Re: JOHN W. BEAR, "Buckeye Blacksmith" & daguerreotypist
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In reply to:
JOHN W. BEAR, "Buckeye Blacksmith" & daguerreotypist
Greg Drake 8/31/03
I found the following notices in the newsarchives.
Anotice of his death is found in the Decataur Weekly Republican on Jan 27 1881. It does not give his date of death.
The Buckeye Blacksmith is dead, his name was John W. Baer, and in every Presidential campaign from Earson to Grant he was a stump orator nd singer in the west. He was an attractive speaker, and bis songs always routed great enthusiasm. Between the campaigns he was usually provided with a berth in the Baltimore or Philadelphia custom house.
I found this notice in the Chester Times of Jan 13 1881.
John W. Baer, widely known in political circles as the "Buckeye Blacksmith," was found dead in a chair yesterday, at his residence, No. 1128 South Twentieth street, Philadelphia. He made his appearance in the Harrison campaign of 1839 as a stump speaker, and attracted much attention by his ready wit and backwoods manner of speaking. He appeared in every campaign during the existence of the old Whig party, and afterwards was a champion of Fremont, Lincoln and Grant. His sentiments were of he most radical character, and in his public speeches he lashed bis opponents without mercy.
He was born in the year 1800 in Ohio and made his first political speeches in the Henry Clay campaign in that state, he was appointed by President Lincoln to a position in tbe Baltimore Custom House, and was by President Grant transferred to the Custom House in Philadelphia. He made political speeches in this county in nearly every important campaign, and never failed to attract large crowds of bearers. He was well known in this city and county, and had a number of personal friends here.