California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


GEORGE W. WEAR. Nearly a third of a century has been passed in the community where Mr. 
Wear now makes his home, and in that time, as he so graphically describes in an article which 
appeared in the Daily Californian the last issue of the year 1903, many changes have taken place; 
each New Year's day finds some one of the old pioneers gone, sees some new improvement 
or invention which adds to the prosperity of the country, — a forward step which leaves still 
farther behind the primitive condition of the early days. But though these changes inevitably 
come, the memory of the pioneer, his courage, self sacrifice and devotion to the cause of the 
country which he made his own by a cheerful acceptance of the conditions, will outlive the 
passage of time and go on to brighten the beginning of many new years. Mr. Wear is himself a 
pioneer and the pioneer newspaper man of the community, and in the last twenty-eight years 
has been active and earnest in the development of all which has tended to bring about the 
present prosperity of the city and county, and the affection and esteem of all who know him is 
accorded him and his efforts. Born in Carroll county. Miss., February 28, 1852, he was the son of 
George W. Wear, Sr. 

The elder Mr. Wear was a native of England, and when only a mere lad he came to the United 
States, and on attaining manhood married in North Carolina. Shortly afterward he went to 
Mississippi, and there taught music, having been finely educated in this line before crossing the 
ocean. Later he located permanently in Mississippi, and became a prominent man in the 
community, first conducting a hotel, after which he became a planter and the owner of many 
slaves. He became a wealthy man, owning much country and town property, and was 
deservedly numbered among the successful planters of that region. Though in no sense of the 
word a politician, he was very decided in his views, and during the Civil war served in the state 
troops of the Mississippi Home Guards. He died when about sixty years of age. His wife, 
formerly Julia Holt, was born, reared and educated in North Carolina, and her death occurred 
when about eighty years of age. She was a member of the Methodist Church. 

George W. Wear was the fourth in a family of seven children, and received his education in 
private schools in Mississippi. When about fifteen years old he entered a printing office and 
learned the mechanical part of the work, and was soon afterward engaged as a printer, before 
he was twenty-one owning a paper which he himself established. Before leaving the state he 
owned three different papers, which He successfully conducted, and also engaged in farming 
for one year. In the winter of 1874 he sold out and came to California, and for a short time 
worked on the Express, Mirror and Star, in Los Angeles. In the spring of the same year he came 
to Kern county, and locating at Bakersfield, which was then only a small village, went to work 
upon the Californian. Two or three years later he purchased the Gazette, a weekly, and later 
closed out and discontinued the publication, after conducting it for twenty years. In the 
meantime he had purchased the ranch where he now makes his home, this consisting of eighty 
acres located three and a half miles west of Bakersfield. About half of this property is now 
devoted to the cultivation of grapes and various other fruits and has all improvements in the 
way of comfortable and substantial buildings and forms an ideal home for the man who 
correctly appreciates the dignity of the farmer's life. 

In 1872, in Tennessee, Mr. Wear married Fannie Nash, a native of that state. They are the 
parents of three children, namely: Earl, who is employed upon the Echo in Bakersfield; Bessie, 
the wife of E. R. Putnam, a rancher in this district ; and George, still at home. Politically Mr. Wear 
is a Democrat, and for many years was an important factor in local affairs, doing all in his power 
to advance the principles which he endorses. In 1889 he represented his district in the state 
legislature, ably supporting the cause of his constituents, and in Bakersfield he served on the 
school board for six years. He has since devoted the greater part of his energies to the 
cultivation of his ranch, and has practically withdrawn from public life, though he is serving as 
trustee in his district at the present time. One of the principal interests in the life of Mr. Wear at 
the present time is his articles which he writes for the various papers of Bakersfield, one 
appearing nearly every week. His writing is graphic, clear-cut and forcible, and in later days 
holds much interest for the younger generation for the reminiscent strain which calls up for 
them a picture of the past.