Shear was born on May 12, 1869, in Hillsboro, Wisconsin, conflicting reports have been given on the exact date.

His father, Thomas J. Shear, was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Shear's brother-in-law, Oscar A. Mitscher, was also mayor of Oklahoma City, and his nephew, Marc Mitscher, was an admiral in the United States Navy.

[1] Additionally, he was a delegate to the 1924 Republican National Convention.

He succeeded Ed Overholser and preceded Jack C. Walton as mayor.