Edward Thomas O'Rear was born on 20 October 1855 at St Charles, Missouri. He was the son of Nelson Catlett O'Rear and Anna Elizabeth O'Rear. Edward Thomas O'Rear married Helen Owens circa 1888. Edward Thomas O'Rear died on 22 June 1919 at Sweet Springs, Missouri, at age 63.

He was a financier, state Treasurer, and state superintendent of insurance at Missouri. Circa 1905, Edward Thomas O'Rear in partnership with a man by the name of Leslie erected an office building which was called the Leslie Orear building. At Kansas City, Missouri. On noticing this, Leslie Henderson O'Rear went to see Edward Thomas O'Rear , and jestingly thanked him for naming the building for Leslie Henderson . There was no surprise the next day to see that the name had been changed to the Orear Leslie building. (source: Descendants of John O'Rea)