Lear is a name that is known to Marion County, Missouri.  It is a name known to much of the world, in fact, because a man born in Hannibal in 1902 gave us first the car radio, the 8-track, and then the Lear Jet.  He held over 150 U.S. Patents.  His name was William Powell Lear.  He died in Las Vegas in 1978.

Is it possible that the inventor of the Lear Jet is related to our Francis Marion Lear?  Francis’ name appears on the monument in Palmyra.  He was captured during Porter’s Raid in Missouri in 1862, and he was one of the 10 men put to death at the Marion County Fairgrounds.

If anyone knows the burial place of Francis Lear, please let me know.  Is Francis Lear related to William P?  I’ll let you know.