I don't really know, and that probably seems odd to you. Charley Bear and I have been married 37 years he was born in 1915 in Bowie, Co. (he just went into a Care Center three weeks ago, he has alzheimers, and I could not care for him anymore). I do know that his Dad came from Yugoslavia and his Mother came from Italy. When his Dad got his citizenship papers, he changed his name from Medved to Bear which was the English name. His Mothers name was Marta. I am not sure where they settled before here but I have heard they went to Butte, Montana. Most of those who were relatives then came to this valley for the Coal Mine industry. Charley's Dad opened a coal mine in Somerset, Co. in the early 1930's and when Charley was 14 he had to quit school and help get the mine started. Charley's Dad's name was Anton "Tony" Medved until he changed it to Anton "Tony" Bear when he got his citizenship papers in Gunnison, Gunnison, Colorado. Of course all his family took the Bear name after that. I don't know as this is help to you but hope so. I hope you have heard from Charley's daughter Betty as she has done lots of research on the Bear family. Best Regards and feel free to contact me anytime. Lynne Holder Bear