In the spring of 1850, two young boys, Seger (17) and Shamus O’Sullivan (19) left Dublin at the height of the Irish Potato Famine to seek their fortune in the new world of the young United States. It was a very convenient time to leave on a great adventure, as the local constables were searching for them in connection with several break-ins at the local woman’s foundation and lace factory. Once th
ey arrived at Ellis Island, the brothers split where Shamus went out west and Seger moved to the mountains of Tennessee. There outside of a little town of Big lake, Seger found a cave where he started to distill a special type of Irish whiskey that he sold to the locals. One day when Seger arrived back at his hideaway he found a large black bear sleeping next to several empty whiskey jugs. He laid down next to his new roommate and fell asleep. In the following days and months, Seger and Samuel Bear became close friends. Now Seger was a small man only 5’ 4” tall and about 115lbs. The owner of the local general and dry goods store was a large burly man with a bad temper that smelled bad even after a bath. His wife was a large Russian woman that he had ordered thru the Sears catalog. Seger loved her with all his heart. One fateful night, the stop owner was attacked and brutally mauled by what could only have been a mountain lion or maybe even a bear. Seger and Natasha were married the next week. Natasha was heir to her family’s legacy of training Russian bears for the circus and in short time had taught Samuel how to communicate using sign language and a series of grunts, growls and teeth clicking. In 1853, Seger, Natasha and Samuel opened O’Sullivan Emporium with goods supplied by Mr. Whiskey, honey and soaps were Mr. Bears main products. Seger O’Sullivan was my great-great grandfather. Mr. Bears clan and my family have been serving this nation and it’s peoples for 4 generations.