My Genealogy Hound

John Bear, ex-county judge and justice of the peace, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, December 13, 1834, and is the son of George and Elizabeth (Vogt) Bear, natives of Kentucky and Ohio respectively. The family emigrated from Switzerland to America at an early day, and some of the members located in Pennsylvania and others in Virginia. The paternal grandfather, Christian Bear, was a musician in the Revolutionary War. He was a cabinet-maker by trade, and followed this principally during his life. He moved from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, from there to Virginia, and thence to Ohio, where he died. George Bear was a mechanic by trade, but his principal occupation in life was farming. When a young man he went from Virginia to Ohio, and settled in Fairfield County. From there he went to Hocking County, and in 1857 he came with his family to Miller County, where he bought and entered a tract of land in Equality Township. Here he and his wife died. John Bear, subject of this sketch, grew to manhood and received his education in Hocking County, Ohio. In 1857 he came with his parents to this county, and in the spring of 1861 he enlisted in the Home Guards, served a few months, and then enlisted in the Enrolled Militia, serving nine months. He was in several skirmishes, was captured at Tuscumbia by the guerrillas, but after a short time was paroled. He was a sergeant and was mustered out in the fall of 1864. The same fall he was elected county treasurer, and held the office for two years. In 1866 he was elected county judge, and served ten successive years in that capacity, eight years of which period he was presiding judge. He was also coroner some years, and has been justice of the peace several times. He is one of the prominent men of the county, and an intelligent citizen. He is now the owner of 127 acres of land, with fifty acres under cultivation. He was married, in 1859, to Miss Laurinda Birdsong, by whom he had three children, two living— Minnie and John. Mrs. Bear died in 1865, and he was again married in August, 1872, to Miss Delilah Dobson, by whom he has three children— Mary E., James and William M. Mrs. Bear is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bear is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Chapter.