Leet, Charles Homestead

 

Leet, US Marine Corp Captain David L.

 

(Kenosha News.  No date on clipped article.  Approximately April 13, 1972.)

Burgess Family and Somers History

William, Burdette, and Robert Burgess
(Photo Courtesy of George Burgess, May 2016)

Edwin Burgess, brother of William, Burdette, and Robert
(Photo Courtesy of George Burgess, May 2016)

More About Burgess

Click here for more information on the Burgess family under the Oakwood Cemetery website.

Burgess Family and Somers History
The following pages are a scan of the original hand-written history written at a 1936 reunion of the Burgess and related families (Leet, Buswell, Ticknor, and other) at Petrifying Springs Park.  This written history identifies descendants of W. F. Burgess.

(Images courtesy of George Burgess, May 2016)

Burgess Family History As Told in 1936

These notes were transcribed from the original notes used to give a speech in Kenosha County, Wisconsin in 1936. The occasion was a BURGESS Family Reunion. The notes were written in pencil on school paper.

Best regards, Bob Heck bheck@execpc.com

March 1999

Notes from a family reunion

A Speech

Given By William E. Burgess Jr.

At Petrified Springs Park, Somers, Kenosha County, Wisconsin In 1936.

"As this is a little gathering of the Burgess relations, I thought it fitting that you all know something about them. I am going to give you a little biographical sketch of the Burgess' as some of you may not know who you are and where your ancestors came from."

"As near as I can learn they go back about 200 years ago. They were of English decent, coming from Vermont in a very early date, then moving to Oswego County, New York in 1820. Our great grandfather (Benajah Burgess) was a solder in the Revolution of 1775, so you see that any of you ladies that have any Burgess blood in your veins are eligible to join that very honored order called The Daughters Of The Revolution."

"(Benjamin Burgess), our grandfather, with his family moved west to what was to be the state of Wisconsin, then a territory, and settled at the mouth of the Pike River, that famous stream that you see right over there. This was March 5th in 1835 when they arrived making the journey with wagons from New York. On their way they came through that now famous city of Chicago, with a population of nearly 4,000,000 people (1936), which was only a swamp at that time with just a few little shacks built there. They did not think it worth while to get any land anywhere near there then so they went on to what was called Southport, a little village of a dozen families or so, situated at the mouth of the Pike River. This is now the city of Kenosha."

"Grandfather (Benjamin Burgess), after getting settled at Southport, looked the wood over as this part just east of here was all heavy timber. The country being very new, and a great number of people just coming here from the east, and no homes or anything to live in, he decided to start a saw mill which he did on this same Pike River that runs by over there. It was located on that road about a mile east of here where the river crosses that road. This of course was a water power mill (requiring) having to build a dam across the river. This work around the mill was a wet job of course and soon after getting the mill built, he got very wet one day and took pneumonia and died shortly after, at the age of 39 years. The mill was then run by father,(William E. Burgess Sr.) then seven years old and uncle William Foster for a number of years. Father, (William E. Burgess Sr.) then only a young man, and he in those days as boys now do, fell in love to one very pretty young girl by the name of Jane Leet, and in course of time, were married in 1850. The girl being a native of New York and one of the oldest settlers in Kenosha County, came from ? in New York."

"The Leets at that time were living at the same place as now, building that house and kept a tavern or hotel as we would call it now."

"This beautiful natural park where we are today gathered to renew our acquaintances, was a wild forest where the Indians roamed. I have heard mother (Jane Leet Burgess) tell of the Indians coming to their house for something to eat many times. Most of them, of course, were primitive at that time. Also many wild deer were in these woods at that time."

"We are also here in celebration of a little event that took place in the life of one of the family 50 years ago (on the) 14th day of June, 1882 when Charlie (L. Burgess), then a young man, having previously fell in love with one of Somers pretty young girls, was joined in Holy Matrimony to Miss Lizzie Van Alstine at that time. And in honor of this event after 50 years of married life to one woman, I am sure they deserve a celebration of some kind. And with that thought in mind, lead me to invite you all here that we might renew old acquanteses once more all together in a sort of reunion of the family of Burgesses."

"Although there are quite a number of the family that for various reasons could not attend. But just to give you some idea of them all, and those invited, I am going to read you the list of names and I want all of those here to answer; Present."

William E. Burgess family 11 children, 6 boys, 5 girls.

1. Mrs. Mary Burgess Cogswell & husband, both dead, 4 children, 2 boys, 2 girls all living. Mr. Dan Cogswell, ought to be here Mr. Rob Cogswell Mrs. Carrie Cogswell, married Mrs. Nellie Cogswell, married

2. Mrs. Emma Burgess Buswell, Winona, Minnesota, 4 children, 2 living Herd Buswell, deceased Roy Buswell, deceased Frank Buswell, living, married, at Winona Mrs. Cora Buswell, living, married 

3. Mrs. Virginia Burgess, Racine, not married 

4. Charlie Burgess & wife, Kenosha, 1 child married Willie Burgess & wife 

5. Edward C. Burgess & wife, Plymouth, 3 children, 2 living Harold Burgess Alfielal Burgess, in Cael 

6. George F. Burgess & wife, Milwaukee, 2 children Sinclair Burgess & wife Dela Burgess & husband 

7. William E. Burgess & wife, Chicago, children too numerous to mention 

8. Dela Burgess, died when a baby 

9. Hattie Burgess Rease, no children, in Cael 

10. Burdett Burgess & wife, Chicago, Burdett is dead, 6 children, all living Everett Burgess Dorothy Burgess Edith Burgess Henry Burgess George Burgess Nellie Burgess 

11. Robert L. Burgess & wife, Chicago, 2 children dead, Virginia living

"These are all of the grand and great grand children on our fathers side of the house. There are a number of cousins on mothers side. Those here please also answer when their names are called if here."

Mr. Fred Leet Mr. Geo. Leet & wife & family Mr. Edward Leet & wife & family Mrs. Nellie Leet Henning & family

"There were as most of you know only 5 married children of our grandfathers family, 4 boys and 2 girls, one boy dying when young. Of these 5 families were born 28 children in all, of which there are only 14 living. Of these 14, more than one half of them all are in the William Burgess family; 8 of us still living out of a family of 11 children."

"The youngest now - well I guess maybe I hadn't better give his age - but well upwards to 60. Just think, Charlie, at the age of 77 years and never had a ? is a record. This shows what a tuff bunch they all are."

"I have tried to count up how many great grandchildren there are, but maybe I have overlooked or missed some of them, but to the best of my knowledge there are in the neighborhood of 52 , not quite as many as Brigham Young had however."

"Now it may be a little interesting to some of you present to know that we are gathered here today in this beautiful natural Petrified Springs Park on the ground which was once first bought from the U. S. Government by our grandfather Charles Leet. He homesteaded it before it was put on the market for sale by the government in 1836. And that my own father at one time owned a part of this park and that your humble servant was born in a little loghouse that stood over there just west of the entrance to the park."

"Now I do not remember very distinctly the exact day but have been told by persons that lived in those days that it was in war times and that the times were very hard and that everyone was hard up and poor just like now. So you see I have been usta hard times all my life. I think I was the only member of our family to be born in this loghouse as father did not live there many years before he sold and moved out on the prairie as they call it at that time. I can just remember the day we moved with oxen and one team of horses on to the 247 acres of ground just the otherside of the railroad. But there was no railroad there those days. The C, M, & St. P. Ry was built some years after."

"In those days most of you can remember when we usta go to the old cheese factory and to the blacksmith shop over by the bridge across the river; and to the spring by the road that we usta water our horses. The Post Office was then in the blacksmith shop and the mail was brought out there from Kenosha twice a week on horse back; then later on it was moved to the grocery store of Abram Bishof a little farther west on this road, and there remained some time until the railroad came through. A depot was built and called Buroak station which is now Somers. Then the family of Cooks started a grocery store there and the Post Office again moved in their store." "Just after the depot was built there came a young man from the west, sort of a cowboy by the name of Thompson, to look after the affairs of the railroad at this town. And I understand that this same faithful servant is still on the job although this must be nearly 60 years ago. He fell in love also with Edith, one of Somers pretty young ladies and became married and still lives in Somers."

"I do not know much about Somers these days but when I was home on the farm there were many good looking young ladies I usta think and many times I usta bring one of my old sweethearts here and sit in the shade of the old fruit trees that usta stand along this bank where the spring is and drink of the cold refreshing water. There was plenty of the white foaming drink those days at Kenosha and Racine, but it did not touch us as young people seem to drink these days they can't get along without it. There are a few of our old friends and neighbors here to which I am very pleased to meet once more, and I hope you may enjoy this day here, and that it may be a day to look back on with pleasant memories."

These notes were transcribed from a copy of the original hand written notes by:

Robert J. Heck 4910 Steeple Dr. Greendale, WI 53129 (414) 421-7143

Date: January 29, 1994

Items shown in ( ) were added for clarity.

Basketball

"The Pike Woods Basketball team played the Somers team two games Friday evening at Woodman Hall.
Pike Woods:  First A. Werve; f, G. Werve; M. Schmitt, center; Moran, g; Thomas, g.
Somers: First C. Jensen, f; H. Tabbert, f; F. Bradley, center, P. Rice, g; O. Tabbert, g.
Somers 29 - Pike Woods 26

Referee-Herzog.  Scorer-Dixon, Moran.  Time keepers - J. Jensen, C. Dorey

Pike Woods: Second - Moran, f; Rogers, f; W. Thomas, center; F. Gascoigne, g, G. Thomas, g.
Somers: Second - G. Leet, f; H. Gascoigne, f; E. Jensen, center; C. Lytle, g; Bishop, g.
Somers, 36 - Pike Woods 12
(Source:  Racine Journal March 30, 1906)

Bowers

Partial 1908 Map of Somers Township, Kenosha County
Section 17, H. Bowers 100 acres.

Hiram Bowers
Hiram Bowers was born on September 28, 1860 at Sylvania, Racine County, and is the son of Isaac Bowers and Sarah Ann Lee, born in Lancashire, England.
He married Sarah Jennie Naylor, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Henderson) Naylor, on April 8, 1885 and farmed in Somers Township, Kenosha County.
Hiram and Sarah had three children.  Sarah died in childbirth with the third child on August 15, 1907.  A son, Hiram Kenneth died September 1907.  Two girls, Erma (Mrs. George Leet) and Marcy (Mrs. Frank Lichter).  Hiram died July 1, 1943 and is buried in Mound Cemetery with his wife Sarah.
(Source:  Sylvania Cemetery, Yorkville, Racine County, Mary Ann Culshaw Falk and the Sylvania Cemetery Board of Trustees, copyright 1991)


Sarah Naylor Bowers Obituary (wife of Hiram Bowers, son of Isaac Bowers)
"Mrs. Bowers was born in the Town of Paris, Kenosha County, forty-three years ago, and came to Somers when a child, where she has resided most of her life, esteemed and beloved by all who knew her.  She was kindhearted, generous, ever and always ready and willing to render assistance where it was needed.
She was a woman of joyous and sunshiny nature, diffusing her own happy spirit over those with whom she came in contact and few people had more sincere and devoted friends than she.  A sincere Christian, a loving daughter and friend, a devoted wife, a good mother.
She was united in marriage to Hiram Bowers, twenty-three years ago, who with two daughters, Misses Erma and Marcia Bowers, and an infant baby son, a mother, three brothers, William Naylor, Bloomington, Ill., George Naylor, St. Paul, Minn., Joseph Naylor, San Francisco, California; and two sisters, Miss Emma Naylor of Racine and Mrs. R. Neff, Gray's Lake, Ill. survive her.
The funeral services were held from her late home Saturday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Williams, assisted by Rev. Gosling.  The  musical services were rendered by a trio, consisting of Mr. J.G. Mitchell of Evanston, Ill.; Mrs. L.L. Owen, Burlington and Mrs. Buchan, Union Grove.
The casket was embowered in flowers the testimonials of loving friends, among them a handsome floral design from the Somers Camp Modern Woodmen of America, attesting the regard with which the deceased was held by that society.  A large procession of sympathizing friends followed the remains to their last resting place in Mound Cemetery, Racine.
(Source:  Racine Journal August 21, 1907)

Leet and Bowers Marriage
On Thursday, April 4, 1912, Miss Erma L. Bowers, oldest daughter of Mr. Hiram Bowers, was quietly united in marriage to Mr. George P. Leet, son of Mr. and Mrs. George F. Leet.
Rev. Bigler of the First Presbyterian Church of Racine officiated. After the ceremony, Mr. and Mrs. Leet departed for a brief wedding trip south. The bride is one of our most popular and accomplished young ladies. The groom is one of Somers' most enterprising young men, a young man of force and sterling worth. Few young people launch into the world under more favorable currents and a host of friends are please to extend congratulations upon their happy union.
(Source: Racine Journal, April 16, 1912)

Lichter and Bowers Marriage
On Tuesday morning at 7 o'clock the marriage of Miss Marcia Bowers to Frank Lichter was celebrated at St. George's Church in Kenosha. Rev. Father Nickel, pastor of the church, officiated in the presence of a few close friends of the contracting parties. Miss Madeline Lichter was bridesmaid and Nicholas Lichter served as best man. The bride is the younger daughter of Hiram Bowers and is an accomplished young woman. The groom is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. George Lichter, one of Somers most popular young men. After a short wedding trip to Chicago, the young couple went to housekeeping on the farm west of the village. Congratulations and best of wishes are extended by a host of friends.
(Source: Racine Journal, Jan. 18, 1915)

Music in Somers

Music in Somers
Somers, from its start and early development, has taken and held a prominent place in the music field.
Perhaps many of us residing in Our Town today have almost forgotten those native sons and daughters whose musical talents added much to the artistic world.
Somers' own prima donna, Miss Charille Runals, known as Lily Runals, was born March 14, 1855.  Her early life was lived on the Runals Homestead, known as the Willowbrook farm in Our Town, and attended school at District No. 2, now Hillcrest School.
In early life she developed a sweet soprano voice and following her graduation from the Kenosha High School, she studied voice in Ohio, later going to New York, where she rapidly rose in public favor as a singer and poetic reader, and soon joined the Metropolitan Opera.  She charmed vast audiences with her rendition of her own arrangement of "The Sky Pilot", "Black Rock", and other beautiful stories.  As she sang the beautiful sacred songs and those immortal hymns, she made a lasting impression on her hearers.  Many of the older people of Our Town may recall when this prima donna came home on a visit and gave a concert at the Methodist Church.  Her rendition of "The Holy City" on this occasion has never been forgotten by those who listened.  She sleeps in a cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Florence Spencer Owen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Spencer, who came from the East in the early days, was  a school teacher, a teacher of music and was talented with a sweet soprano voice that thrilled her hearers for years.
The Jordan family was a family of music.  Miss Ann Jordan, a singing school leader, started many young people on a musical career.
John G. Mitchell, a son of a sturdy Scotch family, who came early, was a baritone of renown.  One of his favorite solos was "Rocked In The Cradle of The Deeps."  For years he was leader in the male and mixed quartet's Somers was so proud of.  He was a singing school master and started many of our young people in the music world.
And so on down the decades, our people have added much to the field of music.  The descendants of those pioneers are carrying on in the field of music - Mrs. Mabel Yule Longmore, Jay W. Rhodes, Mrs. Mabelle Cook Rhodes, Mrs. Eunice Bradley Bullamore, Mrs. Elizabeth Flett Felton."
(Source:  Photo of Lily Runals and information above, My Memoirs by Minnie A.G. Ozanne.  Copyright 1948 - Minnie A.G. Ozanne.  All Rights Reserved.)

(Source: Photo of Lily Runals and information above, My Memoirs by Minnie A.G. Ozanne. Copyright 1948 - Minnie A.G. Ozanne. All Rights Reserved.)

Somers Band Stand - Mitchell Park
Our first park was in the Village of Somers, and for many years band concerts and social activities were enjoyed at "The Mitchell Park" where a fine band stand was built.  The Third Somers Brass Band, under the direction of John G. Mitchell, and these musicians, Fred W. Leet, Adam Lytle, Robert and Burdette Burgess, Elmer Cooper, Sherman Gibbon, Anton Nelson, William Munroe, Maurace Gould, Delbert Bishop, and Ray Mitchell, the drummer boy, offered many fine entertainments.
Ray Mitchell later became leader of an Illinois State Military Band.  A story of the first and second bands organized in Somers is not available.

(Source: My Memoirs by Minnie A.G. Ozanne. Copyright 1948 - Minnie A.G. Ozanne. All Rights Reserved.)

1967 New Town Hall

New Town Hall 1967
Somers officials of pioneer families:  Edquist, Newman, Leet
(Source:  Kenosha News December 1,1967)

New Town Hall 1967
Somers officials Bishop, Ebener, Huck
(Source: Kenosha News December 1,1967)

Barns of Somers

The Nicholas Thomas Barn
Wood Road, unpaved, in front of barn.
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of the Robert Thomas Family)

Introduction
One way we can document the settlement of Somers Township is knowing when our pioneers built houses and barns.  We know by the biographical sketches I have provided in this blog, settlers in the early 1830's built log cabins and lean shelters as their first homes and shelters.  These structures provided temporary shelter while our first settlers cleared the land so planting could begin.  Once the pioneer became settled and earned money, a more modern and permanent house and barn were constructed.
When were the barns in Somers Township built? 
To answer that question I researched the "Neighborhood News" columns, published by the Racine Journal News or Racine Daily Journal.  The "Neighborhood News" column was written by Minnie Ozanne, the news reporter that represented Somers. This list represents information I could find - not a complete list.  The date in parenthesis represents the date the post was published in the newspaper.

Who built the barns?
Most of the barns in this area were built by Mr. Lauer or Mr. Yule. They also were Somers pioneers and you may find their biographical sketches in this blog of interest.

What makes old barns so appealing?
Could it be that it represents a hardworking, gritty way of life.  A visit inside an old barn immediately draws you in and captures a way of life that no longer exists.  The hand hewn timbers, the smell, the odds and ends that have been hanging on a old nail for the past eighty years all peak the interest of those who visit a barn.  Somers Township, still today, has some fine examples of old barns.

I would welcome an invitation to take photographs of some of our old pioneer barns still standing, inside and out. This is the perfect place to preserve and share history.

Somers Barns

Anderson (05-05-1908) "M.A. Anderson received a car load of lumber for a new barn. William Lauer will do the carpenter work."

Anderson (04-18-1911) "M.A. Anderson had a large barn raising Monday morning.  This barn, when completed, will be one of the largest in this section of the county.  Mr. and Mrs. Rasmussen served dinner to about 40 men."

Barrows (01-06-1905) "Jacob Barrows has received a car load of brick for a basement under his barn."

Biehn (03-15-1907) "Jacob Biehn is unloading brick at Somers for the foundation of his new barn."

Biehn (05-23-1917) "Henry Biehn had a barn raising Friday.  50 neighbor assisting.  William Lauer has the contract."

Boelter (03-02-1906) "Mr. Herman Boelter has received his lumber for a new barn he will build in the spring."

Bohm (03-29-1904) "August Bohm is drawing sand from Kenosha for the foundation of his new barn."

Bush (03-21-1901) "Emory Bush received two car loads of  lumber last week for his new barn."

Bush (05-30-1901) "Emory Bush's barn was raised Thursday afternoon."

Chaffee (06-13-1900) "William Miller is drawing stone from Mr. Chaffe's farm for the foundation of his new barn."

Christensen (05-23-1917) "A barn dance will be held at Theodore Christensen's new barn on Saturday evening."

Corbett (09-15-1914) "James Due of Racine is building the foundation of Thomas Corbett's new barn."

Drew (09-21-1909) "Eric Jensen met with a distressing accident Monday afternoon while at work on William Drew's new barn. It seems while he, with other carpenters, were moving a barrel of oil which slipped and his hand was caught between the building and barrel. Two fingers were badly crushed. Dr. Belting put four stitches in one finger and three in another."

Fink (02-24-1921) "Edward Fink expects to build another new barn."

Fink (10-31-1911) "Edward Fink is building a new barn.  William Lauer and his force of carpenters are doing the work on the County Line Road."

Gitzlaff (03-27-1907) "Mr. August Gitzlaff received a car load of lumber last week for his new barn.  The barn will be 30 x 70.  B.F. Yule has the contract for the building."

Gross (04-06-1909) "William Lauer and his carpenters are building a barn for William Gross."

Hamilton (08-16-1909)  "William Lauer and George Hamilton visited Chicago recently where Mr. Hamilton will purchase lumber for his new house."

Hansche (05-16-1899) "Carpenters are at work at the Hansche Bros. storehouse."

Hughes (02-08-1911) "Marvin Hughes had a large barn raising Tuesday afternoon.  William Lauer and his carpenters are doing the work.  Mr. Hughes will build an addition to his house this spring."

Jensen (05-07-1914) "Chris A. Jensen had a barn raising on Saturday afternoon.  About 35 of his neighbors and friends were there to assist.  A bountiful dinner was served after the raising.  Erick Jensen is doing the carpenter work."

Knudsen (03-27-1903) "Hans Knudsen has completed his barn and as soon as the weather permits he will begin building his new house."

Leet Bros. (09-07-1910) "The Leet Bros. are hauling lumber from Racine for anew barn they expect to build this spring.  B.F. Yule and Fred Heddle have the contract for carpenter work."

Lichter (10-9-1912) "George Lichter is going to build a new barn on the farm he recently purchased, known as the Soens farm.  William Lauer has the contract on the carpenter work."

Mutchie (05-10-1910) "John Mutchie had a big barn raising Thursday forenoon.  About 75 men was present and assisted in the raising.  At noon a bounteous repast was served.  Mr. Mutchie will have one of the largest and most convenient barns in this vicinity when it is finished."

Newman (06-30-1898) "A large company of men aided at the barn raising at Mrs. Marcia Newman's on Monday afternoon.  Tables were set and a bountiful supper was served."

Pedley (02-21-1902) "John Pedley is hauling lumber from Racine for a new cattle barn."

Porter (11-06-1898)  "The barn on the Porter farm is undergoing repairs.  B.F. Yule is doing the work."

Rhodes (01-05-1909) "Mr. Jay Rhodes had a barn raising Wednesday."

Lavin (04-13-1906) "Mr. Lavin is drawing lumber from Racine for a new barn."

Lee (12-21-1906) "Rollie Lee expects a barn raising Friday afternoon."

Leet (06-07-1901 "Mrs. Jessie Leet had her barn raising Saturday."

Leet (04-06-1909) "The Leet Bros. are hauling lumber from Racine for a new barn they expect to build in the spring. B.F. Yule and Fred Headie have the contract for the carpenter work."

Lichter (04-10-1914) "Mr. Frank Lichter built a new barn.  Will Lauer and his men did the carpenter work."

Miller (05-31-1900) "Wm. Miller received two car loads of lumber for his new barn last week."

Miller (06-27-1900) "Dan Pedley began work on Wm. Miller's new barn Tuesday. B.F. Yule and F. Heddle are building a large barn at Milburn, Illinois."

Miller (07-17-1900) "Wm. Miller barn raising will happen today."

Mutchie (05-10-1910) "John Mutchie had a big barn raising Thursday afternoon.  About 75 men were present and assisted in the raising.  At noon, a bouteous repast was served.  Mr. Mutchie will have one of the largest and most convenient barns in this vicinity when it is finished."

Ozanne (06-16-1905) "Pierre and L.E. Ozanne received a car load of lumber for their new barn last week.  B.F. Yule will do the carpenter work."

Ozanne (07-04-1895) "Perhaps it would be a little interesting to the readers of this journal, especially to those of the eastern part of Kenosha County to know that the first barn ever built in the Town of Somers was until recently, still in existence.  The barn was built about the year 1838, and now owned by E.G. Ozanne, who has taken it down, using some of the hard wood timbers for a new building.  On June 18, 1842, James Ozanne and family arrived at Racine from the Isle of Guernsey and on July 4th following, purchased the farm of 335 acres, on which the barn stood.  The farm was afterward's divided up into three."

Rasmussen (02-25-1907) "Matt Rasmussen received a carload of lumber on Monday morning for a new barn to be erected on farm No. 2.  The building is to be 54 x 40.  William Lauer will do the work."

Rasmussen (07-29-1920) "William Lauer and his force of carptenters are building a barn on the M.A. Rasmussen north farm."

Rasmussen (12-08-1905) "Mr. Martin Rasmussen is building an addition to his barn.  William Lauer is doing the carpenter work."

Smith (05-02-1911) "Samuel Smith is building a new barn iin which a large dance will be held next month."

Spencer (09-15-1910) "James E. Spencer received a car load of crushed stone last week for the concrete work in the new barn he recently built."

Spencer (10-27-1910) "James E. Spencer is having concrete floors built in his barn."

Swartz (07-18-1911) "William Lauer and his carpenters will soon begin work on a barn for Jacob Swartz."

Thompson (06-23-1916) "Thompson Bros. are building a large barn.  William Lauer and his force of carpenters are doing the work."

Woodward (06-10-1914) "Woodward Bros. are hauling gravel for their new barn."

Yonk (02-24-1921) "John Yonk is installing a water system in his dairy barn."

Toase

Henry Toase was born in Lancashire, England about 1798.  He came to America in May of 1846.  He was married to Miss Mary Croft, daughter of John and Dorothy Croft.  They had a son, William, and a daughter Mary Ann.  They lived in Mt. Pleasant Township, Racine County.  Henry died December 10, 1868.  Mary (called Ann) married again to George Haigh, a recent widower, on July 16, 1871 in Racine County.  Mary died on September 2, 1893.  Both Henry and Mary are buried at Sylvania Cemetery.


William Toase

William Toase funeral photo
(Photo courtesy of Jim Smith)

Children of Henry and Mary: William Toase. 

Born April 24, 1836 at Lancashire, England, William Toase married Sarah Maria Longwell who was born December 2, 1840 at Yorkshire, England.  Sarah was the daughter of Hugh and Letta Maria Longwell of Somers Township.  William registered for the Civil War in June 1863. He was very musical and organized many programs in the community.  William adopted Sarah's sister's child May, who was born November 22, 1878, who married Horace Lee as his first wife on September 10, 1898.
Sarah died September 2, 1893 and William died March 28, 1903 of diabetes, which caused gangrene to set in.  Both are buried at Sylvania Cemetery.


Mary Ann (called Ann) Toase.  

Born July 15, 1838 in England.  She married William Drinkwater (his second wife) on December 26, 1860.  She died April 28, 1893.
(Source:  Mary Ann Culshaw Falk and Sylvania Cemetery Trustees)


Partial 1887 Somers Township map, Kenosha County
Section 2 shows S. Toase.  Notice the Toase property is adjacent to 2 parcels owned by the Longwell's.

William Drinkwater

William Drinkwater funeral photo
William Drinkwater was born in Manchester, England November 1824.  He came to America with his parents in 1842 and settled in Sylvania,  Town of Yorkville, Racine County, Wisconsin.  On December 25, 1847, he married Elizabeth Smith in 1830 in England, daughter of Samuel Smith of the Town of Mt. Pleasant, Racine County. They had one daughter, Sarah Jane.  William left for the Gold Rush in California with Isaac Bowers, Richard Lee and Edward Lee.  While he was there, he received word that his wife was very ill and he should hurry home.  She died September 22, 1857 before he arrived home.  William married again on December 26, 1860 to Mary Ann Toase, daughter of Henry and Mary Toase.  Sarah remained with her grandparents and later became a schoolteacher.  William and Mary moved to a farm on the Racine-Kenosha County Line Road in the Town of Yorkville.  Mary Ann died April 28, 1893 and William died April 1902.
(Info from Sylvania Cemetery, Exploring Family Ties, by Mary Anne Culshaw Falk)
Photo taken by W.G. Powers in Union Grove, Wisconsin
(Photo courtesy of Jim Smith)

More About Toase
"The woods owned by the later William Toase was swept by a fire on Sunday afternoon supposed to have been started by some careless hunters.  The wind was in the south which fact alone saved the surrounding timber from one of the most disastrous fires that could take place.  As the flames worked against the wind the progress was not very rapid although several acres were burned over during the afternoon.  Help arrived in the evening when thru hard work the fire was extinguished."
(Source:  Racine Journal, publication date November 13, 1903)


"Professor William Toase wishes to announce he has leased his farm and will devote his time to his profession.  Professor Toase is one of our ablest singing teachers.
(Source:  Racine Journal, publication date November 17, 1898)


"Prof. William Toase, of the town of Mt. Pleasant, one of the oldest residents of the county and who has been a singing master for over 40 years, is dying at his home a few miles southwest of Corliss, of blood poisoning.  One of the professors feet has become so bad that it has nearly rotted off.
Prof. Toase is about 70 years old.  He came to this county over fifty-five years ago, his father having settled here when the county was only a wilderness.  Early in life the son took to music and became famous as a singer and organizer of singing classes.
Almost every singing class of note in Racine and Kenosha counties the professor has organized handled in competition.  He has also arranged hundreds of concerts and sang times without number at the annual reunions of the Racine Count Old Settlers' society and Kenosha County society.
He is, or was, a very large and powerful man, of fine appearance and known to every farmer in the southern section of Wisconsin.  His large number of friends will be pained to learn of his condition."
(Source:  Racine Journal March 27, 1903)


"At 2 o'clock this morning, William Toase, the oldest and best known singing master in Racine County, in fact Southern Wisconsin, died at his home of blood poisoning. Prof. Toase was born in Yorkshire, England, April 24, 1835, and with  his parents settled in Racine County when but 8 years old.  When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted September 21, 1864, in the First Wisconsin, Heavy Artillery, and was promoted to Corporal of his company, in a very short time.
Mr. Toase served three years and made a good brave soldier.  After the War he returned to his home and resumed the study and teaching of music, principally vocal lessons were given.  He possessed a remarkable clear voice and he was in demand at every gathering of note where a musical program was to be given. One daughter survives.  Funeral will take place on Monday afternoon at 1 o'clock from the house in Mt. Pleasant.
(Source:  Racine Journal)


"The adopted daughter, Mrs. Horace Lee, objects to Probating that of late Professor William Toase.  In the county court this morning objection was made to probating the will of the late Prof. Toase, of the town of Mt. Pleasant.  The objections were made by Mrs. Horace Lee, an adopted daughter, through her attorneys.
In his last will Prof. Toase, after the customary provisions for his funeral expenses, makes the following bequests: First - To Fanny Blackburn, his niece, he wills his farm of 80 acres, and all personal property except mentioned later.  To George Blackburn, his horse, cart, harnesses and carpenter tools.  Second - To his adopted daughter, Mrs. Horace Lee, $300 in cash, one bureau and its contents and other household goods. The farm willed to Mrs. Blackburn must not be sold for a period of ten years after his death.  Fanny Blackburn is named as the executrix.

The step-daughter objects to the allowance and probate of the instrument propounded by Fanny Blackburn as the last will and testament of William Toase, upon the following grounds:  First - That said instrument was not duly executed by the said William Toase, deceased, as his last will and testament in the manner provided by law.  Second - That at the time of said execution of said instrument, the said William Toase was not of sound mind and had not sufficient mental capacity to make a will.  Third - That the execution of said instrument was procured by undue influence exercised over and upon the said deceased by said Fanny Blackburn.

Some testimony was heard by Judge Heck, but the hearing was adjourned to May 14.  It is said that in the bureau willed to the nice there was found certificates of deposit amounting to $1,200.  The 80 acre farm is worth $50 per acre.
(Source: Racine Weekly, publication date May 8, 1903)

More About Ann Toase
Obituary for Wm. Drinkwater.
"Wm. Drinkwater died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Henry Blackburn on April 28, 1902, aged 77 years, of cancer of the throat, and was interred in the Sylvania Cemetery on May 1.
Mr. Drinkwater was one of the earliest settler in Racine County, having come to this county from England, in 1844.  He was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Smith in 1847, and her death occurred four years later, one child, now Mrs. M.J. Smith was born of this union.
In 1851 he traveled across the then hostile country to California in the search for gold, returning three years later, being only partly successful in the gold fields.  In 1858 he married again, his bride being Miss Ann Toase, sister of Prof. Wm. Toase of Sylvania.  They made their home on a farm northwest of Windsor Station, now Sylvania, for over twenty years, going from there to a large farm on the County Line Road, formerly owned by Jerry Slater.  Here several years ago, Mrs. Drinkwater died.
Eight children were the fruit of the second marriage, viz: Mrs. Albert (Mary Rosette) Murgatroyd, Mrs. Geo. (Fanny Ida) Blackburn who married a second time to Samuel Bowers, son of Isaac Bowers; Mrs. Henry (Ella May) Blackburn, Miss Cora Drinkwater who married Paul Wilkins in Milwaukee, and William H. married Laura Blaine, Charles who married Margaret Myers, James Abraham married Marie (Mame) Rasmussen, and Frank R. Drinkwater who ended up living in Atwater, Ohio.
(Source:  Racine Weekly May 13, 1902 and Mary Ann Culshaw Falk and the Sylvania Cemetery Trustees)


More About Drinkwater, Bowers, Lee, Myers
James Drinkwater was born in Manchester, England in 1798.  He married Jane Phelps and had a son William.  They came to America in 1842 and took up a government claim in Yorkville Township, Racine County.
William Drinkwater was born at Manchester, England on November 8, 1824.  He came to America with his parents in 1842 and settled at Sylvania.  On december 25, 1847 he married Elizabeth Smith who was born April 8, 1830 in England.  She was the daughter of Samuel Smith of Mt. Pleasant Township, Racine County.  They had one daughter Sarah Jane.
William left for the Gold Rush in California with Isaac Bowers and Richard Lee and Edward Lee.  While he was there, he received word that his wife was very ill and he should hurry home.  She died on Septembe 22, 1857 before he arrived home.  William married again on December 26, 1860 to Mary Ann Toase, daughter of Henry and Mary Toase.
Sarah remained with her grandparents and later became a schoolteacher.  William and Mary Ann had 8 children. 
(Source:  Mary Ann Culshaw Falk and the Sylvania Cemetery Trustees)

Burgess, William E.

William E. Burgess
William E. Burgess (father) was born in Oswego County, New York in 1830.  His father, Benagh Burgess, who was a native of Vermont, came to what is now Kenosha County in 1836.  He engaged in business in a saw-mill located on Pike River, in what is now the Town of Somers.  He was engaged in this business until his death, in the spring of 1838.
As a young boy, William (son) entered the milling business with his father, which he followed up to 1850, when he went to farming.  Mr. William Burgess has been Assessor the Town of Somers for the past two years, and has held the office of Somers Town Treasurer.
He married, in the Town of Somers, in 1850, Miss Jane Leet, a native of the State of New York.  She was the daughter of one of Kenosha County's earliest settlers, Mr. Charles Leet, who died in Somers Feb. 11, 1874.
William and Jane (Leet) Burgess has ten children.  Mr. Burgess' mother, Amanda Burgess, formerly Miss Foster, is still living.  She was born in the State of New York in 1799.  Her father, Mr. Alfred Foster, was one of Kenosha's first settlers, having been one of the exploring party who came to Wisconsin in 1835.  He built the first saw mill, called Foster's Mill, located near Berryville on the Pike River.  Mr. Burgess is the owner of 247 acres of land.
(Source:  The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin, Chicago, Western Historical Company, 1879)


Obituary
Again the Death Angel has entered and taken from our midst one of our pioneer citizens.  William E. Burgess, aged 73 years, departed this life Saturday afternoon, April 9, after a long illness from lung trouble.  The deceased was a man who was honored and respected by all who know him.  In 1836, he with his parents came to Wisconsin.  October 17, 1850 he was united in marriage to Miss Jane Leet.  Eleven children were born to them, of which number ten survive: Mrs. Frank Cogswell and Charles of Salem; Mrs. Charles Buswell of Winona, Minnesota; Edward, William E. and Burdette of Chicago; Mrs. Clayton Rease of Portersville, California; Jennie, George and Robert of Somers.  Mrs. Burgess died June 3, 1901.  The family have the sympathy of the entire community in this their hour of sadness.  The funeral services were held from the Methodist Church Saturday afternoon, conducted by the Rev. Stockham.  Interment at Oakwood Cemetery.
(Source: Racine Journal April 17, 1903)

Partial 1887 Map of Somers Township, Kenosha County
Section 8 showing the W.E. Burgess parcel

More About the Burgess Family
See the "DeLong and Reas" posting in this blog.

DeLong and Reas



Horace De Long Farm
Somers Township, Section 6 west
(Source:  Illustrated Atlas of Racine and Kenosha County Wisconsin, H.O. Brown & Co., Publishers 1887)





1887 Partial Somers Township Map, Kenosha County
Section 6 DeLong parcel
Section 4 Reas parcel
Section 8 W.E. Burgess parcel

 George DeLong
George and Pamela (Farrington) DeLong arrived in Wisconsin from their native New York in 1838.  George DeLong was born on February 8, 1807 in New York and Pamelia (Farrington) DeLong was born on November 13, 1806.  They took up farming in Somers Township, Kellogg's Corner area, with their son Horace.  (George DeLong owned two parcels in Somers Township, Section 6,  in 1861: 46 acres and 135 acres). Pamela died on January 22, 1880 and George died on December 31, 1891.  Both are buried at Sylvania Cemetery.
Children (2) of George and Pamela DeLong:
Matilda DeLong born October 14, 1834 in Utica, New York.  She died September 16, 1905.
Horace T. DeLong born June 20, 1837 in Utica, New York.

Horace T. DeLong Family
Horace T. Delong came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1838. He married Miss Mary Reas, daughter of Peter Reas on October 13, 1861. Mary (Reas) DeLong died in Chicago, Illinois on February 14, 1927 and is buried at Graceland Cemetery in Racine, Wisconsin near her son, J. Edwin DeLong. It is not known where or when Horace died.
Children of Horace and Mary (Reas) DeLong:
Carrie DeLong born August 16, 1862 in Mt. Pleasant Township, married William E. Burgess, the son of William E. and Jane Leet Burgess, on December, 1891; died Dec. 8, 1941, buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Somers, Wisconsin.
James Edwin DeLong, buried at Graceland Cemetery, Racine.
Willard DeLong, died June 1870
Alton B. DeLong, buried at Graceland Cemetery, Racine.
(Source: Mary Ann Culshaw Falk and Sylvania Cemetery Trustees)

Horace DeLong
(Source:  Photo by The Bush Family Tree, Ancestry.com)

Mary Reas DeLong
(Source:  Photo by The Bush Family Tree, Ancestry.com)

Peter Reas
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source:  Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright October 2011)

Peter Reas
(Source:  Photo by the Bush Family Tree, Ancestry.com)

Catherine Reas
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source: Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright October 2011)

Catherine Reas
(Source:  Photo by The Bush Family Tree, Ancestry.com)

James Edwin Reas
(Source:  Photo by The Bush Family Tree, Ancestry.com)

About D.W. Reas

Daniel W. Rease was born in Cortland County, New York, in 1837.  His father, James Rease, came to Wisconsin in 1839, returned East, and in 1840, brought his family and settled in what is now Somers.  He engaged in farming until the death of his wife in 1846 when he engaged in a sign and house painting business until 1861.  He then went to California leaving Daniel to manage the farm.  Daniel also went to California but only remained a year when he returned to the farm in Somers.  He is a Member of the Presbyterian Church.  He married in Cortland County, New York in January 1865, Miss Maria A. Brooks, also a native of Cortland County,  They had three children:  Clayton B., born April 9, 1866; Harvey V. born Feb. 28, 1873; amd Edith M. Jan. 21, 1877.

(Source:  The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin, Chicago, Western Historical Company, 1879)

1859 Somers Town Hall

1859 original Somers Town Hall
located on the original site - Highway 31 and Highway E
The background is the Oakwood Cemetery
(Source:  Photograph Courtesy of Kenosha County Historical Society)

History
"Somers records show that the first meeting in the old Town Hall was held on April 5, 1859, but for 16 years prior to that, town meetings were held at the home of Charles Leet, great-grandfather of Leverett Leet, Somers Treasurer (1967).  As of 1967, Leet still resided in the historic family home on Highway 31.
The carefully kept minutes of the first town meetings in the Leet home were dated May 1, 1843.  Town officials were elected at that first meeting, and major business including the adoption of fines for letting stallions run at large.  Town officials were voted a salary of 75 cents per day for their services, and the board appropriated $25 for the poor.
Somers was known as the Town of Pike at that time and was included in Racine County.  The first mention of Kenosha in the records was in 1850, according to Frank Newman, Somers Town Clerk.  A division was made in the counties but no reason is given for the change.  It was at about this time that the Racine Courthouse burned down, and many records were destroyed.
The name Pike was changed to Somers in 1851, but, again, the records do not give any reason for the change, Newsman said.
The elder Leet's home was a stage stop and inn, a stop-over point for travelers bound for Milwaukee and Green Bay.  The house was apparently a natural meeting point for the town board, but eventually members recognized the need of some sort of town hall.
At the annual meeting of 1857, a committee was named to secure a permanent lease to use the basement of the Presbyterian Church across from the Leet home for meetings.  This proved unfeasible and a number of special meetings followed to consider plans for building a town hall.
After a period of turmoil, during which building plans were adopted and rescinded, another committee selected the Highway 31 site.  The land was donated by Billy smith, who gave three-quarters of an acre for the town hall and the adjoining property for a cemetery (Oakwood Cemetery).
The board met at the Charles Leet home as usual on April 5, 1859, but before any business was transacted, a motion was made to adjourn the meeting to the new town hall.  Members then walked to the new building and began its official use which continued for 108 years until the final session on September 11, 1967."
(Source:  Kenosha News article , December 1, 1967)

(Source:  The Kenosha News, September 12, 1967)

1859 original Somers Town Hall
Moved and meticulously restored on a new site 1 mile to the north of the original site
at Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary & Arboretum
(Source:  Photograph Courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson)

Rennovation
"Now that the old building has been moved to a new home, it will be restored to its original condition, removing any of the modernizing features which been added during the years.  Contractor Peter Ploskee, who will do the restoration work, reported that he was "amazed" at the sound condition of the old structure."
(Source:  Kenosha News article, December 1, 1967)

1859 original Somers Town Hall - Side View
located at Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum
(Source:  Photograph Courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson)

1859 original Somers Town Hall
Interior View
(Source:  Photograph Courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson)

1859 original Somers Town Hall
Interior View
(Source:  Photograph Courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson)

1859 original Somers Town Hall
Interior View
(Source: Photograph Courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson)

1859 original Somers Town Hall
Interior View - Voting Booths
(Source: Photograph Courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson)