Peter K. Slear Biography

	This biography appears on pages 741-742 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	PETER K. SLEAR. - This well-known and highly esteemed farmer of 
Yankton county was born on the 28th of January, 1838, in Lancaster 
county, Pennsylvania, and is a worthy representative of an old and 
honored family of that state. The family is of German origin and the 
name has been variously spelled Schleer, Schlier, Schlear, Sleer, Slear 
and Slier. Their patriotism is attested by the fact that they have been 
represented in every war in which this country has taken part from the 
Revolution down to the Spanish-American war, one of the family being 
now with the United States regulars in the Philippines. Soon after the 
Revolutionary war Charles Slear came to this country from the 
Fatherland and first settled in Berks county, Pennsylvania, but later 
removed to Union county, that state. He married Mary Hummel, and the 
children born to them were Charles, Kate, Jacob, John, George, Hannah, 
Samuel and Daniel.  

	George Slear, of this family, was the grandfather of the subject. 
He was born March 17, 1783, and died March 1, 1875. He was a farmer of 
prominence and filled various public positions. His home was first in 
Dry Valley and later in Buffalo Valley, Union county, Pennsylvania. His 
first wife was Hannah Kaufman, by whom he had four children: Daniel, 
Esther, Peter and Margaret. For his second wife he married Sophia 
Miller and to them were born three children: Charles, George and 
William, while his third wife was Elizabeth Barklow, by whom he had 
four children: Elizabeth, Hannah, Catharine and James.  

	Daniel Slear, the oldest child of the first marriage, was the 
father of the subject. He first married Elizabeth Killenberger, by whom 
he had six children, and three of the number are still living, namely: 
Peter K., of this review; John Adam, who married Fannie Hittle and 
lives in Lanark, Illinois; and Mary, wife of Beniville Mench, of 
Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania. For his second wife the father married 
Catherine Longacer.  

	Peter K. Slear was quite small when his mother died and he was 
then bound out to a farmer, for whom he worked for his board and 
clothes until eighteen years of age. At the beginning of the Civil war 
he offered his services to the country, enlisting in Company C, Third 
Volunteer Regiment of Pennsylvania Militia, and he remained at the 
front until peace was declared, being honorably discharged January 20, 
1866, after the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. He was then holding the 
rank of sergeant.  

	Returning to his home in Pennsylvania, Mr. Slear continued a 
resident in that state until after his marriage in 1870 to Miss Mary J. 
Babb, of Stephenson county, Illinois, a daughter of Reuben and Eliza 
(Stall) Babb. Her father was born and reared in Pennsylvania and had a 
family of eight children, three of whom are still living. Mrs. Slear's 
brother Eaton is now a resident of Wauconda, Illinois, and Solomon 
lives in Springfield. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Slear, 
but three are now deceased. Those living are Reuben William, who 
married Hattie M. Selley and has three children. Lonson Peter, Edna M. 
and Reuben William, and Marietta E., Virginia J. and Bernice C.  

	In 1869 Mr. Slear came to Yankton county, South Dakota, and 
secured the homestead on which he has since resided, his time and 
attention being devoted to his cultivation and improvement. He is an 
honored member of Phil Kearney Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of 
Yankton, and is a man who commands the respect and confidence of all 
with whom he comes in contact either in business or social life. He has 
led a very temperate life and has no bad habits, has never played 
cards, and is very domestic in his tastes, being devoted to home and 
family. He has served as treasurer and director of the school board but 
has never sought official honors and is independent in politics, voting 
for the best men regardless of party ties.