South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-24
APT.EDWIN NTCAR,
COUNTY PIONEER.
CALLED BY DEATH
Civil War Veteran, Former
Public Official Here, Dies
at Home Thursday.

capt Edwin Near one on So. fc-
.seph county's pioneers died AZ hs
residence. 2l6 ". Lafayette blvd
Thursday morning at 1880 o'clock.
death being caused by inhrmlt.es ate
tending old aEe. Capt. Vicar was
So years old. and practically his en-
tire lifetime with the exception %
more than three years in the Union
army. was spent IN This community
Born in Mlshawaka Jan J.. 1850.
Capt. Nicar was the son OF Robsrt
b. and Mary lLewelen) Nicar. His
parents too. were pioneers. making
the journey from Virginia. their
bir1 hplace 70 AEshawaka. the COM
munity where they decided O. e1 trust
their fortunes. aboard prairie scnoon-
Father County Treasurer
II was I'm Mishawaka that Capt
Near received his early education.
where he attended private or select"
schools. In 1851 the Nicar family
moved TO South Bend, for Robert
Near was elected county treasurer
In that year.
In 1853 Capt. Near went 20 Berlin.
Wis. a small community on the Fox
river. there 90 remain with his sis
ter. He attended a country school
there for about two months and this.
together with a little instruction re-
ceived in the South Bend public
schools. comprised his entire educa-
ton, other than that obtained in
Mishawaka
Upon his return 20 South Bend.
Capt. Nicars father had bought cut
the hardware business OF Cobb and
Hine. located at Washington and
Michigan 81. where the street railway
offices are now located Capt. Near
served as a clerk in his fathers store.
Shortly after this time the dring
on TT. Sumpter broke out and Capt.
Near enlisted as "A private boo the
18th Company, Indiana Volunteers. j
His war record was one OF extreme
merit and in recognition OF valorous
services he was promoted until az the
time OF his discharge he had az
tanned a captains commission.
Wounded i'm Battle.
Capt. Nicar took part Eco the o.
nous Battle of ShlO. Missionary
Ridge. Stones river as wei AS other
major engagement. and was once
wounded by a piece Of bursting shell.
an injury which troubled him for
many years after his retirement from
service.
Upon his return from army dut,,
Capt. Near. together with has
brother. Virginius bought out their
fathers interest In the hardware
business. They conducted the hlsi-
ness for several years when Tirr MUS
Near retired. In 1873 the business
was again changed and A. r. France
and Frank Reynolds acquired an ac-
tive interest.
Later Capt Nicar sold out HIS .n-
terest In October, 1874 he was
elected clerk Of the circuit court.
taking that office Nov. g. 1875. He
served In that capacity urul 1879
when he entered the employ OF the
Oliver Chilled Pillow works with
which concern he was actively en-
gagged more than 40 years
Capt. Nicar retained his desk az
the oliver Pillow works even after
his advancing age prevented arduous
duty.
He was a member 81 The board OF
public works under the adminlstrs-
ton Of +. j. Fogarty and served en-
the board from Sept. ]. 1910 until
Jan. 3. 1916.
Capt Near was married 20 the
late Cora Beckwith Niear ON Aug.
q, 1884. at White Pigeon Mich.
Mrs. Near died Jan %. 1915
Following the War or tHe Rebel
lion, Capt Near was active 600 Grand
Army OF the Republic affairs. and
served four terms as commander OF
Auten Post. no. S. as veu as two
terms as commando Of the depart
ment OF Indiana.
In addition he was appointed
member of the Indiana Shiloh COM
mission by Gov Durbln. which post
he held from 1901 90 1903. The In
diana Shiloh commission located and
erected monuments 10 the Indiana
organizations that took part ln the
Battle OF Shiloh. The work was
completed IN 1903.
High in Masonry.
IN 1879 he was named chief Of
the citys volunteer fire department.
by the common council which re
held until 1876. During this time
he reorganlzed and enlarged the de-
partmeut.
Capt Nicar was a member OF 81.
Joseph lodge. 10. 45. r. and A. II.
and a member ~ the veteran brigade.
composed Of Mss0us who had been
connected with the fraternity for
more than so years He 5erved as
treasurer Of the lodge during several
years, AT that period of time when
the Portage lodge was a small strur-
Cling body He also was knight
Templar and 32nd degree Mason.
During his lifetime capt. Nicar
was largely active in republican poll
tics and IL was on the republican
ticket that ne was elected county
clerk
He IS survived by two sons, TED
Near and Phil I. Nicar and 4
brother. Vtrglnlus S-car. and two
Elizabeth and Phyl-
lis Near.
Funeral services VIII be held from
the residence Saturday afternoon az
$3.50 o'clock. Rev Archibald Ne
Clure. pastor Of the First Presbyter-
fan church. officiating Private burial
VIII follow in Riverview cemetery.