Piper, August J.



Partial 1887 Map of Somers Township
Section 6, Aug Piper (son of Augustus Piper)  parcel
Section 6, T. Piper  (son of Augustus Piper) parcel
Section 5, A. (August J.) Piper (lake shore parcel)

August J. Piper
August J. Piper, a well known farmer living on Section 5, Somers Township, has gained a gratifying measure of success through his well directed labor and is one of the substantial men of his locality.  His birth occurred in Racine County in 1864 and he is a son of Augustus and Margaret (Breaid) Piper.  His father, a native of Prussia, Germany, was born on the 19th of August, 1825, and lost his father when but six months old.  In 1840 his mother, with her children, took ship for the United States, but the vessel was wrecked off the Island of Haiti, and the family remained in San Domingo for several months.  The mother died there of yellow fever.  Augustus Piper at length came to the United States and settled at Cleveland, Ohio, where he made his home with an old friend, Mr. Hansche.  After remaining in the Buckeye state for three years he went to New Orleans, where he spent six months, at the end of which time he returned to Ohio.  In 1849 he drove from that state to Wisconsin and for two years thereafter worked in this state as a farm hand.  He carefully saved his earnings and as soon as possible bought a tract of land on time, making a payment with the capital which he had saved.  Gradually, as his resources increased, he added to his holdings until he owned in all three hundred and fifty acres of good land.  He was a man of unusual energy and business ability, and these qualities enabled him to gain financial independence although he began with nothing.  He was a Republican in political belief and served as Supervisor the for the Township of Somers.
He was married on the 8th of November, 1852, to Miss Margaret Braid, a daughter of Thomas Breaid, a native of Scotland.  Six children were born to this union, namely:  William, Ellen, Thomas, Frank, August J., and Jane.
August J. Piper received his education in the common schools of Kenosha and Racine Counties, which he attended until he was fifteen years of age.  He then assisted his father until he was twenty-two years of age, when he assumed the management of the farm, operating the place on shares.  He was so engaged until 1896, when his father passed away.  He has continued to reside upon the home place, which comprises one hundred and fifteen acres, and he devotes his time to the raising of garden truck, for which he finds a ready market in the surrounding cities.  He has given careful study to the various problems which confront the gardener, and his thorough understanding of his business, together with his industry, has made him very successful.
On the 1st day June, 1887, Mr. Piper was married to Miss Sophia Hansche, a daughter of William and Mary Hansche, both of whom are deceased and are buried in Racine.  Mr. and Mrs. Piper are the parents of four children, namely:  Olga, Harold, Ruth and Marjorie, all at home.
Mr. Piper is a Republican but on occasion votes independently, believing that the fitness of the candidate is of greater importance than his political allegiance.  He has served as Chairman of the Somers Town Board and his official record is highly creditable to his ability and public spirit.  In religious faith he is a Methodist, and his life has measured up to high standards of morality.  He belongs to Belle City Lodge, No. 92, A.F. & A.M. at Racine, has taken thirty-two degrees in the Scottish Rite and is also a member of the York Rite bodies.  Moreover he is identified with the Elks at Racine and with the Woodmen.  His salient characteristics are such that all who have been brought in contact with him hold him in high esteem, and he has many warm friends.
(Source:  City of County of Kenosha Record of Settlement by Frank H. Lyman, Vol II, Chicago, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1916)