ISAAC BEARE
The subject of this sketch was born at Greenbank, June 25th, 1858, and died after a week's illness of heart trouble, on the night of Aug. 29, 1936. Mr. Beare spent the whole of his 78 years in the one district, Greenbank. Beyond a few brief holiday excursions lasting from one day to a week in visiting Toronto; etc., he was never absent from his work on the farm. In physical make-up he was wiry rather than rugged; he never carried superfluous flesh, never reaching more than 148 pounds, usually going about 140 lbs.
As a boy he was very fair in complexion, so that when gray hair was in evidence the change in appearance was less noticeable than in darker people. His step was quick, impulsive, rather than lithe and deliberate. In disposition he was markedly cheerful, loved young folk and children, and better still, was loved by them unstintedly, and whether time permitted or not when passing children at play, he could scarcely refrain from joining in their frolics. No wonder they often tip-toed to his door in his last illness to enquire with bated breath as to his condition.
In life he was somewhat subject to bilious attacks, but had perhaps only one sick spell of any account, 15 or 20 years ago.
He was conspicuously fond of books and school, and excelled in games carried on there. In these he easily held his own among those of his own age. In skating he was surpassed by two only of his school cotemporaries, these being a few years older than he, his brother Jack and Jim Balfour.
In his early school life, Greenbank Public School had 140 names on the roll. What chance had one teacher to handle so many pupils to advantage, or to inspire them with a greed for knowledge? His was a very active mind, so that at the early age of 8 years he readily joined up with a half-dozen of his playmates on one occasion to go out to see the world, one sunny early afternoon in June, they choosing the top of the big hill as the most suitable viewpoint. This juvenile organization lasted about one hour only, the teacher Mr. Wm. Mercer, saw to that effectually. It was not Ike's privilege (or doom?) to be sent to any secondary school. He was early taught that the farm was the place for him, and farming was his sole occupation until he retired there from probably fifteen years ago. But to the last his heart was in and on the farm, and as often as time and other duties permitted he was diligently pursuing activities there at the home of his son Ryerson.
In politics, he was a conservative; in religion, he was a consistent member and elder of the home United Church - formerly a Methodist. One can scarcely image a Greenbank Church or Sunday School anniversary without Ike Beare being here, there and everywhere. He will certainly be missed in his home town, both in the church and in the streets. Ike's love of home, his ready smile, his boundless energy, his unfailing cheer, will be with us no more; but they are not lost nor forgotten, their memories will live forever.
In conclusion, I wish to add that Isaac Beare was one of twenty-five or more born at Greenbank in 1858, the majority have passed on, the following are supposedly living - Josephine Asling, Sarah McGirr, Bella Kay, Emma Perkins, Geo. Bassingthwaite, Henry Bewell, Geo. Bodie, Maurice Love, Frank E. Luke, Alex. Ledingham, Hezron Miller.
As in the case of Ike Beare, who helped to make the world better for his having lived in it, may it be said of each of the group above, that we, too, lived to some purpose.
