The reputation of a community, socially, morrally and financially, is due entirely to the men who cmpose it - and perhaps, in a no less degree to the wives, and mothers who are the companions of these men by their firesides. In the settlement of Jo Daviess County there fortunately came into it a large proportion of American-born citizens, who represent mainly its advancement financially and its elevation morrally and socially.
The Gear family, the records indicate, settled in New England at an early day, and one branch of its later emigrated to teh city of Cleveland OH where William T., the father of our subject wsa born in 1818. He married Eliza Day, a native of New Hampshire, Dec. 29, 1836 near New Diggings, Wisc. to which he had previously emigrated.
The parents, after their marriage, probably livd in that reigion for a time, then, in 1839, settled in Guilford Twp. where the father turned his attention to farming nd where he lived to a ripe old age, passing away March 10, 1880. The mother survives and makes her home with her daughter in Sheffield Iowa. The paretnal household included ten children, nine of whom lived to mature years, and of whom John C., our subject was the fourth child.
Mr. Gear is a native of this county, having been born in Vinegar Hill Twp., Sept. 6, 1845. He attended the district school during his boyhood and youth, and was taught those habits of industry and economy which proved the basis of his success in life. He left the parental roof when twenty-three years old, going to Clay County, Kan., where he homesteaded a tract of land and lived for a period of eleven years. Then, selling out, he returned to this county, sojourned two or three years in Guilford Twp., then settled on his present farm in Rush Twp. Here he owns 130 acres nad operates in all about 400 acres, making a specialty of stock fraising. In this industry he has been very success ful and usually keeps about 100 head of horses and cattle.
Mrs. Mary J. Hathaway became the wife of our subject Feb. 8, 1872, the wedding taking place amid the congratulations of many friends at the bride's home in Guilford Twp. This lady was born in this township April 6, 1850, and is the daughter of Samuel W. and Sophronia (Taylor) Hathaway, who were married in Guilford Twp., where they now reside. The maternal grandfather, John W. Taylor was one of the first settlers of Guilford Twp. The father of Mrs. Gear has followed farming all his life, and the parental family comprised eleven children of whom Mr. G. was the fourth in order of birth. Of these, seven are living; making their homes mostly in Jo Daviess County. They are honest and industrious citizens, order-loving and law-abiding, an honor to their ancestry, and people who will leave to the posterity a record which the latter may look upon with pride in coming years.
Four children were, three sons and one daughter, came to the fireside of Mr. and Mrs. Gear. They were William H., Myrthe M., Clayton E., and John S. The latter died when an infant of six months (Buried at Greenwood Cemetery - headstone says John W. died 12 August 1882). Our subject and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. G. politically, votes the straight Republican ticket. While living in Kansas he held some of the township offices, but as a rule he has had no desire for other care and responsibility that that involved in the proper supervision of his farming interests. Mrs. Gear is a prime housekeeper, and has contributed her full share to the success of her husband in his various undertakings.
From Portraits and Biographical Pg 327, Transcribed and contributed to Genealogy Trails by Christine Walters
