Sears, John R.

John R. Sears was born in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, in 1843, came with his parents to this country when fifteen months old. He enlisted from Halifax, Vt., August 11, 1862, in Co. E, 11th Vermont Volunteer Infantry; discharged June 24, 1865. That same year he located in Greenfield and was long the superintendent of the Pierce farm. He later learned the trade of a brick and stone mason which he followed for forty or more years. He was elected Commander of Edwin E. Day [GAR] Post in 1926. On February 28, 1928 Mr. Sears received the appointment of aide-de-camp on the staff of the Grand Commander of the United States, a distinction never before conferred on a western Massachusetts veteran.