George Graham Kear, born April 9, 1866 in Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois, the son of George Kear and Lowetta (Williams) Kear.
George Graham Kear was married to Emma Frances Johnson on __________ __, 18__ (c. 1889/90). Emma was born on March 7, 1863 in Moline, Rock Island County, Illinois. George and Emma had the following children;
1. Beulah May Kear, born January __, 1891 in Illinois. Beulah was married to Arthur Evans, most likely in Arkansas. At the time of the 1930 census, Beulah and her family are found in Locust Bayou, Calhoun County, Arkansas;
Arthur Evans Head M 42 Arkansas
Beulah Evans Wife F 39 Illinois
J A Evans Son M 6 Arkansas
Charles Evans Son M 4 Arkansas
Beula Donahue Servant F 21 Arkansas

Beulah and Arthur were divorced in the 1930's and at the time of the 1940 census, Beulah and her two sons are found residing with her widowed father in Lacon, Marshall County, Illinois. Beulah May (Kear) Evans died on July 31, 1952 and her mortal remains were laid in the Sparland Cemetery in Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 130753039.

2. Junie Lowetta Kear, born June 30, 1892 near Sparland, Peoria County, Illinois. Junie was 1st married to Oliver Franklin Johnson (1892 - 1924). They were the parents of;
A. Mildred (b. abt Feb 1917)
B. Florence (b. abt 1920)
C. Junia/Junie (b. abt 1922)
D. infant (1923)
E. Oliver (b. abt 1925)

At the time of the 1920 census, Junie and her family are found in Lacon, Marshall County, Illinois;
Oliver Johnson Head M 27 Illinois
Jennie Johnson Wife F 27 Illinois
Mildred Johnson Daughter F 2 Illinois

Junie was married 2nd to George Newell c. 1926. They were the parents of;
F. Mary (b. abt 1927)
G. Margaret Ellen Newell (1930 - 1932)

Junie Lowetta (Kear) Johnson Newell, died on December 11, 1935 in Lacon, Marshall County, Illinois and her mortal remains were laid in the Sparland Cemetery in Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 69530191.

3. Leonard McKinley Kear, born August 26, 1895/96 in or near Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois. Leonard was married 1st to Anna __________. At the time of the 1940 census, Leonard and his family are found in Sparland, Steuben Township, Marshall County, Illinois;
Mckinley Kear Head M 40 Illinois
Anna Kear Wife F 38 Illinois
William Kear Son M 17 Illinois
Alvina Kear Daughter F 14 Illinois
Donald Kear Son M 11 Illinois
Anna Kear Daughter F 10 Illinois
Jack E. "Jackie" Kear Son M 8 Illinois
Edward Kear Son M 4 Illinois
Edwin Kear Son M 4 Illinois
Lauretta Kear Daughter F 3 Illinois
George Kear Son M 2 Illinois

Leonard was married 2nd to Sarah C. (Turner) Whitefield on November 28, 1948. Sarah was born on Oct. 26, 1905 in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois, the daughter of George W. Turner and Clara V. (Carson) Turner. Sarah died on Jan. 18, 1981 in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois, while Leonard McKinley Kear died on June __, 1981. Their mortal remains were laid in the Blue Ridge Cemetery near North Hampton, Peoria, Illinois.

4. Emma Kear, born November __, 1898

5. George Kear, born c. 1900/01 in Illinois. Though listed as George Kear Jr. in the 1910 census, his name is believed to have been George Roosevelt Kear, named obviously after Teddy Roosevelt, the man elected President of the United States in 1900 and who took office in 1901.

6. Mamie Kear, born c. 1901/02/03 in Marshall County, Illinois.

At the time of the 1900 census, George and his family are found in the city of Sparland, Steuben Township, Marshall County, Illinois;
Geo Kerr Head M Apr 1865 35 Illinois
Emma J Kerr Wife F Mar 1863 37 Illinois
Beulah Kerr Daughter F Jan 1891 9 Illinois
Julia Kerr Daughter F Jun 1892 8 Illinois
Mckinley Kerr Son M Aug 1895 5 Illinois
Emma Kerr Daughter F Nov 1898 2 Illinois

At the time of the 1910 census, the Kear family is found in Steuben, Marshall County, Illinois;
George W Kear Head M 45 Illinois
Emma Kear Wife F 48 Illinois
Buelah Kear Daughter F 19 Illinois
Junie Kear Daughter F 17 Illinois
Mckinley Kear Son M 14 Illinois
Emma Kear Daughter F 12 Illinois
George Kear Jr. Son M 9 Illinois
Mamie Kear Daughter F 8 Illinois

In the 1910's George and Emma decided to move the family to Arkansas. At the time of the 1920 census, George and his family are found in Cove, Polk County, Arkansas;
George Kear Head M 51 Illinois
Emma Kear Wife F 48 Illinois
Beulah Kear Daughter F 29 Illinois
Junie Kear Daughter F 26 Illinois
Mckinley Kear Son M 22 Illinois
Emma Kear Daughter F 20 Illinois
George Kear Son M 18 Illinois
Marnie Kear Daughter F 17 Illinois

But, in the 1920's, George and Emma returned to Illinois, where at the time of the 1930 census, they are found in Lacon, Marshall County, Illinois;
George G Kear Head M 64 Illinois
Emma Kear Wife F 67 Illinois

Emma Frances (Johnson) Kear died on Apr. 11, 1932 in Lacon, Marshall County, Illinois. At the time of the 1940 census, George Kear Jr. is found residing in Lacon, Lacon Township, Marshall County, Illinois. He is listed as widowed;
George Kear Head M 74 Illinois
Beaulah Evans Daughter F 49 Illinois
A A Evans Son M 16 Arkansas
Charles Evans Grandson M 12 Arkansas

George's death certificate states his father was George Kear, who was born in England, and his mother was Loretta Williams, who was born in Pennsylvania. George Graham Kear's occupation was stated as Gardener and his place of residence as Lacon, Marshall County, Illinois. His spouse is listed as Emma Kear. George died on September 16, 1940 in Lacon, Marshall County, Illinois. The mortal remains of George and Emma were laid in the Sparland Cemetery in Sparland, Marshall County, Illinois.

by Baxter B. Fite III