Person Page - 72

     Charles Arthur McComb was born on 9 April 1870 at Bates County, Missouri.^1,2 He married Edith Ellen O'Rear, daughter of Elias O'Rear and Lutitia Ann Brannock, on 10 April 1892 at Bates County, Missouri.^4,2,3 Charles Arthur McComb resided in 1900 at Star, Coffey County, Kansas.^5,2 He resided in 1910 at Pleasant Gap, Bates County, Missouri.^6,2 He resided in 1918 at Butler, Bates County, Missouri.^7,2 He resided in 1920 at Mt. Pleasant, Bates County, Missouri.^8,2 He resided in 1930 at Johnson, Polk County, Missouri.^9,2 He was Loan Inspector in 1956.^1,2 His Social Security Number was 493-12-8803.^10,2 He died on 14 March 1956 at Bates County, Missouri, at age 85.^1,2 He was buried on 18 March 1956 at Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler, Bates County, Missouri.^1,2

     Daniel Otis O'Rear was born on 16 November 1883 at Butler, Bates County, Missouri.^1,5,6,3,4 He resided with Elias O'Rear in 1900 at Walnut, Bates County, Missouri.^1,3 Daniel Otis O'Rear was enumerated with Elias O'Rear in 1900 on the Census at Bates County, Missouri.⁷ Daniel Otis O'Rear married Bessie Mable Kinion circa 1908.^8,3,4 Daniel Otis O'Rear resided in 1910 at Iola, Allen County, Kansas.^9,3 He married Cora Ethel (?) in 1917 at Missouri.^10,3 Daniel Otis O'Rear resided in 1918 at Bates County, Missouri.^11,3 He resided in 1920 at Homer, Bates County, Missouri.^12,3 He was a farmer at Precinct 8, Yamhill County, Oregon.^13,3 He resided in 1930 at Precinct 8, Yamhill County, Oregon.^13,3 He resided in 1942 at Gaston, Yamhill County, Oregon.^14,3 He died on 3 March 1960 at Washington County, Oregon, at age 76.^15,3

     Bessie Mable Kinion was also known as Kenyon.³ She was born on 3 January 1889 at Missouri.^4,5,6,2 She resided in 1900 at Madison, Harrison County, Missouri.^7,2 She married Daniel Otis O'Rear, son of Elias O'Rear and Lutitia Ann Brannock, circa 1908.^8,2,9 Bessie Mable Kinion resided with Daniel Otis O'Rear in 1910 at Iola, Allen County, Kansas.^10,2 Bessie Mable Kinion died on 5 August 1914 at Bates County, Missouri, at age 25.^4,11,2 She was buried after 5 August 1914 at Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler, Bates County, Missouri.^1,2

     Bertha May Orear was born in February 1885 at Butler, Missouri.^4,5,3 She resided with Elias O'Rear in 1900 at Walnut, Bates County, Missouri.^1,3 Bertha May Orear was enumerated with Elias O'Rear in 1900 on the Census at Bates County, Missouri.⁵ Bertha May Orear married Lewis William Lingenfelter in 1903.^6,3,4 Bertha May Orear resided in 1910 at Kearney, Clay County, Missouri.^7,3 She resided with Lewis William Lingenfelter in 1910 at Kearney, Clay County, Missouri.^8,3 Bertha May Orear resided with Lewis William Lingenfelter in 1920 at Homer, Bates County, Missouri.^9,3 Bertha May Orear died on 17 August 1960 at age 75.^10,3

     Lewis William Lingenfelter was Farmer.² He was also known as Robert.³ He was born on 5 September 1881 at Missouri.^4,5,2 He resided in 1900 at Walnut, Bates County, Missouri.^6,2 He married Bertha May Orear, daughter of Elias O'Rear and Lutitia Ann Brannock, in 1903.^7,2,3 Lewis William Lingenfelter resided in 1910 at Kearney, Clay County, Missouri.^8,2 He resided in 1917 at Bates County, Missouri.^9,2 He resided in 1920 at Homer, Bates County, Missouri.^10,2 He died on 21 September 1962 at age 81.^11,2

     Saloma E. Mull was born on 24 December 1846.² She married Simpson O'Rear, son of Marquis O'Rear and Edith Gardner, on 12 August 1863 at Owen County, Indiana.^3,1 Saloma E. Mull was enumerated with Simpson O'Rear in 1870 on the Census at Owen County, Indiana.⁴ Saloma E. Mull was buried after May 1873 at Combes Cemetery, Quincy, Indiana.² She died on 18 September 1873 at age 26.²

     Sarah Elmore Ring was born in 1847.³ She married Simpson O'Rear, son of Marquis O'Rear and Edith Gardner, on 26 August 1880 at Owen County, Indiana.^1,2 Sarah Elmore Ring died on 12 June 1883 at Owen County, Indiana.^3,4

     Walter Hume O'Rear was also known as Walter Homer.² He was born on 30 June 1881 at Owen County, Indiana.³ He died on 31 August 1893 at Evansville, Indiana, at age 12.^1,4

     Simpson Ross O'Rear was born on 5 December 1882 at Owen County, Indiana.¹ He was enumerated with Joseph Rawlins in 1900 on the Census at Chrisney, Indiana.² Simpson Ross O'Rear married Jocelene Lowery.¹ Simpson Ross O'Rear died on 2 January 1924 at age 41.¹ He was buried after 2 January 1924 at Combes Cemetery, Quincy, Indiana.³

     Jocelene Lowery was born on 5 March 1884.² She married Simpson Ross O'Rear, son of Simpson O'Rear and Sarah Elmore Ring.¹ Jocelene Lowery died on 9 February 1914 at age 29.² She was buried after 9 February 1914 at Combes Cemetery, Quincy, Indiana.²

     David McDonald was born on 5 August 1859.¹ He died on 27 November 1869 at age 10.¹

     Mary McDonald was born on 8 September 1860.¹ She died on 3 August 1861.¹

     Anna McDonald was born on 6 April 1862.¹ She died on 7 April 1862.¹

     Vesta McDonald was born on 11 June 1863.¹ She was enumerated with Dr. David Hume McDonald M. D. in 1880 on the Census at Quincy, Indiana.² Vesta McDonald married Joseph Rawlins on 2 October 1884.¹ Vesta McDonald was enumerated with Joseph Rawlins in 1900 on the Census at Chrisney, Indiana.³

     Joseph Rawlins married Vesta McDonald, daughter of Dr. David Hume McDonald M. D. and Mary O'Rear, on 2 October 1884.¹ Joseph Rawlins appeared on the census of 1900 at Chrisney, Indiana.²

     Stella McDonald was born on 11 December 1864.¹ She died on 1 September 1866 at age 1.¹

     William McDonald was stillborn.¹

     Eplecta McDonald was born on 28 February 1878.¹

     Frances Tabitha Rody was born on 12 November 1827 at Tennessee.^2,3 She married (?) Dunn circa 1849.³ Frances Tabitha Rody married Benjamin Franklin O'Rear, son of Jesse O'Rear and Frances O'Rear, on 20 May 1852 at Boone County, Missouri.^2,4 Frances Tabitha Rody was enumerated with Benjamin Franklin O'Rear in 1870 on the Census at Columbia, Missouri.⁵ Frances Tabitha Rody was enumerated with Benjamin Franklin O'Rear in 1880 on the Census at Cedar, Missouri.³ Frances Tabitha Rody died on 9 May 1893 at Boone County, Missouri, at age 65.²

     William Dudley O'Rear was a farmer.¹ He was born on 4 November 1854 at Boone County, Missouri.¹ He married Mollie Wilson.¹ William Dudley O'Rear was enumerated with Benjamin Franklin O'Rear in 1880 on the Census at Cedar, Missouri.² William Dudley O'Rear died on 18 December 1908 at age 54.¹

     Mollie Wilson married William Dudley O'Rear, son of Benjamin Franklin O'Rear and Frances Tabitha Rody.¹ Mollie Wilson died in 1920 at Pleasant Hill, Missouri.¹

     Jesse Bradford O'Rear was born on 10 August 1855 at Providence, Missouri.¹ He married Nancy Elizabeth Austeel on 23 December 1883 at Providence, Missouri.¹ Jesse Bradford O'Rear died on 11 April 1924 at McCreelie, Missouri, at age 68.² He was buried on 12 April 1924 at Richland Baptist Church Cemetery, Boone County, Missouri.³

     Sara Frances O'Rear was also known as Fannie.³ She married W. T. White.⁴ Sara Frances O'Rear was born circa 1865 at Providence, Missouri.^5,3,4 She was enumerated with Benjamin Franklin O'Rear in 1880 on the Census at Cedar, Missouri.³

     John Jefferson Davis O'Rear was the publisher of The Arkansas Thomas Cat, a news periodical.¹ He was born on 17 July 1863 at Mt. Sterling, Kentucky.^2,3 He was enumerated with William D. O'Rear on 1 June 1870 on the Census at Camargo, Kentucky.⁴ John Jefferson Davis O'Rear was enumerated with William D. O'Rear in 1880 on the Census at Butler, Missouri.⁵ John Jefferson Davis O'Rear married Merle Moore in 1887.¹ From the O'Rear Family Sketches:

The “Arkansas Thomas Cat”

Jefferson Davis O’Rear was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky in 1863, son of William D. O’Rear. he moved west to Missouri and later to Oklahoma during the opening of the Cherokee strip. (see sketch no. 37) In 1889 he started a little humorous paper entitled “The Arkansas Thomas Cat.” in Hot Springs, Arkansas, which he published until 1929. This little periodical was continued for some years after this by others. He died about 1945.


Reproduced here is the front page, editorial page and pages containing his first and last editions from the Nov. 23, 1929 issue.

Articles from the Thomas Cat Vol. 40 Just Before Midnight Nov. 2, 1929 No.l 1

A LITTLE SERMON BY YE PASTOR.

I want to hand you young guys a little advice you can place on the walls of your thinkery. It may not be of much use now, but take it from me it is straight goods. In starting out in life remember that many a square guy has gone into business with a capital only of ability, hard work, honest, and good reputation: Be grateful. Remember that credit is based on confidence in the individual rather than in the bank account. Don’t get off your trolley and run into nasty arguments and disputes. Give and take. Be on the level. Keep your temper. Stoop to conquer, and you will come under the wire first. Cut out all thoughts of revenge; there ain’t a thing to it. The use or abuse of credit is the form sheet that shows whether a guy will rise or fall. Take it from me that the best kind of dope is to keep your record clean, and if on the latter you get off to a bad start and you are crowded on the shoals, your past will stand you in good stead. if you have been given to sharp practice or dishonesty, and have played your fellow guys for lobs, woe be unto you when you fall.

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The Thomas Cat Folds His Little Tent and Jumps Over the High Board Fence

After an existence of 40 years and one week the Thomas Cat comes to the end of the Trail. The Thomas Cat’s little lute is hanging on the willows, and his wild goose is cooked. For years it has been the mission of this little periodical to look upon the bright and cheerful side of everything. It found joy and happiness in filling the heart with delight; the same as it is to the thrush in the depths of the woods when the day dawns or to the nightingale when she drinks the dew in heat of noon off the snow of a magnolia blossom. “All the world loves a lover,” that is why the Thomas Cat has been singing this joyous song all these years and would gladly continue to sing, but ye pastor, who established this journalistic bird 40 years ago is a very sick man, and has been practically down and out for two years and seven months. To those good friends who have given us support for all these years we are very, very, grateful and in the language of old Rip Van Winkle, we hope ‘Dey vill lif long und brosper.” Fare thee well, and if forever still forever, fare thee well.

With a parting hand shake and a God bless you.
Yours thinely, J. Davis O’Rear
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When you have passed over the Trail of Life you clearly realize the opportunities that are past. You see the mistakes after they have been made. There is nothing left but useless hoping and wishing. A waste of energy that possibly might tend to redeem the past. But the Past has gone down the rocky shores of Time and the only sane thing to do is to use sensibly what Time remains, for the Past is done, and reminiscing and hoping accomplishes nothing.

SPECIAL NOTICE Since the above was put in type negotiations are now underway for the Thomas Cat to be taken over by other parties and continue its publication. However, we desire to state the Thomas Cat’s job printing department will continue business at the old stand, 450 Prospect avenue, Phone 143.

Man is never satisfied. If he makes a million dollars he isn’t happy until he has two million dollars. And if he finds a gold mine he goes hunting for another one.
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The First Issue of the Thomas Cat Forty years Ago Contained The Following Introductory

SALUTATORY
With a hop skip and jump we introduce you to the Thomas Cat, a modest and candid little periodical whose mission will be to make people happy by taking them when they have the blues and firing into them good natured reading matter that will cause them to laugh before they know it. This little magazinelet will be sharper than a serpent’s toe nails; as mild and gentile and harmless as white beer, and as true to its friends as a good girl to her lover.

As we cast our optimistic orbs over the business end of Tom our future spreads out before us like the feathery end of a turkey gobbler on a sunny June morning, and we feel it in our bones that encouragement will be showered upon the Thomas Cat like boot jacks flying out of a three story window at midnight. The Thomas Cat will be published weekly, but in case we are too weak to raise the wind to pay the hands (and they go on a strike) it will be hanged to a tri weekly that is, get out one issue and try to get out another. In case we are forced to change to a semi weekly, we’ll emigrate to Egypt, where we’ll remain all the days of our life and be a Yankee Doodle beggar. The Thomas Cat will be published for the best interests and welfare of its proprietor. It does not come to ”fill a long felt want,” for we’re afraid our wants would be felt a long time before they would be filled.
Cordially yours, J. Davis O’Rear
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“Blessed are ye when men revile you.” The man had great insight who said that. Insight, did we say? He had lived.

Mayor McLaughlin says there are too many motorists in this town who, when they see the red light think they are free to speed over a crossing and smash their own or somebody else’s car.

The Wisdom of a Day is the title of a new book; and heaven knows that’s all we need; for if we possessed the wisdom of a whole year we’d fail under the weight of our own superiority.

A Hot Springs man has just about gone broke trying to support a touring car and family large enough to fill it.⁶ From the O'Rear Family Sketches:

Jefferson Davis O’Rear Goes West

The following article is reprinted from the February 6, 1944 issue of the Arkansas Gazette, Little Rock Arkansas and was written by Walter M. Ebel. (See Sketch No. 38.)

Although ten years have passed since the “Arkansas Thomas Cat” uttered its last but not final “meow”, its publisher, editor, and as he referred to himself, “pastor”, Jefferson Davis O’Rear, maintains it has not even in those then years ended the first of its traditional seven lives. There is no telling, opines the “pastor”, when the Thomas Cat may again appear on the journalistic horizon, prepared to fight and howl its way back to former nation wide prestige and glory.

Notwithstanding the long lapse in publication, scarcely a day passes without O’Rear receiveing inquiries about and subscriptions for the little magazine.

There have been many unique, outstanding and noted characters in the world of journalism. In the great Southwest, a decade ago none was followed with more interest than Jefferson Davis O’Rear.

Today at the grand old age of 79, he will be 80 next July, O’Rear gives his attention to a large rooming house at 450 Prospect Avenue and a chain of adjacent cottages. he has his office and apartments in the rooming house. The acquisition of this property proves the Thomas Cat did not “waste its sweetness on the desert air.” It verifies, too, the truth of a bit of ancient repertorial philosophy pasted on the wall of many a city room, to wit: “A reporter is one who writes. A publisher is one who makes the money!”

It was at 450 Prospect Avenue that we found our friend of more than 25 years. He was fumbling through the musty, dusty files of his idol, old issues of the Thomas Cat, and brought forth a copy of the vintage of 1890, one year after he arrived in Hot Springs. That indicates this particular “pastor” has been a resident of the “Valley of Vapors” for 55 years.

His office would not win a blue ribbon for orderly arrangement and simplicity. For that matter, does any editor’s sanctum reflect them? Don’t imagine, however, that O’Rear cannot instantly put his hand on his treasures, regardless of where he has secreted them.

Treasures, did we say? Out of pigeon holes, from under his desk, from innumerable shelves, a trunk for good measure and a traveling bag thrown in for luck, the “pastor” brought forth personal letters from President McKinley, the fighting Teddy Roosevelt and the more easy going Harding. All of them had read and appreciated some witty reference the Thomas Cat had made of them.

Then there were autographed photos of senators, congressmen, governors; stars of the theatrical world all of these before the movies and men prominent in the world of finance, industry, science, and letters. All of them had heard of the Thomas Cat and its editor; many were his personal friends. Among writers as Opie Read, who had numerous times enjoyed the hospitality of O’Rear and the editorial office of the Thomas Cat.

On his desk is probably the first typewriter the Oliver Company manufactured. It has taken terrific punishment and is now decidedly antique as typewriters go. When in a state of collapse O’Rear said he “wired it for sound”. Now wires and string hold its two ancient upright towers together so their keys can respond to his touch.

The O’Rear check book was opened. We noted a statement in red ink, not indicative, however, of financial status. On each check the “pastor” had printed in red ink this admonition: “Don’t try to raise money by raising twenties to fifties.”

“You see,” he explained, “friend once hiked one of my checks. I love my friends. To save them further embarrassment I had that printed on my checks.”

O’Rear is a native of Mount Sterling, Kentucky, born July 17, 1864. Early in life he developed a “yen” to emulate Napoleon. His closest friend was the son of his family’s spiritual adviser. Napoleon, to young O’Rear, represented the outstanding “big shot” in history, and the youthful schoolboy imagined himself a crusader, with the sole objective to do a little history making, too.

Mrs. and Mr. O’Rear and the kind parson and his wife awoke one morning to learn about both of their sons having departed for parts unknown. Weeks later the pair turned up in Venezuela. They had heard the natives of that South American country were not getting a square deal. Venezuela offered a choice filed for real Napoleonic effort.

O’Rear said they got off to a good start. he declared that ever since David was given the boot by Saul and gathered unto himself those in distress, in debt and discontented, it has been a cinch to surround one’s self with the same class, and Venezuela was no exception. The juvenile “Corsican” and his aide de camp for a time attracted a lot of attention.

“Our good efforts, however, didn’t pan out as we hoped,” admitted O’Rear. “we managed to stir up a lot of trouble, but constituted authority held the best hand. One day we were in a boat on the waters of the old Pacific. A tramp steamer picked us up. We went to sleep and woke up in San Francisco.”

Years later O’Rear turned up in the office of the Picayune, Appleton, Mo; later he became owner of the Banner in Brownington, same state. Then he wished his literary talents on Butler, Mo., and Kansas City, and in 1889 he got is first view of “Bath House Row”. He was so impressed he has been here ever since.

O’Rear’s Thomas Cat made its appearance in Hot Springs about the time the “gay "90"s extended a cordial invitation to the people of the nation to lay aside their troubles and tribulations and have a good time.

Just take a look at the picture of the cover page of the Thomas Cat and one can understand why it attracted more than passing notice and enjoyed nationwide circulation.

The “masthead” announced without blush that it was “A journalistic highball run by a heathen.” It boldly proclaimed for its motto: “God help the rich, the poor can beg!” It derived both glory and satisfaction in advocating principles of “Elevation of horse thieves and public morals. One country, one flag and one wife at a time. Love your friends and brimstone your enemies.”

References to those who pilfer equine property will be more readily understood when one remembers the Thomas Cat was howling and meowing in the era before the advent of automobiles.

Another reason for the success of O’Rear’s “journalistic highball” was the ability, wit, desire and determination of its boss. If that doesn’t suffice, then consider the word picture of O’Rear painted recently by Maurice Elfer, author of the “Biography of Opei Read.” It follows:

“Mix a bit of Scotch Irish old fashioned printer editor with a modicum of pioneer Kentucky bluegrass, with just a dash of up and at’em adventure spirit that led Daniel Boon to go places; then season the whole with dogged determination to get all red blooded American is entitled to, then you have Jefferson Davis O’Rear, former soldier of fortune, columnist, man of affairs who ever wrote himself into a damage suit and out again.”

O’Rear pleads guilty to soft impeachment of having the best time of any other resident who had resided here for over half a century. He soon made the acquaintance of the late George R. Belding, mayor and manager of the then Business Men’s League; Harry Myers, superintendent of Hot Springs Nationals park; M.A. Eisele, pioneer druggist and civic leader, and scores of those others who direct the municipal ship. He also became a close friend of Arkansas Jeff Davis, and remained such when it was “Governor Davis” and then “Senator Davis".

In 1893, to have some fun with Senator Davis and to complicate the political situation, Messrs. Belding and Myers, with aid of Little Rock friends, had O’Rear’s name announced as a candidate for governor, in opposition to Governor Davis. There they were Arkansas one and only Jeff Davis and Jefferson Davis O’Rear. The day before the ballots were printed O’Rear announced his withdrawal.

All the days of “Pastor” O’Rear were not serene and peaceful. They couldn’t have been with the Thomas Cat scratching the hide off those who had aroused the suspicion of its editor. Sure, he got into court!

Once, when defending an action brought against him, he was asked on cross examination if the report that he was “run out of Missouri for burying his aunt under the grapevine was true?”

The question was so absurd that O’Rear was quick to capitalize on it and immediately astonished court, jury, and spectators by admitting the allegation. Turning and deliberately winking at the jury, O’Rear said:

“This eminent son of the illustrious Blackstone is quite correct. You see, my grapevine needed fertilizing. My aunt just had to be buried. Even in Missouri that is compulsory, so I dedicated her to this high purpose. However, (turning to the court) I have always contended that was not good reason for firing me out of Missouri. There is nothing in the Constitution that says so. No other citizen, if the court please, had ever been given the bum’s rush out of the commonwealth because he enriched his grapevine with his dead relatives. Why, I ask, should I be the first victim of such absurd prejudice?”

His honor threatened to clear the courtroom if the laughter didn’t stop. It did, and so did the cross examination.

No special feature the Thomas Cat ever carried attracted greater attention than a page advertizing which O’Rear wrote and inserted, offering to sell stock in the Thomas Cat’s “Skin the Cat for Fur Ranch Company.” Nothing ever gave the “pastor” a greater laugh.

“To start with,” advertizement stated, “we collect about 100,000 cats. Each female cat will average 12 kittens a year. The skins will be able to bring about 10 cents for white ones and 25 cents for pure black ones. this will give us 12,000,000 skins a year,with an approximate revenue of $10,000 a day gross.

A man can skin 50 cats a day for $2. It will take 100 men to operate the ranch. Profits will run into the thousands. How will we feed the cats? That’s easy, friends. We will start a rat ranch next door. Rats multiply four times as fast as cats. We feed the cats the rats and the rats get the carcasses of the cats after, of course, we skin the cats. This is almost perpetual motion. it will be self acting and automatic.”

O’Rear said he inserted that advertisement to “get a good laugh, and test P. T. Barnum’s assertion that a sucker was born every minute.” The result was he had to hire three clerks to return case, checks, and money orders and write letters explaining the advertisement was all a joke.


“Old P. T. was a damn smart man,” commented O’Rear. The payoff, however, came when two government men walked into his office and began quizzing O’Rear regarding his company. They remained to laugh with him.

We asked him if principles he advocated and ideals he fought for in the heyday of his fame could be championed today?

“You bet every dime you got that they could!” he said. “ Was not a calamity howler. I never tried to reform anything. When something needs to be reformed, believe me, it needs the ax!”

“All I ever attempted to do was tell a little plain truth and get some good laughs out of life. The Lord knows there is plenty of need today, as there was then, for both truth and laughter. Too many persons try to deceive. Deception and humbuggery is practiced to attain social position to which we are not entitled by either birth or brains. To acquire wealth for which we have rended no equivalent, and to procure power we cannot wisely employ.

There is too little of God’s Saving Grace mixed up in our everyday life. By God’s grace I don’t mean the kind that is pumped into us Sunday morning by pulpiteers and brimstone peddlers. I mean the kind that has been echoing for over 3,000 years down from the ‘Sermon on the Mount!’ You know, the kind that grows out of a half way observance of the Ten Commandments.

Today many think it smart to add and observe an Eleventh Commandment, ‘It’s O.K. if your don’t get caught!’

We are passing through the greatest, most thrilling period in the history of the world. Like my colleagues, the sage of Emporia, Kan., William Allen White, I, too can say that ‘I have lived to see the glory of the coming of the Lord!’”

Just a bit more of the “pastor’s” philosophy and we close. He recently requested his attorney to include a timely warning in his will that pertained to future investments his beneficiaries might be inclined to make. he cautioned them against becoming security for others and making loans. No banker could have been more emphatically specific. He then added:

“Life is struggle. Success depends on striving. The grand mass of us drift before the winds of autumn. We are born into the world and go with the current that happens to strike us.

We find habit, ideas, pleasures, everything ready made; our religious belief, customs, sports, pastimes, superstitions, vices and pleasures all ready made and waiting for us.

A few fight against the current, ‘buck’ the wind as it blows, choosing their own direction. They are few. They are not the happy few, but they are the few that count.”.⁶ John Jefferson Davis O'Rear died circa 1945 at Hot Springs, Arkansas.^7,6

     Merle Moore married John Jefferson Davis O'Rear, son of William D. O'Rear and Selina Gibson, in 1887.¹

     John T. Hensley was also known as William.³ He was born circa 1846 at Kentucky.² He married Carrie O'Rear, daughter of William D. O'Rear and Selina Gibson, on 28 December 1873 at Bates County, Missouri.^3,1 John T. Hensley married Mariam O'Rear, daughter of William D. O'Rear and Selina Gibson, on 16 February 1882.^3,1

     Albert O'Rear was born on 26 September 1860 at Mt. Sterling, Kentucky.^1,2 He was enumerated with William D. O'Rear on 1 June 1870 on the Census at Camargo, Kentucky.³ Albert O'Rear was enumerated with William D. O'Rear in 1880 on the Census at Butler, Missouri.⁴ Albert O'Rear married Cornelia Hellen Ferris in 1887.^1,5 Albert O'Rear appeared on the census of 1910 at Kansas City, Missouri.⁵ He died on 24 February 1919 at Kansas City, Missouri, at age 58.^1,2 He was buried on 27 February 1919 at Mt. Washington Cemetery, Jackson County, Missouri.²

     Cornelia Hellen Ferris was also known as Camelia.² She was born on 14 September 1865 at New Orleans, Louisiana.^3,1 She married Albert O'Rear, son of William D. O'Rear and Selina Gibson, in 1887.^2,3 Cornelia Hellen Ferris was enumerated with Albert O'Rear in 1910 on the Census at Kansas City, Missouri.³ Cornelia Hellen Ferris died on 3 March 1951 at Kansas City, Missouri, at age 85.¹ She was buried on 5 March 1951 at Memorial Park Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri.¹

     Mariam O'Rear was also known as Mama.³ She was also known as Mamie.² She was born in 1865 at Kentucky.^2,3 She was enumerated with William D. O'Rear on 1 June 1870 on the Census at Camargo, Kentucky.³ Mariam O'Rear was enumerated with William D. O'Rear in 1880 on the Census at Butler, Missouri.⁴ Mariam O'Rear married John T. Hensley on 16 February 1882.^2,1

     Effie O'Rear was also known as Effa.² She was born in 1869.¹ She was enumerated with William D. O'Rear on 1 June 1870 on the Census at Camargo, Kentucky.³ Effie O'Rear was enumerated with William D. O'Rear in 1880 on the Census at Butler, Missouri.⁴ Effie O'Rear married Dr. J. J. Mitchell on 26 February 1889 at Bates County, Missouri.^1,5