Isaiah Bear, the favorite son of his 65-year-old father, Solomon, was watching his father with his brother Frank, as his violent outbursts were causing the family worry that he would harm himself. When the two returned after a few minutes break, they found their father swinging a shotgun that had been sitting against a wall. The two tried to wrestle the gun away, and he fought back. He stepped back and fired into Isaiah’s abdomen.
A doctor was summoned, but was too late.Solomon Bear was convicted of murder, though his family tried to argue temporary insanity. The gun, Frank said, was kept there by their father for protection. Evidence of past violent incidents, however, turned the case against him. Press reports at the time said Bear was largely oblivious to what was happening during the trial.
Source: J. S. (2007, November 18). Author recounts area murders. Retrieved December 20, 2017, from http://kpcnews.com/article_84b395a7-f86f-5653-b020-377285981114.html
Source: Collection of N. R. Fausett (Bair) – Granddaughter
Timeline:
Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-PMSC-61?cc=1614804&wc=ZTTF-MNL%3A122209301%2C122588501 : 15 July 2014), Stark > Marriage records 1851-1874 vol C > image 120 of 172; county courthouses, Ohio. Name: Solomon Bear Event Type: Marriage Event Date: 21 Oct 1856 Event Place: Stark, Ohio, United States Spouse’s Name: Caroline Davis“United States Census, 1860”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCLT-Y42 : 13 December 2017), Solomon Bair, 1860.
“United States Census, 1870,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6S5Q-VW4?cc=1438024&wc=92KB-H8C%3A518664801%2C519501501%2C518810201 : 22 May 2014), Indiana > Whitley > Smith > image 24 of 34; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
“United States Census, 1880,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHS9-M6S : 17 August 2017), Solomon Bear, 1880; citing enumeration district ED 76, sheet 517D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll 0302; FHL microfilm 1,254,302.The Fort Wayne Sentinel , (Fort Wayne, Indiana), 24 May 1889, Fri • Page 4, newspapers.com “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TMZ-DWB?cc=1410397&wc=Q83F-4DB%3A963058501%2C963092101 : 21 January 2016), Noble > 1889-1894 Volume 6 > image 172 of 330; Indiana Commission on Public Records, Indianapolis.
Name: Solomon Bear Event Type: Marriage Registration Event Date: 22 Sep 1891 Event Place: Noble, Indiana, United States Gender: Male Marriage License Date: 22 Sep 1891 Marriage Place: Noble, Indiana Spouse’s Name: Margaret A Hickman Spouse’s Gender: Female Officiator’s Name: William Trump Page: 285 Number of Images: 1
Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.
The Star Press , (Muncie, Indiana), 10 Aug 1900, Fri • Page 1, newspapers.com
Source: Marshall County Independent 17 August 1900 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana’s Digital Historic Newspaper Program, newspapers.library.in.gov/
The Bremen Enquirer , (Bremen, Indiana), 24 Aug 1900, Fri • Page 1, newspapers.com
Indianapolis News 10 January 1901 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana’s Digital Historic Newspaper Program, newspapers.library.in.gov
