In 1920, James Lowell, 26, was living in Linden, Arizona, with his wife, Ione Rogers, 25, and their first daughter, Myrna, 8 months old. Also in the home were James' "widowed" mother and siblings listed as follows: Vilate, 48, Willard, 17, Orson, 14, Dessa, 12, and Linford, 7. James was working as a farmer and Ione as a district school teacher. There was a 1928 U.S. City Directory for Vilate Pearce living at 2824 Montana in Oakland, California, so she must have moved from Arizona to California sometime after 1920.

In the 1930 U.S. Census for Oakland, Alameda, California, James' mother, Vilate, 59, was living with her youngest son, Linford, 18, and they were listed "lodgers" in the home of Sarah W. Lawrence, located at 3512 Demond Avenue. Sarah owned her home which was valued at $7,000. Vilate was not working, but her son, Lindford, was working as a salesman for a mail order company.

By 1930 James and Ione were living in Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, and listed in the census as follows: J. Lowell, 37, Ione R., 34, Myrna, 10, Lowell R., 8, Adell, 6, Clea, 5, Buena, 3, Vivian, 10 months, and James' brother Willard, 28, was still living with the family. James and Ione had been married for 12 years. James was working as a farmer on a stock farm. His brother, Willard, was working as an electrician in a mine.

Sadly, James Lowell Pearce was killed in a car accident when he was only 45 and one half years old in 1937. In the 1940 U.S. Census, for Navajo, Arizona, a widowed Ione and her family were listed as follows: Ione R., 45, Lowell, 19, Adell, 16, Clea, 15, Buena, 12, Vivian, 10, Ione, 7, Leone, 6, and Joy T., 5 years old. Ione was working as a school teacher in the elementary grades, and for the 32 weeks she worked during the year 1939 at 36 hours per week, her income was $1,000.

Their son Lowell, was working on the family farm, Adell and Clea were listed as "new workers", but no occupation nor income was shown for them in the census record. Ione had 3 years of college, her son, Lowell, 4 years of high school, daughter Adell, was in her 2nd year of high school, and Clea in her first year, Vivian was in the 5th grade, Ione in the 2nd grade and Leone in the first grade. Her son, Joy T., was not yet in school. How Ione could support 8 children on $1,000 per year income is hard to comprehend!

In 1940, James Lowell Pearce's mother, Vilate, 70, was still living in Oakland, California, with her son Linford, 28, and his wife, Donna B., 24, and their daughter, Leona Marie, 3 years old. Linford was working as a shipping clerk for Montgomery Ward Company. His income for 52 weeks worked at 44 hours per week in 1939 was $1,400.

In the 1940 U.S. Federal Census for Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, James William Pearce, 68, had a new wife and family, Gladys Viola Anderson Pearce, 36, Lola Mae, 18, Ruby, 15, Marion F., 13, and Melvin J., 9. James and Gladys were married December 22, 1920. They were living in a home located at 33 North Hibbert Street, valued at $1,200 and James W. was working as a common farm laborer. No income was listed for him or any of his family members. James and Gladys may have had another son, Charles Albert Pearce, born November 6, 1923, in Taylor, Navajo County, Arizona, who passed away December 15, 1923. He would have been their first born son. I found him listed on Ancestry.com as their son along with four other children who were not named there but were named in the census record.

James William Pearce passed away December 2, 1948, in Mesa, Arizona. His first wife, Vilate Oakley Pearce, passed away on June 4, 1959, while living in Alameda, California.

Ione Rogers passed away in June 27,1975, at the age of 81 years old in Show Low, Arizona.

The following information was found on Find A Grave for James Lowell Pearce:

James Lowell Pearce died on the highway between Taylor and Shumway in Navajo County, Arizona from a car accident. He was 45 and half years old. He married Ione Rogers on June 26, 1918, in Show Low, Arizona. Together they had ten children, as shown below:

1.) Myrna Pearce (1919-2013), married Ralph Merrill

2.) Lowell Rogers Pearce (1921-2003) married first Mary Louise Allen (8 children) and second Cecilia Shain

3.) Dean Richard Pearce (1922-1923)

4.) Adell Pearce (1924-2012)

5.) Clea Pearce

6.) Buena Pearce

7.) Vivian Pearce

8.) Ione 'Babe' Pearce

9.) Pearce

10.) Joy T. Pearce

James Lowell Pearce's father, James William Pearce, was born June 27, 1871, in St. George, Washington, Utah Territory. He died on December 2, 1948, in Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona. He was buried in the RV Mike Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake, Arizona.

James Lowell Peace's mother, Vilate Oakley, was born on 20 Jan 1871, in Kanab, Kane, Utah Territory. She died on 4 Jun 1959, in San Leandro, Alameda, California, USA. She was also buried in the RV Mike Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake, Arizona.

James Lowell Pearce's wife, Ione Rogers Pearce, was born on October 20, 1894, in Snowflake, Apache, Arizona Territory. She passed away on June 27, 1975, in Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, USA. Ione was the daughter of Smith Doolittle Rogers Sr. and his wife, Eliza Snow Smith Rogers. James and Ione were married on June 26, 1918, in Show Low, Arizona.

Smith Doolittle Rogers, was born 1852 in American Fork, Utah, Utah Territory, and passed away July 21, 1909, in Snowflake, Navajo, Arizona Territory, and Eliza Snow Smith, was born in 1859 in Parowan, Iron, Utah Territory, and passed away December 27, 1927, in Snowflake, Navajo, Arizona.

Parents:

James William Pearce (1871 - 1948)

Vilate Oakley Pearce (1870 - 1959)

Spouse:

Ione Rogers Pearce (1894 - 1975)

Children:

Myrna Pearce Merrill (1919 - 2013)

Lowell Rogers Pearce (1921 - 2003)

Dean Richard Pearce (1922 - 1923)

Adell Pearce Lee (1924 - 2012)

Siblings:

James Lowell Pearce (1892 - 1937)

Lola May Pearce Smith (1921 - 2013)

Charles Albert Pearce (1923 - 1923)

Maintained by: Jean Lewis

Originally Created by: Dan

Record added: Dec 04, 2011

Find A Grave Memorial# 81533383