Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-03-18
Maj. W. A. F. Gear.

NraWIOru county, pennsylvania, III 1873,
and was, therefore, eighty-one years
old. He was of Pennsylvania Ger.
man origin, and spent his early years
on farm. He was ambitious to &C.
auire an education, but was opposed in
the desire by his father, who considered
an education of no use to any but law
yers and doctors. Nothing daunted,
he hid away with his books at each op
portunity. thus LAYING the foundation
for a liberal education that later on was
completed at Allegheny College, Mead
vile, Penn.
He was married in 1856 to Miss
Walker, with whom he lived happily uu-
til 1888, when she died leaving him
alone and disconsolnte.
He entered the army early in the Cival
war, as a private, and, for valor in the
field rose steadily to the rank of major
of his regiment, the 199th Pennsylvania
Volunteers. He served full three years.
and was in number of the most severe
engagements OF that sangumarv con
flict. He was wounded severely, and
carried the scars and injuries uncom-
planingly to the grave.
At the close of the war. he entered the
law department OF Michigan University
at Ann Arbor He came with his family
to Kansas in 1868. settling at Greeley,
Anderson county, where he has been a
prominent and respected citizen until
his deccase. Such was his affection for
his wife that he never shared it with an.
other until the end came He left behind
him four children.
All were in attendance at his funeral,
and had contributed tenderly to his com.
fort and care during his illness, which
began at Greeley, November last, and
from the effects of which he never fully
recovered.
He was brought by his daughter, Mrs
Rhodes, to Colony as soon as he was
able to be moved,in order that she could
give HIM constant attention, and never
was parent more carefully considered
bv children than he; nor was any more
appreciative of the care bestowed upon
them.
Thus, full of years and ripened for the
harvest has passed an old and respected
citizen.
In many respects, Major Gear was an
unusual man. He possessed vigorous
and original mind. was thoroughly
honest and gorgeous in his conclusions
and conduct. He was blamecss IN his
morality. His habits were excellent.
He was always temperate himself, and
encouraged it IN others. He heartily en-
dorsed the prohibitory laws of Kansas.
He was philanthropist and sought to
do all the good that he could. He was an
admirer of the good and beautiful in ma.
ture and in ethics. He was lover of
his fellow men He admired Christ and
many of the principles of His
teaching, but was unable to reconcile His
claims to divinity with the divisions and
dissention of opinion existing among
His followers. which he viewed with
much distavor. He believed in future
life and Supreme Beng. but could not
rest his faith on the Bible.
Among Sins OF manuscript. found
after his deceasc in the desk where he
often sat, and, with palsied hand. traced
in almost unintelligiblc characters the
that busted his failing in
tellect, the following sentences we're
found, that indicate his feelings:
EVERY act of kindness deserves an
acknowledgements, and fear that
my heart would be ungratciul if did
no. express my gratitude in tangible
manner fer the kind missives that come
to me couched in feelings Of genuine
friedship in a manner to relieve suffering
On the wings of the four
winds of Heaven come pouring in sym
patty sufficient to ease the pangs
of death. Without the friendship and
of our fellow beings lIt
would he void-a putrid swamp OF
S lhshness. that would poison all the
better feelings of humanity.
There are others confined to beds of
sickness, and in the plentitude of their
suffering, they need our unalloyed sym
patty and best wishes for the recorerv
Many have crossed the dark river, au'
in few more days the great 'revei,
will summon all to the Grand Review
on the eternal plains. What PASSPORT
kindness here to our fellow man will be
in that dav. 1t will shine bright as the
as angel of the Apocalypse in the Sun"
Such were his reflections, and such the
that thrilled him in his inter
course with his fellows.