CLAY L. PEARSE, ENS, USN

Clay Pearse '13

Date of birth: January 27, 1891

Date of death: June 19, 1915

Age: 24

Lucky Bag

From the 1913 Lucky Bag:

Clay Lewis Pearse

Hampton, Iowa

"Nancy"

THERE is only one Nancy. But in order to describe the one in this small space, we must tell what he is not rather than what he is. Neither wooden nor savvy, not an athlete nor yet a Swedish dancer, never a Red Mike, yet he doesn't fuss to excess, the possessor of a gloomy frown and a bright smile struggling for possession of his goodly features; he is neither morose nor voluble, has a kindly disposition and a quick temper, is a good friend and a lively enemy, a familiar figure and yet a puzzle to us all. Second Class Year, Nancy suddenly turned militant suffragette to the consternation of Brenner, who had never seen the like in all his years of experience with Hoosier politics. But when the responsibilities of a muster book and Arvid Pendleton devolved upon him, he steadied on a domestic course clear of the storm centers.

This much we can tell you of Pearse: he is a conscientious student, albeit inclined to worry over his marks, and a man of high principles to which he holds undeviatingly, whatever the consequences.

Lacrosse Numerals, First Petty Officer

Clay Lewis Pearse

Hampton, Iowa

"Nancy"

THERE is only one Nancy. But in order to describe the one in this small space, we must tell what he is not rather than what he is. Neither wooden nor savvy, not an athlete nor yet a Swedish dancer, never a Red Mike, yet he doesn't fuss to excess, the possessor of a gloomy frown and a bright smile struggling for possession of his goodly features; he is neither morose nor voluble, has a kindly disposition and a quick temper, is a good friend and a lively enemy, a familiar figure and yet a puzzle to us all. Second Class Year, Nancy suddenly turned militant suffragette to the consternation of Brenner, who had never seen the like in all his years of experience with Hoosier politics. But when the responsibilities of a muster book and Arvid Pendleton devolved upon him, he steadied on a domestic course clear of the storm centers.

This much we can tell you of Pearse: he is a conscientious student, albeit inclined to worry over his marks, and a man of high principles to which he holds undeviatingly, whatever the consequences.

Lacrosse Numerals, First Petty Officer

Loss

Clay died on June 19, 1915 at the Marine Hospital, Key West, Florida. Shortly before he died it was reported he had a "critical illness." Per death certificate, he had acute anterior lobe myelitis with respiratory paralysis. He was "third officer on board a United States gunboat on patrol duty in Mexican waters" at the time.

Other Information

From The Des Moines Register:

Ensign Pearse was born in Geneva, Ia., and was graduated two years ago from the United States Naval academy. He had seen active service since. He served on the New Hampshire much of the time and took an active part at the landing of Vera Cruz, where he was second in command of a company in charge of Ensign Wright, also of Iowa.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Clay was the son of Jeffrey and Mary Pearse. His father was a farmer in Geneva and the Franklin County area. Clay graduated from Hampton high school in 1908. In March he participated in the high school declamatory contest. His speech was “Grathan’s Reply to Mr. Cory.”
He was appointed to the Naval Academy by Senator Cummins.
In July 1914 Clay returned home from Vera Cruz where he had been on the New Hampshire during the occupation of the Mexican port. His next assignment was to the department of the lakes, North Chicago, to train enlisted men.
When Clay died, his friend and classmate Louis James Roth telegraphed his father Mayor Roth to purchase $30 worth of flowers from the ship’s officers for his funeral. They were together during the Naval Academy, served together at the naval training station at Chicago, and were sent to Mexican waters together.

Clay is buried in Iowa.