The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-05-22

THE PEOPLES PARTY IN RICE
COUNTY-A LETTER FROM HIS SON
AND HIS BIOGRAPHY.
To the Editor:
Dear Sir: have just received letter
from my brother. telling me the sad
news Of the death Of my father, Joseph
Gear, with whom you were so long and
80 we'll acquainted, both personally and
politically. His and your political views
were, / believe, almost il not entirely
the same; and while the news of his
death causes great deal Of bereave-
ment, yet we feel very thankful to know
he was spared with us so long. He was
S6 years months and days old. 1
visited our old home about the 10th of
last January, and saw him; and as my
brother had sold old homestead he and
mis- family were getting ready to go to
San Bernardino, Cal. Father remained
with three of my brothers in Iowa for a
few weeks, then went on to California,
where he died some six weeks later Of a
kidney trouble he had been bothered
with for a great many years; that and
his extreme age called him across to
the far beyond. And as l have heard
him so many times speak of you in re-
gard to great many of your answers
in political matters which you gave to
the old political Shylocks and plutocrats
and golden gods, and as you and him
had been great friends socially and po-
litically, l felt it my duty to let you
know of his death. He certainly fought
good fight and kept firmly his faith
and finished his course. In battling
against the great combines and trusts
Of which is encircling the poor laboring
class under the heavy hammer of wage
slavery, he was a hero in the field
against the wrongs and vices of our
country. He feared no political oppo-
nent but clothed himself with the sword
OF protection, Of right and justice and
equality to all alike; and never bending
the knee or tipping the hat as matter
OF honor to any of the money changers
Of our would-be free America. Now,
Mr.. Donnelly, will give you his history
IN brief and ask of you to then clothe
these points / give of his history in
knowledge Of his life, and place an
obituary in "The Representative" if
you will, for a matter of honored grief.
His death is the loss of one of the true
and loyal defenders of right in behalf
OF our country's welfare against politi-
cal wrongs and English capital, which
Is so fast gaining ground and forcing
. monarchial government here in our
bright and free America Yours, for
q great success in our great reform
movement in 1896. JOHN ]. GOAR.
BIOGRAPHY OF HON. JOSEPH GoAR.
Died-At the home of Matt A. Goar,
at San Bernardino, CAL, at 10 minutes
past IL o'clock p. m, May II, 1896,
Joseph Goar.
He was born in Monroe county, Old
Virginia, in 1908; gained a self-educa-
ton under the poor opportunities of
that early day; taught subscription
school several times and received as
his Day-which was largely the currency
of trose early days-corn, ginseng and
furs. He was married to Clara Goar,
April 8. 1888; and two years after their
marriage they moved to Hamilton coun-
ty, Ind, while the means of emigration
were very limited. He and his wife
were DESTROYS of going West in search
were born while in Virginia, and while
remaining in Hamilton county, some
four years, two pairs of twins were born
to them. There not being any sale for
wood or logs from this timber claim,
he then moved in to Upton county, Ind,
upon prairie claim; moving there in
1889, where he opened up a fine, large
prairie farm; and remained there until
April 9, 1869, when he sold his old home
farm and emigrated farther West, set
Ting 10 miles west of Faribault, in Rice
county, MINI. While in Upton county,
Ind, they raised the rest of their fam
lily, OF which pair of daughters swelled
their number. Their family of children
was Is in number, 8 sons and z daugh-
ters. They furnished four sons and one
son-in-law to fill the ranks of the union
during the late war. The oldest son
and the son-in-law died upon the battle
field in defense of their country.
While In Upton county, Ind, Mr.. Goar
accumulated fair property, all earned
by the steady toll of the family. His
wife was was very hard working and
economical; yet there was always hospi-
tality for any person passing by his
door. His home, when sold, brought
him some $4,000, of which he used a
part to start his older children into
brought to Minnesota
He was always active in politics and
temperance matters for the lettering of
his fellow men. His first attempt to
vote was in 1929, but he was refused
the right Of voting on account of not
being the owner of a wife, horse or
mule. Then in 1882 he voted the Dem
ocratic ticket. In 1910 he was elected
as representative to the legislature by
the Republican party of his county; he
vas elected by majority of 1,O11, and
ran against one Republican nominee
and an Independent Republican. He
also served IA years as county Judge, in
Indiana; and in 1874 was nominated as
representative to the legislature in Rice
county, this state, on the anti-monopo-
list ticket, but was defeated. He was
the father Of the Greenback or Popu-
list party in Rice county in this state
and on his saith birthday, which was on
the 9Th day Of Oct, 1892, he took his old
family horse and buggy and drove from
his home at Morristown to Faribault
and attended the county convention held
in the court house by the Populist party
of that county, and was a very active
worker there.
He lost his beloved companion on the
23rd day of Nov, 1886; and since that
time visited around among his children
up until his death. He and his wife
lived together for over So years, and or
their 50th, or golden anniversary, while
only ten of the fourteen living children
were present-,yet, with his own chill
dren and grand chfldron and sons ond