John Pearce, Hamilton County’s friend & political reformer

A longtime friend of Hamilton County died April 1. John Pearce brought more change to county politics and the local judiciary than most people realize.

John was an attorney who grew up in the southern part of the county, but following college and law school, he and his wife, Polly, moved to Noblesville in the 1960s where John joined with Paul Smith and Jerry Barr to form the law firm of Smith, Pearce and Barr.

Offices were located at 11th and Logan streets, and as the firm grew Gordon Byers joined the organization. The general practice included representing individuals, corporations, and municipalities.

John enjoyed politics and quickly jumped into the local Republican political scene at a time when there was great division between the rural northern and southern suburban portions of Hamilton County.

Bitter factional fights were constant.

Since all local government was run by Republicans, this feuding showed up in such places as county highway operations, auto license branch management, and even hospital board appointments.

In 1978, John ran for GOP county chairman and won by making friends in both camps and essentially bringing the factions together. It may not have been a perfect marriage, but it generally ended the north vs. south fighting. Even today there is little of the former political discord.

As the county became the fastest growing in the state, John gained favor with governors Otis Bowen and later Robert Orr. This became important as vacancies in the local judiciary developed and new courts were established in Hamilton County.

At a time when a county or district chairman’s influence was often pivotal in judicial appointments, John’s recommendations were important. Those recommendations included respected judges Judith Proffitt, Jerry Barr, William Hughes, and the late Donald Foulke.

As the century came to a close, John and Polly decided to retire to Florida. John died unexpectedly in his Bradenton home. He was 83. Besides his wife, he is survived by daughter, Cara, and four grandchildren.

He will and should be remembered as a reformer and good public servant.

Columnist Fred Swift has worked in newspapers for decades. He has been sharing his opinions in the pages of The Reporter since it began. Email him at swiftfred19@gmail.com.