My Genealogy Hound

JOHN SHEARER, JR., an enterprising farmer and substantial citizen of the town of Hanover, is a son of John Shearer, Sr., and Philena (French) Shearer, and was ushered into life in the town of Milton, Saratoga county, New York, August 31, 1817. His paternal grandfather, Robert Shearer, was a native of Scotland, town of Paisley, and emigrated to America just prior to the Revolutionary war. His first stopping place was in the town of Milton, Saratoga county, New York, where, upon the commencement of hostilities, he was arrested as a spy and conveyed to Boston, Massachusetts. He was, however, after a hearing before the martial courts of the colonies, dismissed, as there could be no convicting evidence found against him. After this incident he returned to Milton, where the remainder of his life was passed in peace and security. By occupation he was a weaver, but in America there was very little demand for his vocation, so he was compelled to become a tiller of the soil.

Robert Shearer was a member of the Presbyterian church, married and reared a family of five children, four sons and one daughter. Grandfather French was a native of Connecticut, a typical Yankee, and removed to the town of Milton, New York, where he spent his latter days and passed away in peace. By occupation he was a seaman and made numerous voyages to the West Indies. He reared a large family, and in the latter part of his life became a farmer. John Shearer (father) was born in America in the year 1779, and when his parents emigrated to New York, was about ten years of age. He died July 15, 1859. He was a farmer by occupation and a whig in polities. His marriage with Philena French resulted in the birth of nine children, six sons and three daughters.

John Shearer, Jr., gained his education in the common schools, became a farmer in his youth and has always pursued that business. In his political bent he is a democrat.

He was united in marriage on August 21, 1842, to Asenath B. Cowen, daughter of Ezekiel Cowen, of the town of Hanover, Chautauqua county, New York, but formerly of Rhode Island. Mr. and Mrs. Shearer are the parents of six children, four living: Nancy A., wife of Lee Hiller (dead), now living at Smith’s Mills; Henry C., married to Evalina Eastling, at present a resident of Taylor county, Wisconsin, a farmer; Alvin A., dead; Charles M., married to Parmelia Prouse, a telegraph operator at West Olive station, Michigan, on the Chicago & West Michigan R. R.; Mason A., married to Ella Horton, living one-half mile west of Smith’s Mills, Hanover town. New York; and Leslie J., dead.

John Shearer, Jr., is a man of usefulness and weight in the community in which he lives, realizing that friends and a good name are of more value and conducive to greater happiness than all the iridescent splendor of the world combined.