Charles Henry Pearson (12/5/1852-4/13/1942)
Charles Henry Pearson (12/5/1852-4/13/1942)Charles Henry Pearson was the builder/owner of C.H. Pearson’s Cheap Cash Store on the southwest corner of Bell and Centennial, where Clementine Carter is today. He moved to Los Alamos in 1879. Together with Frank Whitcher, he was a blacksmith on the lot just west of where Collins Market is today. He also owned three ranches, was the deputy sheriff, and the school board clerk. He ran the store from the time he built it in 1887 until his death in 1942.
On top of his store, Pearson had a sign that said “Coffins” (it is still there today, but it is blank). He had a mortuary behind the store. When the state began requiring that bodies be embalmed, Pearson sold the mortuary to the Dudley Mortuary in Santa Maria.
Pearson had homes at 233 St. Joseph Street, behind where Collins Market is, and at 306 Centennial, on the southeast corner of Centennial and Main. The home on
St. Joseph was sold to, and completed by, William Gewe, father of Henry Gewe. Pearson is on the left in the picture; the two women on the porch are his daughters Agnes and Elizabeth. Agnes remained single, and Elizabeth married Walter Clark, who owned the Los Alamos Garage.
by: Michael Farris; Los Alamos, CA Historian