Obituary of John David Lafayette Pearce:
Washington County News Vol II No. 4 February 18, 1909
Page 1, Column 1: Indian War Veteran at Rest
Col. J.D.L. Pearce of Washington Has Fought His Last Battle.
Grim Conqueror Wins
Col. John David Lafayette Pearce died at his home at Washington on Sunday February 7, 1909, was born in Itawamba Co., MS, in 1837; came with his parents to Utah in 1853 and settled at Payson. He was married while at Payson to Miss Martha E. Pace in 1856. He came to Dixie in the spring of 1862, settling at St. George, later at Washington. He is survived by his wife, three sons and four daughters.
Col. Pearce early showed the marked ability for military tactics which later brought him into prominence as an Indian fighter. In 1853, soon after arriving at Payson he organized a company of boys as soldiers and drilled them until they showed marked discipline and ability. Col. Pearce took part in the Walker and Black Hawk Indian wars, and was commissioned a lieutenant colonel by Governor Durkee of Utah to lead the volunteers of this section against the marauding bands of Navajo and Ute Indians that caused so much trouble in the early days.
High honors were paid to the veteran at his funeral, which occured at Washington on Tuesday, the 8th inst. Fourteen carriages laden with occupants went from St. George to take part in the ceremony. The meeting house at Washington would not hold the number of people in attendance. The house was beautifully decorated with flowers and nationals flags. The speakers, Pres. David H. Cannon, Bishop James Andrus, Pres. Ed H. Snow, Casper Bryner, Mayor Arthur Paxman, Bishop Andrew Sproul, and Bishop Calvin Hall, some of them former comrades of deceased in the Indian wars spoke in high terms of the services rendered to the country by Col. Pearce and also words of comfort to the bereaved relatives.
The procession to the graveyard was preceded by twelve former comrades of deceased, mounted, one of whom bore a large national flag, the company being under command of Captain James Andrus.