EX-MAYOR OF EVANSTON HAS WIFE ARRESTED - Part Two - Harry Putnam Pearsons

Former Mayor Harry Putnam Pearsons

Last month I told the first part of the story of Harry Putnam Pearsons.  Born in Evanston, Illinois in 1873, he was an alumnus of Northwestern University, an attorney, and Mayor of Evanston from 1915-1925.  I ended last month's story with this comment:

Starting in 1929 (Pearsons') name appeared in the newspapers on an almost daily basis.  His good name and reputation were rocked by a scandal from which he never fully recovered.  That's it for this month, but come back on August 1 when I will tell you "the rest of the story" of Harry Putnam Pearsons.

Believe it or not, quiet, sedate Evanston, Illinois would be home to a protracted series of lawsuits that would be more appropriate to the Kardashians than to a former mayor of Evanston.  The first indication of the matter that would cause Pearsons such distress, came in the Chicago Tribune of March 2, 1929:

Pearsons had been married from 1900-1922 to Frances Keyes Pearsons (1878-1959).  They had one daughter, also named Frances (1901-1992) and divorced in 1922.  It was not unusual for a divorced man to remarry, even an ex-mayor, but it is unusual for the groom to refuse to name the bride.  Furthermore, the groom said he and the "mystery bride" had already been married for six months when the news broke.

As it is said, "There is nothing older than yesterday's news," and so Harry Pearsons and his second wife faded into the background until November 5, 1929:

After this incident, the second Mrs. Pearsons was put under a $400.00 Peace Bond and given instructions not to disturb or talk to her husband.

In the midst of all this drama, it was time for the 1930 US Census.  The enumerator (Alice S. Neilson) came to the Harry Pearsons home on April 24, 1930.  Pearsons was still living in his home at 1816 Chicago Avenue in Evanston.  The family now consisted of Harry P. (57 years old), and a man-servant, Rufus Moody (33).  Pearsons said he owned the house and that it was worth $50,000.00 ($962,000.00 in today's funds).  Surprisingly, he said he did not own a radio.  Pearsons said he was single (he was not).  He said he was a Lawyer in General Practice, and Rufus Moody said he was a Servant for a Private Family.  Harry Pearsons said he was not a Veteran; Rufus Moody was a Veteran of World War I.

What about Elizabeth Pearsons and her three children from her first marriage?  Did they answer the door for the census enumerator?  No.  There is no Elizabeth Schmitt or Elizabeth Pearsons listed in Evanston or anywhere else, in the 1930 US Census.  

On July 13, 1930 Elizabeth Pearsons sued for separate maintenance after alleging that her husband was having an affair with an unnamed woman who lived at 489 Briar Place, Chicago.  She admitted that shortly after their marriage, her husband moved her into a house he owned at 2752 Garrison in Evanston:

2752 Garrison, Evanston, Illinois

But she reported that in 1930 Pearsons was trying to have her evicted by allowing a foreclosure of the mortgage on the house to proceed.  She said that her three children from her previous marriage were now living with her in the Garrison house.  She asked that a Receiver be appointed for the property so that she would not be evicted.  For more details of the sordid story, here is the Tribune article from July 13, 1930:

Chicago Tribune - July 13, 1930

Former Mayor Pearsons responded that the "marriage" was only a business deal, and that he allowed his wife and her children to live in the house while she acted as his agent to try to sell the house for him.  He also said that he could not afford any alimony due to recent business problems.  

Mrs. Pearsons pointed out that her husband had enough money to be a member of the University Clubs of Chicago and Evanston, the Glenview Country Club and the Vista del Lago club.  More details in the Tribune article from September 25, 1930:

Chicago Tribune - September 25, 1930

When Harry Pearsons agreed to marry Elizabeth Schmitt both parties signed a pre-nuptial agreement.  Under the terms of the agreement, Elizabeth forfeited any dower rights she had in exchange for $30,000 that would be paid to her when Harry Pearsons died.

Despite their pre-nuptial agreement, Judge Harry A. Lewis decreed that Harry Pearsons must pay Mrs. Pearsons alimony in the amount of $40.00 per week ($770.00 in today's funds).  There was no child support because Mrs. Pearsons three children were from her previous marriage.

Chicago Tribune - October 11, 1930

On December 19, 1930, Harry Pearsons made good on his threat to have his wife evicted from the house he owned on Garrison Avenue:

Chicago Tribune - December 20, 1930

When she moved in, Elizabeth Pearsons knew that her occupancy of the house on Garrison was only temporary.  When Harry Pearsons allowed Elizabeth and her three children to move into the house it was up for sale, and Elizabeth agreed to act as his agent by showing the house to prospective buyers, etc.  

Based on everything I have read, said and unsaid, here's what I think happened.  I think that there are three possible explanations for the Pearsons' marital mess.  

1.  At some point the widow Schmitt found out that she was pregnant - but not by Harry Pearsons.  All-around good guy Harry Pearsons stepped in and offered to marry her so that the baby would be legitimate.  Hence the reason for back-dating the marriage, and Pearsons' unwillingness to name the woman.  After the baby was born, Pearsons would quietly file for divorce and get on with his life.  There is no record of Elizabeth Schmitt Pearsons having any children other than her three with her first husband, so Elizabeth either lost the baby or had an abortion.  Abortions were not easy to obtain in 1930 especially in a place like Evanston.  

2.  Another possibility was that Schmitt was pregnant and Harry Pearsons was the father.  Harry Pearsons had a reputation to protect in Evanston and there is no way it could come out that he had fathered a child out of wedlock.

3.  Yet another possibility (suggested by a friend) is that she made the whole pregnancy story up so she and her children could have a free place to live for a while.  

After Elizabeth was no longer pregnant, there was no reason to continue the "Business Arrangement" as Harry called it.  But when Elizabeth filed for divorce, she also sued for separate maintenance (alimony).  According to the agreement both had signed before the marriage, Elizabeth forfeited any dower rights she had in exchange for $30,000 that would be paid to her when Harry Pearsons died. 

Elizabeth must have decided that she liked the life and house that Harry had provided for her and decided that if she had to go, she would not go quietly.  When Harry objected, Elizabeth probably threatened to make the whole matter public.  Yes, her reputation (such as it was) would have been tarnished, but nothing like the way the North Shore society types would turn on Harry Pearsons after this charade was revealed.

We may never know the true story. 

On May 24, 1931 the Chicago Tribune reported that various individuals in Evanston would make the land they owned available for locals to grow their own vegetables.  It was the Great Depression and many Evanstonians were out of work.  Harry P. Pearsons, too poor to pay $40.00/week alimony, made ten acres of property he owned at Church Street and Hartrey Avenue available to be farmed by local residents at no cost to them.

Both Harry Pearsons and Mrs. Pearsons managed to keep their names out of the newspapers for the remainder of 1931, but this changed on January 29, 1932 when Mrs. Pearsons decided it was time for her to tell her side of the whole story.  The $40/week alimony was only temporary until their case could be heard.  Here's the Chicago Tribune's account of Elizabeth Pearsons' day in court:

Chicago Tribune - January 29, 1932

Chicago Tribune - January 29, 1932

As if the whole sordid mess was not bad enough, the Tribune reported on February 16, 1932 that Mrs. Pearsons had a former Notre Dame football tackle and former Royal Canadian Mountie available to testify on her behalf:

Chicago Tribune - February 16, 1932

Chicago Tribune - February 16, 1932

The very next day, February 17, 1932 it was former Mayor Pearson's turn:

Only Harry Pearsons would think it a good idea to wear spats when he was testifying.

For the first time it was reported that the pregnant Mrs. Pearsons needed to have an "operation."  Could this have been the abortion I referred to above?  Remember, there is no record of Mrs. Pearsons every having any other children than the three she had with her husband who had passed away.

Here's more from the Belleville (IL) Daily News-Democrat from February 17, 1932:

The judge was not impressed by either Pearsons or his spats, and ruled in favor of Mrs. Pearsons, despite the terms of their prenuptial agreement:

Chicago Tribune - March 23, 1932

Buried in the middle of the article above is the following:

"She told him she was expecting a child shortly before they were married in June, 1928 and that she intended to undergo an operation to prevent the birth." .  

The Pantagraph - March 23, 1932

I am not an attorney but I do not understand why the Courts ruled that Mrs. Pearsons was entitled to alimony since she signed the rights away in the pre-nuptial agreement.  Was the entire agreement null and void?  Would Pearson's estate still have to pay Elizabeth the $30,000 provided for in the agreement?  Enquiring minds want to know.

Chicago Tribune - June 17, 1932

The petition was denied.

Harry Putnam Pearsons' father Henry Alonzo Pearsons died in Evanston on December 23, 1932.  He was eighty-nine years old.  The Evanston Review published a comprehensive obituary for him on December 29, 1932:

He was buried in the family plot at Rosehill Cemetery:

Believe it or not both Harry Pearsons and Elizabeth Pearsons managed to keep their names out of the newspapers for almost two and 1/2 years.  But they were back on November 24, 1934 because Harry Pearsons would not pay Elizabeth Pearsons the money the courts said he owed her.

Chicago Tribune - November 24, 1934

Chicago Tribune - December 06, 1934

Chicago Tribune - August 03, 1935

Chicago Tribune - August 09, 1935

Chicago Tribune - October 08, 1935

Chicago Tribune - October 19, 1935

Chicago Tribune - November 06, 1935

Chicago Tribune - November 06, 1935

Chicago Tribune - November 07, 1935

Chicago Tribune - February 22, 1936

Chicago Tribune - April 28, 1936

This lawsuit was also unsuccessful for Harry Pearsons.

The 1940 US Census finds Harry Pearsons living at the University Club, 1704 Hinman Avenue, Evanston.  He is a Club Member/Lodger, 67 years old and Divorced.  He is a Lawyer in Private Practice and had been living in the same place in 1935.

University Club of Evanston

Believe it or not, Harry Pearsons managed to keep his name out of the papers until January 12, 1947 when he was pictured at the dedication of the new Evanston City Hall:

In 1951 it was announced that Harry P. Pearsons had been elected Vice President of the Chicago Law Institute (even though they misspelled his name):

Harry Putnam Pearsons died February 2, 1952 at the University Club.  He was seventy-nine years old.  Here is his Obituary and Death Notice from the Chicago Tribune of February 3, 1952:

The Evanston Review from February 07, 1952 published a long obituary for the former mayor listing his many accomplishments.  There was no mention of his ill-fated second marriage and subsequent divorce.

Harry Pearsons was cremated in the Graceland Cemetery Crematorium.  He was laid to rest in the family plot at Rosehill Cemetery:

After extensive research I was unable to find out whether Harry Pearsons' estate ever paid out the $30,000 called for in the pre-nuptial agreement or not. 

Harry Putnam Pearsons - the first half of his life was one of privilege, prestige and service.  The second half of his life was not.  May he rest in peace.

THE REST OF THE STORY

It took extensive digging but based on clues woven into the newspaper stories about her I was able to "dig up" quite a bit of information on Elizabeth Schmitt Pearsons.

Elizabeth Bonaventura Harris was born September 24, 1885 in Michigan.  In about 1912 she married George Adolph Schmitt (1881-1924), a dry goods manager.   They had three children:  Dorothy Elizabeth/Mrs. Michael DeBartelo (1913-2004), Margaret Jane/Mrs. Robert Troke (1914-1996), and Robert George (1918-1993).  George Schmitt died in 1924 leaving her free to enter into an undefined relationship with Harry Putnam Pearsons.  She and Pearsons were quietly married in 1928 and divorced with much fanfare in 1932.

After the divorce, Elizabeth managed to remove all traces of Harry Pearsons from her life.  She reverted to using the name Schmitt and official records referred to her as Elizabeth Harris Schmitt.   I could only find one reference to Elizabeth Schmitt Pearsons and that was when Dorothy Schmitt announced the marriage of her sister Margaret in the Kenosha News from December 12, 1934:

In the US Census she reported herself as "Widowed" rather than Divorced, and even her obituary made no mention of her ill-fated marriage to Harry Pearsons.

In 1935 Elizabeth moved back to Kenosha, Wisconsin.  By the time of the 1940 US Census she was living in Los Angeles, California with her "brother-in-law" John J. Lennon.

In the 1950 Census she was still living in Los Angeles, but with her son Robert, his wife Iris and their son Jerry.

Elizabeth Bonaventura Harris Schmitt Pearsons Schmitt died April 13, 1959 in Los Angeles.  She was seventy-three years old.  She is buried in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Culver City, California, in Section S - Row 45, Grave 76. 

                                                                            Photo courtesy Find a Grave volunteer Kim Jenkins