Biographical Sketch of William J. Bear, Lafayette County, Missouri >From "History of Lafayette County, Mo., carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources" St. Louis, Mo. Historical Company, 1881. ********************************************************************** William J. Bear, P. O. Lexington, Missouri, son of John and Elizabeth Bear, was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, March 5, 1821, and having come to this county as early as 1844, may be counted as one of the old settlers. Having been raised on a farm, on coming to this county he engaged in farming. His father was early disabled by rheumatism, and he with his younger brother took charge of the farm. His father died in 1870. The two brothers have bought out most of the heirs, and they both reside on the original farm, nine miles southeast of Lexington. In 1861, after the battle of Lexington he went south with Gen. Price, and was enrolled in Company B, 6th regiment Missouri volunteers, C. S. A., and served in the west until the winter of 1863, when he was discharged. He was in the battles of Lexington, Pea Ridge, and a number of lesser note. He then went to Virginia, and enlisted in a company of exchanged prison- ers, mostly Missourians, in 62nd Virginia regiment of mounted infantry. In the battle of New Market, his company was cut to pieces, and the fragments joined a company of independent rangers, and served to the end of the war. He then returned to his home in this county. January 6, 1871 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Rice, daughter of Augustus Rice, a native of Virginia, now deceased. They have only one child living: William. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe Miller Penny (Eisenbarger) Harrell ====================================================================