The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-09-13
Death Resulted From a General PnS@
sical Breakdown-Mr. Bear HAD
Been I'LL Several Months, but His
Condition Was Not Consldereo
Alarming - Remains Will De
Brought TO Wilmington Tomorrow
Morning.

,aqret throughout the city yesterday
morning of the death of Mr.. /. NJ. Bear
If having occurred at 9 o'clock IN a
sapitarium in Baltimore, where ne nad
been for some time seeking TestoraIiol !
to health, .~~sxE- z4sAts>
Mr. Bear was one Of The city's most
nonnlar and progressive young business
men and he was held in the highest
esteem by all those with whom hcI
came in contact.
While II has been known for some
time that Mr.. Bear was in poor heaIth
vet it was never considered that his
condition was critical and the news
of his death came as shock and sur
prise bringing grief to hundreds OF MS
relatives and friends here and else
where
Mr. Fears death was due to a gen
eral physical break down, superlnduc-
ed by nervous Drostration. In May he
became i'll and at once he gave up
active business and left for the north.
At Danville, New York, he consulted
eminent specialists and after remain
ing there a short While he went to the
Shepard-Pratt sanitarium, eight miles
from Baltimore, where he remained
until the end came.
His brother, Mr.. Henry c. Bear, was
with him last week and at that time
there seemed to be improvement in his
condition. A few days ago, however,
a change for the worse developed,
with the patient gradually sinking up
til he passed away. At the time of his
death, his wife and his brother, Mr..
Victor Bear, who lives in Baltimore
were with him.
Mr. Bear was in the 35th year Of
his age and he was son of the late
Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Bear, having
spent his entire life in this city. He
was educated in Wilmington schools
and later took a business course in the
Bryant and Stratton school at Baltl-
more, after which he returned to the
city and accepted a position with the
firm of Sol Bear & Co.
From the first the young man show
ed remarkable business ability ard
dlIu HIS IlSc III LIIc
world was rapid and constant. After
remaining with that firm for several
years, during which time he was
frequently promoted, in 1895 he started
out for himself in the wholesale dry
goods business, three years later ad-
mitting his brother Mr.. H G. Bear
into the firm. The business of |. M. Bear
& Co., is one of the most progressive
wholesale houses in the SOUTH a large
five story building on North Front
street which is being built for the
company, having been almost compleu-
ed. The business will be continued
under the same name, with Mr. H. {.
Bear in charge of it.
Additional sadness is added to the
death by the fact that Mr.. Bear leaves
a young wife to mourn his loss ne
having been married to Miss Sadie
Elias of Raleigh, only last December
In addition to the heart broken wife
the deceased is survived by two broth
ers, Messrs. H. c. Bear of this city,
and Mr. Victor Bear of Baltimore. To
all of the members of the bereaved
family the sympathy Of the community
is extended
Mr.. Jake SternOerger, a friend of
the deceased, left last night for Balti-
more and he will bring the remains
to Wilmington, arriving here on the
train from the north tomorrow morn
ing The body will be taken to Mr.
Henry Bears residence on Sixth and
Princess streets and the funeral will
be conducted there at o'clock tomOr
row afternoon by Rabbi S. Mendelsohn
Of the Temple of Israel, following
which the interment will be made
in Oakdale
Mr.. Bear was intimately identified
with every step that meant for the ad-
vancement of the city and his loss will
be keenly felt where he had been de-
pended on for his business Judgment
and conservative and sound advice.
He was a member of the chamber of
commerce, being on the executive COM
mittee, and out of respect to his men,
Ory the chamber building has been
draped in mourning. He belonged to
st. Johns lodge of Masons and to
Carolina Council, Royal Arcanum and
was a member of the w L. l. reserve
corps. He was also an ardent Elk, a
member of the K. of P. and belonged
to Harmony Circle and to the N c. |
lodge of I. 0. B. d.
At the last municipal election Mr.
Bear was elected an alderman from the
Third ward but on account of his i'll
ness, which began just prior to the
election, he was never able to take
his seat and consequently several
weeks ago sent in his resignation to
the board At the special meeting ot
the aldermen held last night, by ris-
ing vote, a resolution of sympathy