John Carey Fear, M. D., prominent as a physician and public spirited citizen of Waverly, Kan., is the son of a physician and inherited the peculiar mental traits and talents requisite for success in that profession. He was born in Adams county, Ohio, Nov. 9, 1855, his parents being Francis and Mary E. (Sparks) Fear. Francis Fear was a native of Ohio, where he was reared and given an excellent education, his training in the liberal arts and sciences being obtained at the Denison University, Granville, Ohio, and that in the science of medicine obtained at the Cincinnati Medical College, graduating from the latter school in 1849. He began his practice at Dunkinville, Ohio, and continued successfully until 1872 when he moved to Greeley, Kan., practicing there a year and a half, then moved to Westphalia and later to Waverly, where he resided until his death at the age of seventy-seven years. He gave about fifty years to the successful practice of his profession, and was also well known as a Baptist minister. In the Civil war records he will be found numbered among the defenders of the Union, having enlisted in the One Hundred and Eighty-second Ohio infantry, with which he served about one year. He believed in the principles and polices of the Republican party to which he ever gave his loyal support. Peter Fear, the father of Francis and the grandfather of John Carey, was a native of Germany who came to America in an early day and settled in Ohio, where he engaged in farming. Ezra Sparks, the maternal grandfather of John Carey, was a native farmer of Ohio, where he resided throughout life.

Dr. Fear was reared and educated in Ohio, receiving his college education at West Union Normal College, West Union, Ohio, and supplemented this by a course in the science of medicine at Keokuk, Iowa, where he was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1877. He at once began practice at Waverly, Kan., where to the present time he has continued successfully, from both a professional and business standpoint. He now owns two very fine farms, one of them being the old homestead. He is a student of professional works and current medical literature, thus keeping in touch with the latest developments in the science. Not only by literature, but by association with others of his profession, he advances his knowledge, proficiency and interest in the profession, being president of the Coffey County Medical Society, and a member of the Kansas State Medical Society, the Southwestern Medical Association, and the American Medical Association. The stress of professional duties has not deterred him from taking an active part in matters pertaining to the public welfare. He has served five years as mayor of the city of Waverly, five years as township treasurer, and eight years as a member of the city council, proof that he has the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens He is equally popular in fraternal circles, being a member of the Masonic order in which he has attained the Thirty-second degree and has served as senior warden, and at present is Master of Lodge No. 244 at Waverly. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Knights of Pythias, having been chancellor commander in the last named order.

He was married to Miss Rhoda F. Butler, in August, 1879. She is the daughter of Joseph Butler, a farmer who came from Iowa and settled in Sedan, Kan. Dr. and Mrs. Fear have two daughters, both talented, educated and accomplished. The elder, Jessie, married T. T. Kelly of Waverly, a graduate of the University of Ottawa. They now reside at Ottawa. Ada, the second daughter, is teaching in the Sherman County High School at Goodland, Kan. Both graduated from Ottawa University, have been teachers, and hold life certificates in that profession in Kansas, and Jessie also graduated in music at that institution and later took a post-graduate course in the New England Conservatory of Music at Boston, Mass.