The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-19

Daniel Robert Bearss was bern August %, 1909,
in Geneseo, Livingston county, New York. His
father was Truman Bearss. His grandfather
was major in the revolutionary army under
General Washington and his father served in
the Of 1912. About the year 1911 the family
removed to Painesville, Ohio, and in 1915 to De-
triot Michigan. Mr.. Bearss's boyhood was spent
on farm and his education was acquired IN a
log school-house. In 1928 he went to FIT. Wayne,
where he became clerk for g. W. q W. 6.
Ewing. His employers soon after opened
branch store at Logansport in which Mr. Bearss
was engaged until 1882. He then spent two
years in the mercantile business on his own ac
count, in Goshen. In August, 1884, with his
young wife, he settled in Peru, where he has
ever since resided During lis first years resi-
dencein Peru he carried general merchan-
disc business in partnership with his father
in-law, Judge Cole This connection being dis
solved. Mr. Bearss continued the business until
1874, when he formed a partnership with
Charles Spencer In 1S49 Mr. Bearss sold his
interest in the store, and retired from mercantile
life after prosperous business career of twenty
five years. With perhaps one exception he was
the largest tax payer in Peru He owned
considerable city property there among which
are the Broadway Hotel and number of bust
ness blocks He also owned several valuable
farms He was for quarter of a century the
leading Republican of Miami county, and, though
a vigorous and aggressive partisan, never
stopped to a mean or unworthy act that his party
might triumph. From the organization of the
Republican party, through his great popularity,
he succeeded in carrying many elections even
when that party was III the minority. Largely
through his influence Hon. Schuyler CofaX was
first placed before the people as candidate for
Congress.
Mr. Bearss has served his county in various
offices. He was in the State Legislature twenty
years eight years as representative and twelve
as senator. During the memorable and exciting
period of the late eivil war when many legislat-
ors. seemingly i'll sympathy with the South.
sought to tie the hands of Governor Morton and
prevent the State from furnishing support to the
Union. no member of the Senate was more faith
full to the country than Mr., Bearss. He was
one of the strong men whom Governor Morton
leaned upon, and who aided his administration
and helped to save it from the disasters that
seemed gathering about it in the stormy days
of 1S6l-63. His age prevented him from
entering the army. but his services in the halls
of legislation and as counsellor of the war
Governor We're inestimable He took an active
part in the railroad enterprises of his county,
and for while served as director on the
Indianapolis, Peru and Chicago and Wabash
railroads He with his family, attended the
Congregational Church, to the support of
which he gave literally. He was six
feet in height, erect and we'll built,
and for twenty years, until recently,
when broken down by age and infrmity was one
of the halest handsomest and most venerable
figures in Indiana In his prime he possessed
great physical strength and endurance, and was
a man of untiring energy unfeXible will and
indomlUa BILE courage. Of late years he has been
an almost constant sufferer from rheumatism.
Few men were as well known in Indiana, or re-
ceved such universal respect