My Genealogy Hound

ELIAS FREAR, one of the early settlers of Mulally township, Harlan county, Nebr., was born in Warren county, Pa., in 1840. His father, Simeon Frear, was a native of New York, born in 1798. Thence he moved to Pennsylvania, where he engaged in lumbering, and through good management and hard work became immensely wealthy. He owned three farms, comprising one thousand one hundred acres in all, and valued at $50,000; he had also a controlling interest in what was known as the “Pittsburgh & Warren Turnpike.” He served through the War of 1812 from beginning to end and was in every sense a true American. He was a very active member of the Presbyterian church, but, nevertheless, was genial, social and jovial, and was highly respected by the people of his neighborhood. His wife, Maria (DeWitt) Frear, was born in New York State in 1797, and was likewise a devoted member of the Presbyterian church. She bore her husband eleven children, as follows — Lear (deceased), DeWitt, Catherine, John, Cornelius, Stephen, Rachel, Baker (deceased), Lawrence, Diana (deceased), and Elias, the subject of this sketch.

Elias Frear was reared a tanner, which trade he followed until 1862, when he enlisted in Company I, Fourteenth Pennsylvania cavalry. He took part in the engagement at Gettysburg, Winchester, Fisher’s Hill and Salem, having had his shoulder dislocated while with Sheridan on his ride from Winchester to Fisher’s Hill. He was mustered out at Alexandria, Va., in 1865, and returned to Warren county, Pa., where he worked at lumbering until he came to Nebraska in 1874. Here he settled on section 19, township 2, range 17, Harlan county. He then had about $1,000, but is now the owner of half a section of land, two hundred acres of which are under cultivation, and he has, besides, money at interest. When he came here he found the people in a rather destitute condition, but many of them are now wealthy. He had to go forty miles to mill, and in 1875 had to go fifty miles for seed potatoes; but Mr. Frear had been dependent on his own resources since eleven years of age, and was equal to the emergency.

In 1862, Mr. Frear married Miss Eliza McKee, a native of Massachusetts, born in 1843. Three children have been born to this union, namely — Charles, George K., and Melvin G., the latter having died in infancy. Mr. Frear is a devout Methodist, was a class leader and superintendent for eight years, and was largely instrumental in erecting the Scott Hill church in Pennsylvania. In politics he is a prohibitionist.