From "Biographical History of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton..... Vol 2

This prominent citizen of Wolcott, White county, Indiana, was born in Culpeper, Virginia, Jan 21, 1821, and is descended from illustrious ancestors. His paternal grandfather, John Lear, was of English birth, but took up arms in the defense of American liberty. He, together with John Sanders and George Washington, carried the body of General Braddock to the rear, at his death, while comrades, the "Virginia Blues" saved the day. General Braddock's sister, living in England, sent to each of the tree ten pounds sterling and a new cockade. Mr Lear has seen the one owned by his grandfather, which is now in the Culpeper court-house in Virginia. The maternal grandparents were of English descent and named Spicer, and through them he claims to be descended from Pocahontas.

His father, Nathaniel M Lear, was born in Fork Erie, Virginia, and lived there until 1837, when he moved to Belmont county, Ohio, and seven years later to Union township, White county, Indiana. He farmed here for two years and then moved to Parke County, where he purchased eighty acres of land near Rockville. He died on this farm in 1878, at the age of seventy-two years. He was twice married,- first to Miss Mariah Spicer, who was born in Virginia, and died at the age of twenty-five years. Mr Lear can remember being taken to her funeral when he was twenty-two months old, so strong an impression did it make on his youthful mind. She left three children: John, who died at Monticello; Hiram, our subject; and Joseph, who resides near Bethany, Missouri. The father was married in 1825 to Mary Spicer, a sister of his first wife. She died in 1840. Twelve children were the result of this marriage, of whom we chronicle the following items: Julia is the wife of Jordon Crane, of Nebraska; Sarah is the widow of Bart Bunnel, of Wolcott; Albert and frank are dead; Elizabeth is the wife of John Cox, of Rockville, Indiana; Caroline is the wife of Daniel Cox of Rockville; William is deceased; Mary Jane is the wife of James McClane of Brookland, Indiana; and the others died in infancy.

When Hiram Lear was sixteen years old he accompanied his parents from Virginia to Belmont County, Ohio and later to White county, Indiana. He remained at home, near Monticello, until he had attained his twenty-first birthday, when his father gave him a Spanish milled dollar and bade him make his fortune. He secured work of neighboring farmers, first Thomas Bunnell, near Monticello, for whom he worked for ten dollars a month, later for M. Kenton at twelve dollars a month. Then he and his brother John rented eighty acres in the vicinity of Chalmers, and follwed agricultural pursuits there for several years. In 1844 he started by himself and entered his first forty acres in 1855 at Winamac. He added another forty each year until he had four hundred acres five miles from Wolcott. He has given to each son a farm and still retains the old home of two hundred and forty acres, besides two hundred acres near Chalmers. He has done general farming and raised large numbers of stock, having from fifty to one hundred head of cattle and two hundred sheep, but he has now retired from the stock business and does only general farming. From 1853 to 1859 he was engaged in the general mercantile business at Monon, Indiana, with William Watson, a partner, but his interest is now centered in his farm property.

Mr Lear was married in 1857, in Big Creek township, to Margaret A Burns, a  daughter of John and Malinda (Forgeson) Burns, who came to this county from Germany in 1833. She was born July 4, 1831, and has been a helpmate in every sense of the word. She is a most prepossessing lady and has a host of warm friends here. They have a large family of children, vis.: Frank, of Monticello; Charles, on the Big Creek farm; Thomas, James and Fay are on farms adjoining their father; Zora is deceased, as is also Samuel; Bert is a student; David deid in infancy; Jennie is at home, as are Bessie and Hugh. Mr Lear is a Republican in politics, but has never devoted his time to the cause of the party. He was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Rensselear. He was born in a Methodist family but reared in a Quaker atmosphere, having been practically adopted by a Quaker family for three years. These teaching deveoped a fine sense of justice that is one of his dominating qualities, and has enabled him to quiet many a neighborhood quarrel. He has a strong personality that is felt thoughout the entire community.