Biography of Peter K. Slear
Peter K. Slear, born January 28, 1838, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, was a distinguished farmer in Yankton County, South Dakota. Descended from German immigrants, the Slear family has a long history of military service, participating in every American war from the Revolution to the Spanish-American War. Slear served as a sergeant in the Civil War. In 1870, he married Mary J. Babb and they had seven children, four surviving into adulthood. In 1869, Slear homesteaded in Yankton County, where he focused on farming. Known for his integrity and community involvement, he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and served on the school board.