Biography - JAMES BEAR
James Bear is a native of Ohio, having been born in Monroe county, in the southeastern part of that State, January 12, 1842. His father, Jacob Bear, was a Pennsylvanian of German extraction. His mother's maiden name was Isabelle Heep. In the year 1850, the family consisting of nine children, of whom James was the sixth in order of birth, moved to Richland county, to a farm near Olney. After four years they again moved to a place near Parkersburg, the old gentleman assigning as a reason that Olney was a poor place, near which to rear a family of boys. On this farm Jacob Bear died September 30, 1881, from a stroke of paralysis. James Bear married Mary Whitaker, daughter of Jacob Whitaker, a native of Indiana, December 24, 1868. By her he had four children. She died September 9, 1878. He married his present wife, Martha Hallam, widow of Joseph Hallam. She was a native of West Virginia, having been born in Wheeling of that State. Her parents were Alfred and Mary Day. They came to Parkersburg, Illinois, in 1853, and yet live on the place where they originally located. In August, 1879, Mr. Bear came to Edwards county. He has always followed farming and trading in cattle. He was a soldier during the late war, having enlisted in Co. A, 63rd Illinois Regiment Volunteers, in 1861, being in the service four and a half years. Was with Logan and Sherman to the sea. Veteranized at Huntsville, Alabama. Mrs. Bear came to the place where they now live as the wife of Joseph Hallam, November 26, 1872. Joseph Hallam died December 20, 1877. James Bear is a thorough-going Republican, an active member of the United Brethren church, and has been for years a local preacher of that faith. He is a man of sound judgment, pleasing manners and strictest integrity.
Extracted 12 Aug 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 A Combined History of Edwards, Lawrence, and Wabash Counties, Illinois, page 220.
