George Rufus Gear

George Rufus Gear was born on December 1, 1840, in Connecticut to Hiram and Jerusha Gear. His father died in 1843. The family lived in Middletown, Connecticut, until the 1850s, when they moved to Marietta, Ohio. He enrolled at Marietta College in 1860.

He left college after one year in order to enlist in the Union army, and he mustered in as a private in Company B of the 39^th Ohio Infantry on August 3, 1861. The regiment took part in the siege of Corinth, the Atlanta campaign, the March to the Sea, and the Carolinas campaign. He remained devoted to the Union. In 1863, he described a statue of President Andrew Jackson in Memphis, Tennessee, inscribed with the words, “The Federal Union: It must be preserved.” “This monument,” he wrote, stood as a “sharp rebuke to the abetters of treason, and it finally became so unendurable that they tried to erase the offensive words with a chisel…But they did not succeed in erasing the words, any more than they have succeed[ed] in their attempts at destroying our Government.”

He supported the Emancipation Proclamation, which he viewed as a “war measure.” In March 1863, he argued that “the negro is the strength of the rebellion…Take from the rebels their slaves and they will be deprived of the great source of their supplies, and be compelled to return home to save their families from starvation.” He also supported Black enlistment, writing, “Employ any means to suppress this rebellion. The negro is the cause of the war; then let him bear a share of its burdens.” At the same time, however, he opposed attempts to “mix them or place them on an equality.”

In October 1864, he reported proudly that he "exerized my privilege as an American citizen and deposited my vote for the Union State Ticket." He was promoted to corporal on March 1, 1864, and to sergeant on Jun 1, 1865. In April 1865, he expressed “Intense sorrow…mingled with a terrible desire for vengeance” at the news of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. “Had [Joseph] Johns[t]on not surrendered,” he added, “it would have been impossible to control this army. Utter destruction would have henceforth marked our pathway, and very few prisoners would have been taken.”

He took part in the Grand Review, and he rejoiced in the Union's triumph. He confessed that he "had before but a feeble conception of the grandeur and extent of the Capitol and other public buildings, especially the Patent Office, and that more than ever my heart swells with pride when I seen the evidences of our Nation's greatness. 'I am a Roman citizen' was once thought to be an expression of honor by no means small. But to be a Roman citizen was an insignificant thing compared with the honors and benefits that American citizenship carries with it." In May 1865, he wrote that "Now that the war is over I am very anxious to return to civil life, but if the Government sees fit to hold us we must submit, of course." He mustered out on July 18, 1865.

He returned to Ohio after the war, and he married Julia A. Barnes on July 2, 1867. They had at least four children: George, born around 1870; Harry, born around 1872; Frances, born around 1874; and Kate, born around 1876. He served as principal of Marietta Academy from 1871 until 1879 before beginning work as a Baptist minister. He applied for a federal pension in March 1882 and eventually received one. He died in Washington County, Ohio, on October 2, 1931.

DATABASE CONTENT

(3310)

Gear, George Rufus

1840-12-01

1931-10-02

Conflict Side: Union
Role: Soldier
Rank in: Private
Rank out: Sergeant
Rank highest: Sergeant
Gender: Male
Race: White

Documents - Records: 142

(9086) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 24 August 186X
(9087) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 27 August 1862
(9088) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Hiram L. Gear, 28 August 1862
(9089) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 5 September 1862
(9090) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 14 September 1862
(9091) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Hiram L. Gear, undated
(9092) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 14 October 1862
(9093) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 17 October 1862
(9094) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 19 October 1862
(9095) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 11 November 1862
(9096) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Hiram L. Gear, 18 November 1862
(9097) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 18 November 1862
(9098) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 2 December 1862
(9099) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 22 December 1862
(9100) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 11 January 1863
(9101) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 18 January 1863
(9102) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 31 January 1863
(9103) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, February 1863
(9104) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 7 February 1863
(9105) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 8 March 1863
(9106) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 16 March 1863
(9107) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Hiram L. Gear, 19 March 1863
(9108) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Thomas W. Ewart, 20 March 1863
(9109) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 1 April 1863
(9110) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 8 April 1863
(9111) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 15 April 1863
(9112) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 4 May 1863
(9113) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 9 May 1863
(9114) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Hiram L. Gear, 14 May 1863
(9115) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 27 May 1863
(9116) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Hiram L. Gear, 3 June 1863
(9117) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 13 June 1863
(9118) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 29 June 1863
(9119) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 5 July 1863
(9120) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 13 July 1863
(9121) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 20 July 1863
(9122) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 22 July 1863
(9123) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 27 July 1863
(9124) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 3 August 1863
(9125) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha A. Ewart, 7 August 1863
(9126) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 12 August 1863
(9127) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Charley (?), 14 August 1863
(9128) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 17 August 1863
(9130) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha A. Ewart, 24 August 1863
(9131) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha A. Ewart, 30 August 1863
(9132) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 2 September 1863
(9134) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 5 September 1863
(9136) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 14 September 1863
(9139) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha A. Ewart, 16 September 1863
(9141) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 19 September 1863
(9143) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 26 September 1863
(9146) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 30 September 1863
(9147) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha A. Ewart, 9 October 1863
(9180) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 13 October 1863
(9181) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 18 October 1863
(9182) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 25 October 1863
(9183) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha A. Ewart, 27 October 1863
(9184) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 30 October 1863
(9185) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 3 November 1863
(9186) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 3 November 1863
(9187) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 5 November 1863
(9188) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 14 November 1863
(9189) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 21 November 1863
(9191) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 24 November 1863
(9193) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha A. Ewart, 26 November 1863
(9196) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 1 December 1863
(9201) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha A. Ewart, 5 December 1863
(9203) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 12 December 1863
(9206) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 17 December 1863
(9208) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 20 December 1863
(9209) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 11 February 1864
(9212) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 16 February 1864
(9217) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 19 February 1864
(9221) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 23 February 1864
(9223) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 2 March 1864
(9224) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha A. Ewart, 5 March 1864
(9226) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 11 March 1864
(9229) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 16 March 1864
(9232) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 21 March 1864
(9235) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 31 March 1864
(9238) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 7 April 1864
(9240) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 16 April 1864
(9241) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear and Mary Gear, 18 April 1864
(9243) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha A. Ewart, 21 April 1864
(9244) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 26 April 1864
(9245) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 29 April 1864
(9246) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 2 May 1864
(9248) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 5 May 1864
(9249) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 9 May 1864
(9250) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 15 May 1864
(9251) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 21 May 1864
(9252) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 28 May 1864
(9253) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 30 May 1864
(9254) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 7 June 1864
(9255) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 12 June 1864
(9292) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 14 June 1864
(9293) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 20 June 1864
(9294) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 22 June 1864
(9295) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 22 June 1864
(9296) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 1 July 1864
(9297) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 16 July 1864
(9298) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 17 July 1864
(9299) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 24 July 1864
(9301) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 30 July 1864
(9303) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 2 August 1864
(9304) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 4 August 1864
(9305) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 8 August 1864
(9307) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 12 August 1864
(9308) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 23 August 1864
(9309) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 29 August 1864
(9310) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 6 September 1864
(9311) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 16 September 1864
(9313) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 26 September 1864
(9315) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 1 October 1864
(9317) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 13 October 1864
(9319) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 3 November 1864
(9320) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 6 November 1864
(9321) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 8 November 1864
(9322) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 19 November 1864
(9323) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 22 December 1864
(9324) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 27 December 1864
(9325) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 2 January 1865
(9326) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 6 January 1865
(9327) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 16 January 1865
(9328) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 19 January 1865
(9329) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 27 January 1865
(9332) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 23 March 1865
(9341) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 5 April 1865
(9342) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 18 April 1865
(9343) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 26 April 1865
(9344) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 28 April 1865
(9345) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 29 April 1865
(9346) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 9 May 1865
(9347) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 21 May 1865
(9348) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 25 May 1865
(9349) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 3 June 1865
(9350) [recipient] ~ Hiram L. Gear to George R. Gear, 6 July 1865
(9351) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 13 July 1865
(9352) [writer] ~ George R. Gear Narrative, undated
(15302) [writer] ~ George R. Gear Diary, 1863
(15356) [writer] ~ George R. Gear Diary, 1864
(15418) [writer] ~ George R. Gear to Sister, 28 January 1865

People - Records: 7

(3311) Ewart, Jerusha Ann is the [sibling of] (3310) Gear, George Rufus
(3359) Gear, Jerusha is the [parent of] (3310) Gear, George Rufus
(3360) Gear, Hiram Lewis is the [sibling of] (3310) Gear, George Rufus
(3361) (?), Charley is the [friend of] (3310) Gear, George Rufus
(4579) Sage, Edmund is the [aunt/uncle of] (3310) Gear, George Rufus
(5629) Ewart, Thomas West is the [sibling-in-law of] (3310) Gear, George Rufus
(5630) Gear, Mary is the [sibling of] (3310) Gear, George Rufus

Places - Records: 2

(294) [birth] ~ Connecticut
(3290) [death] ~ Washington County, Ohio

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Regiments - Records: 1

(930) [enlisted] [B] ~ 39th Ohio Infantry

SOURCES

1850, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 United States Federal Censuses, available from Ancestry.com; College Student Lists, 1763-1924, available from Ancestry.com; Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865, available from Ancestry.com; Ohio County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, available from Ancestry.com; Ohio Death Records, 1908-1932, available from Ancestry.com; Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940, available from Ancestry.com; George R. Gear to Hiram Gear, 3 June 1863, DL1570.031, Nau Collection; George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 18 April 1865, DL1570.131, Nau Collection; George R. Gear to Sister, 13 October 1864, DL1570.115, Nau Collection; George R. Gear to Jerusha Gear, 25 May 1865, DL1570.137, Nau Collection

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Documents - Records: 142

People - Records: 7

Places - Records: 2

Regiments - Records: 1