Isaac J. Bear, who has been a citizen of Michigan since 1854, was born in Carroll county, Ohio, April 29, 1834, and is the third of a family of four sons and eight daughters born to John and Catherine (Hemery) Bear, of which children four are still living, viz: Isaac J., the subject of this sketch; Allie, a widow; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Pettingall, of Salem township, Allegan county, and Sarah J., widow of Arthur Whitehead, of Pueblo, Colo. John Bear, the father, was born in Pennsylvania and was reared a farmer in Ohio, as he was but a small boy when he reached that state. He received a common school education, grew to manhood in the belief of the democratic party, but voted for John C. Fremont, the first republican nominee for the presidency of the United States. He volunteered as a soldier in the Civil War, and after its close came to Michigan, and died at the home of his son, in Allegan county, in 1865, from the effects of exposure during his service. A son, Henry, also died from the same cause, and a brother, William S., was killed at the battle of Shiloh. His wife was possessed of those cardinal virtues which grace true womanhood. Isaac J. Bear was reared and educated in Ohio, in which state he lived until twenty-one years of age, when he came to Michigan. November 15, 1857, Mr. Bear married Miss Emily E. Brown, and to this union have been born ten children-three sons and seven daughters-but of these are now only four living, viz: Charles A., who was educated in the high school in Grand Rapids, and has been and is a successful teacher in Kent county; Emma is the wife of George E. Walker, of Grand Rapids, is a high school graduate, and with her husband has visited Los Angeles, Cal.; Abba is also a graduate of Grand Rapids high school, has been instructed in instrumental music, and resides with her parents, and Winifred is in the sixth grade of the district school. Mrs. Emily Bear was born in Racine county, Wis., and taught the first school in Salem, Allegan county, Mich. Her parents are now deceased. When Mr. and Mrs. Bear began their married life, Mr. Bear had no capital save an ax, having given his father his only cash, $20., just before his time was out. They began on forty acres, for which they went in debt. Mr. Bear was one of the brave boys in blue to take up arms in defense of his country in its time of peril, and he enlisted, in 1864, in company F., Twelfth Michigan infantry, under Capt. William McLaughlin. The regiment rendezvoused at Grand Rapids and was assigned to the Mississippi department, under Gen. Pope, reported at Cairo, Ill., then went down the Mississippi and up the White river to Duvall’s bluff, and were placed on scout duty on Cache river and Red river, and endured the greatest hardship of a soldier’s life, being often without rations for days at a time. The service was not of long duration, however, as the glad tidings soon came to hand of the surrender of the Rebel army under Gen. Lee. Mr. Bear was for a time afflicted with inflammation of the eyes, for three months was in hospital, and was honorably discharged at Little Rock in June, 1865, and returned to his wife and family. Mr. Bear now resumed his agricultural labors in earnest, and by his diligence and hard labor acquired 170 acres in Allegan and Ottawa counties. In 1889 he sold his farms, which he had cleared up, and spent about five years as a general merchant, and also dealt in real estate in Grand Rapids, where he owns some good property. In 1896 he purchased 120 acres of good land in Bryon township, with a soil of clay, sand and muck, well suited to the cultivation of cereals, vegetables and fruits of the latitude, and today has an elegant estate, on which not a dollar in the shape of a mortgage stands. Mr. Bear is a republican in his politics and is a warm friend of the public school systems; he has been officially connected with the district schools for several years, and the subject of education has claimed a great deal of his thoughts and attention. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Bear are devoted members of the United Brethren church, and Mr. Bear was a member of the general conference of this religious society at Dayton, Ohio, and Toledo, Ohio, in 1893 and 1897, respectively. He has aided liberally with his means in the erection of several church edifices, and has always given freely in assisting many other benevolence that have been worthy of his consideration. He stands prominently among the best agriculturists of Kent county, and his extensive and varied experience in other walks of life has earned for him the unfeigned respect of his fellow citizens throughout the county of Kent and the township of Bryon, and his family enjoy with him in sharing the esteem which is always attached to an unsullied name.