William Henry (Shears) Shear (1838 - 1921)

Born 30 Jan 1838 in Kingston, Ulster, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Jean Grace (Murray) Shear — married 11 Aug 1864 in De Witt, Clinton, Iowa, United States

Descendants

Died 19 Sep 1921 at age 83 in Fulton, Whiteside, Illinois, United States

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Biography

William was born in 1838. He passed away in 1921^[1].

William served twice during the Civil War. He started as a private in the Illinois Infantry, 13th regiment, Company G, being promoted from private to corporal, before being discharged due to a wound. His personal diary, which is kept in a museum in Morrison, Whiteside County, IL, describes his role in the war as the Union moved down the Mississippi toward Vicksburg. He participated in a number of Army Corp projects before being shot in the leg shortly before the battle of Vicksburg, proper. Due to this injury, he did not participate in Sherman's 'March to the Sea' that followed.

William went on to farm in both Illinois and in Star Prairie, Wisconsin, and eventually became a constable in Whiteside County, Illinois. He held a number of patents, including one for a police nippers.

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Shears-394-3. Death certificate of William Henry Shear.

• Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from The State of Illinois. NARA Publication 539, Roll 81. FHL Microifilm 881701.
• U.S. Federal Census, 1850, Town of Sharon, Schoharie, NY, enumeration date 9 August, 1850, enumerator David M. Webster, page 371.
• NY State Census, 1855
• llinois Databases of Illinois Veterans Index
• Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths Index
• Iowa State Census collection