Thomas J. Shear was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Shear was born on September 25, 1836, in Concord, New York.
During the American Civil War, Shear served with the 47th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment of the Union Army.
His grandson, Marc Mitscher, became an admiral in the United States Navy.
[2] Additionally, he was the clerk of Hillsboro and the superintendent of schools of Vernon County, Wisconsin.