GEORGE LEAR was born in 1820, in Todd County. His father and mother were George and Nancy (Shuffle) Lear. The father died about the year 1854, aged sixty. The mother died in 1864, aged about fifty-five. George began for himself at the age of twenty-five. He rented from his father for several years before buying. He came to this farm in 1860. He first bought 212 acres good land, and has been buying and selling land since. He was in the United States Army about four months, and, while in the service he was taken with the measles and became disabled, and was discharged in consequence, and has been on the sick list ever since. He was married in 1856 to Miss Julia A. Steven-son, of this county. These parents have five children-three daughters and two sons. Mr. Lear is one of the respected and responsible old settiers of this county. Mary E. was married August 9, 1877, to Jesse Joines, of Illinois. These parents have three children-one daughter and two sons. Four months after the birth of the youngest child, Joines left for Illinois, seemingly without cause, and it is reported he has married another woman. The children of Mrs. Joines are: Noah S., George H. and Dora A. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Lear are: Mary E., Eliza Lavina J., Martha A., John Wesley, George Thomas.
