Perry E. Bear

    Perry E. Bear is a native of Jefferson County, Indiana, and was born September 22, 1860. His parents were Joseph Bear, a farmer, who was born in Jefferson County in 1834, and Margaret Whitmore, who was born in Kentucky.

    His paternal grandfather, Christian Bear, was a native of Pennsylvania, and settled in Jefferson County, Indiana, before the State was admitted to the Union. He was of German origin, his father being a native German.

    Perry E. Bear was educated in the schools of the county, having graduated from the High school. He read law with Edward Leland, and was admitted to the practice of law in 1881. He was with Judge E. R. Wilson, of Madison, for two years.

    In 1884 was elected City Attorney of Madison; was re-elected in 1885. In 1886 was appointed deputy prosecutor of Jefferson County. He became the nominee of his (Republican) party for prosecuting attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit in the fall of 1888, and was elected. In 1883 was married to Miss Champney. He is a member of the I. O. O .F.

Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.