About Van Wert

Early History, page 5

Catherine Kear purchased land from Edward and Mariah Slade on November 19, 1864 for $1225.00 in a location known today in Van Wert county recordds as Catherine Kear's Addition to Van Wert is bounded on the north by Kear Road (formerly Kear County Road), on the east by Shaffer Street, on the south by Allingham Street, and on the west by Burt Street.

It is difficult to imagine in those days that Catherine would have the large amount of money required to purchase the property, but it is likely that one of her sons, Wiley McDonald Kear, would have helped in some manner. Wiley was a real estate broker, having an office in the McKim building on the northeast corner of Main and Washington streets. A witness to the signing was another son, John Kear, who later purchased contiguous property thus adding to "Keartown."

The property originally was divided into 20 lots of approximately one (1) acre each, but it was 11 years later before any were sold. Remember that Van Wert county was located in the Black Swamp Land, and her property probably required much clearing before anyone could settle on them. It wasn't until 1874 that the first lot was sold, and that was to Mary Margaret Kear, who was by then married to Jackson Pence. Over the next five years, she sold lots to each of her children, thereby earning for the area an unofficial name, "Keartown." As far as can be determined, it was never intended that the area be officially designated as a hamlet or town.

When the property was annexed to the Town of Van Wert, Ohio in 1873, a correct plat was filed showing that it had been subdivided into 22 lots, had three (3) streets and two (2) alleys. Each lot was 57 feet, 3 inches wide and 152 feet deep. The total acreage for the property, including lots, streets and alleys contained five acres and six hundred and fourteen ten thousands of an acre (5,614). The streets were all 30 feet wide and the alleys 14 feet wide. Catherine signed the document with her "x" mark, and from this we know she did not have much education.

"Keartown" was further developed when Amanda Ann Kear, wife of County Recorder, William Putnam Wolcott, purchased approximately five (5) acres of property directly to the west of and abutting Catherine's property.

Copyright

Information on this site related to the Kear family is from The John Cears Kear Family compiled, written and edited by Donald L. Kear, copyright © 1984. Copyright © 2000 - 2006 by Donald L. Kear. All rights reserved. Portions of the pages on this site may be reproduced for nonprofit use only. Credit shall be given to the source.