HOWARD E. PEARSALL*

Howard E. Pearsall, village clerk of Freeport, who has also won considerable fame as an authority on volunteer fire departments, in which he as been actively interested practically all his life, is a native of Freeport, son of Wesley and Lydia G. (Hibbard) Pearsall, born June 29, 1890, the mother being a daughter of Rev. Eben G. Hibbard. The son was educated in the grade and high schools, and then entered the printing office of the "Nassau County Review," Freeport, and in the employ of his brother, the proprietor, he learned the business in its various branches. He remained in his brother's establishment of eight years, and next became superintendent of the "South Side Observer," Rockville Centre, Long Island, with which concern he continued to be connected for two years. He then became engaged in the insurance business, establishing his office in Freeport. This he conducted for two years and then disposed of his interest, having been elected in January, 1922, to the office of village clerk, which position he has since filled, having resigned the office of village trustee, which place he had held for two years. Mr. Pearsall had also served as chief of the fire department, having been for seventeen years a member of the organization. He has made an intensive study of the fire departments, their methods, efficiency, etc., and is looked upon as an authority on volunteer fire departments. He is frequently consulted along fire department lines. He still is connected with the Freeport department, being its secretary. In fact, it may be stated that Mr. Pearsall's chief hobby is fire-fighting, and he is a member of the Nassau County Firemen's Association, the Southern New York Firemen's Association, the New York State Firemen's Association, the International Association of Fire Engineers, and has represented his organization of Freeport at various conventions and other gatherings having to do with Fire department matters.

Mr. Pearsall is a member of Spartan Lodge, No. 956, Free and Accepted Masons; Freeport Chapter; No. 302, Royal Arch Masons, and is its secretary; the Masonic Club; the United Commercial Travelers of America; and the Church of Christ (Scientist) of which he is treasurer. Mr. Pearsall married, September 7, 1911, Mae Condit, of an old New Jersey family, and born in Brooklyn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Condit. They are the parents of two children: Shirley and Smith Pearsall. The family residence is at Freeport.


*Source: Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens
Counties of Nassau and Suffolk
Long Island N.Y.
Biographical 1609-1924
by Henry Isham Hazelton
Lewis Historical Publishing Co.
N.Y.-Chicago 1925
can be found at LDS Library in Plainview.


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