James R. Mears

James R. Mears is a little-documented author best known for the Iron Boys books, a small adventure series centered on young workers in mines, steel mills, and ore boats. Public-domain listings and surviving editions confirm four main titles in the series, including The Iron Boys in the Mines, The Iron Boys as Foremen, The Iron Boys in the Steel Mills, and The Iron Boys on the Ore Boats.

The books were originally published in the early 1910s, with The Iron Boys on the Ore Boats carrying a 1913 copyright notice in a Project Gutenberg text. The series was issued by the Henry Altemus Company and focuses on action, teamwork, and working life in heavy industry, giving the stories a distinctly American, early-industrial setting.

Reliable biographical details about Mears himself are scarce online, so much of his profile today comes through the books rather than the man. What does come through clearly is his interest in energetic, practical adventure fiction for younger readers, especially stories shaped by mining, steel, and the Great Lakes.