Thompson-Jensen Family Group Photos

Summer of 1909 or 1910
Normal Eugene Thompson - 52 years old
Julia B. Stetson Thompson - 53 years old
Wendell Rhodes standing in front row - 4 or 5 years old
Seated at left - Ned Ozanne, Jim Spencer, Normal E. Thompson, Jay W. Rhodes
Back row standing - Mollie Rhodes Spencer (2nd wife), Julia Stetson Thompson, Mabel Cook Rhodes.
Somers, Wisconsin

(©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of Lynn Thompson Powell)

 



Old School Mate Party for Christine at Laura Thompson's
Alice B. Bailey, Mabel Longmore, Sena Iverson, Emma Jensen, Christine Maegaard, Kathrine S. Pophal
Minnie Ozanne, Fannie Baker, Anna Jensen, Kittie Haigh
Somers, Wisconsin

(Source:  ©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of Lynn Thompson Powell)

 

 

Bailey, Alexander Price

Alexander Price Bailey
"Alexander Price Bailey was born in Auburn, Cayuga, New York on March 25, 1846 to Norman and Lavina (Remington) Bailey.  He came to Somers Township in Kenosha County with his parents in 1848.  At the age of 23, he began to farm on his own, and continued to farm until 1905.  He married Isabella Lee, daughter of Richard and Ellen Lee, in 1868 in Kenosha County.  They had two children.  In 1905, they moved to the Village of Somers, where they lived for the rest of their lives.  Alexander Price Bailey died September 1, 1923 and his wife, Isabella Lee Bailey, died February 26, 1928.  They are buried at Sylvania Cemetery.
Children of Alexander Price Bailey and Isabella Lee Bailey:
William Norman Bailey.  Married Alice Bush, daughter of William Bush.  They lived on the father's farm.
LeRoy Frank Bailey.  Married Etta Bush, daughter of William Bush.  They had one child:  Orilla Alice May."
(Source:  1991 Mary Ann Culshaw Falk and the Sylvania Cemetery Board of Trustees)

More About Alexander Price Bailey
"Alexander Price Bailey is a retired farmer living in the Village of Somers and the rest which he is now enjoying has been well earned.  He has reached the seventieth milestone on life's journal, his birth having occurred in Auburn, New York, on the 25th of March, 1846, his parents being Norman and Lavina (Remington) Bailey.  In the year 1841 the father became a resident of Kenosha County and in 1848 brought his family to this locality.  The work of development and improvement had scarcely been begun at the time of his first arrival here.  Much of the land was still in possession of the government and was covered with the native prairie grasses or the original forest growth.  He purchased eighty acres of land at the usual government price of a dollar and a quarter per acre and afterward added to his farm by the additional purchase of forty acres.  His was a well spent life characterized by integrity, by energy and laudable purpose.  In politics he was a Republican and filled the office of district clerk.  His religious faith was that of the Methodist Church.  In his family were four children:  Alexander price, Jay Le Roy, Sophronia, and Frank Ney.
The first named attended the public schools until he reached the age of twenty years, after which he continued to work upon the home farm to the age of twenty-three.  He then began farming on his own account upon a tract of  rented land of one hundred and seventy-five acres, upon which he lived for two years.  He afterward rented other land and made his home thereon for two years.  He afterward purchased seventy-three and one-half acres and subsequently thirty-two and five-tenths acres and still later further investment made him the owner of another tract of one hundred and seventy-five acres.  He thus became one of the extensive landowners of the community and was actively and successfully engaged in general farming until 1905, when the success that had attended his efforts enabled him to put aside further business cares.   He then purchased a place in the Village of Somers and has lived there continuously since, having an attractive and comfortable home in which he has not only the necessities but many of the luxuries of life.
In 1868 Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Lee, a daughter of Richard Lee, a native of England, who came to the United States in early life.  To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have been born two children.  William Norman married Alice,  daughter of William Bush, and is living on his father's farm.  Le Roy Frank married Etta Bush, daughter of William Bush, and they have one child, Orilla Alice May.
In his political views Mr. Bailey is a Republican but at local elections, where no issue is involved, does not feel himself bound by party ties and casts his ballot for the candidate whom he regards as best qualified for office.  For several years he filled the position of Justice of the Peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial.  He has been a member of the School Board and served as its clerk for twelve years.  His religious faith is that of the Methodist church and he ever endeavors to follow the Golden Rule.  In his business affairs he was strictly reliable as well as enterprising and his success is the merited reward of energy and integrity.
(Source:  City and County of Kenosha, Vol. II, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1916)

Jay LeRoy Bailey
Jay LeRoy Bailey, a representative farmer of Somers Township, whose success is largely attributable to his earnest effort and indefatigable industry, was born in Paris Township, Kenosha County, December 4, 1854, his parents being Norman and Lavina (Remington) Bailey.
He obtained a common school education, dividing his time during his youth between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields.  His father died when his son Jay was twenty years of age, and the young man then assumed the management of the home place, which he operated for a year for his mother.  He then rented the land and began farming on his own account.  In addition to the cultivation of the old homestead he cultivated forty acres which he purchased and was busily engaged in the further development and improvement of that property until 1904.  At the present time he owns two hundred acres of rich and arable land, one hundred and twenty acres being on Section 18, Somers Township, and eighty acres of the old homestead in Parish Township, and he rents one hundred acres of this to L.J. Prang, who has resided thereon for eight years.
The old Bailey homestead was purchased from the government at the usual price of one dollar and a quarter per acre and has since been in possession of the family.  Upon the place are fine buildings, including a modern residence, substantial barns and good sheds, furnishing ample shelter for grain and stock.  he secures the latest improved machinery to advance the work of the fields, practices the rotation of crops and does everything necessary to make his farm profitable.  He built a new barn thirty-four by seventy-four feet.  In addition to raising the crops best adapted to the soil and climate he conducts a dairy business and for the past thirty years.
(Source: City and County of Kenosha, Vol. II, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1916)


Fire Imperils Farm Building
Somers Volunteer Firemen Extinguish Blaze On Bailey Farm
The Somers Volunteer fire department was called out at 6:00 o'clock last night when a fire originating in defective wiring threatened the large dairy barn on the Norman Bailey farm, located on Highway 41, two and one-half miles from the village of Somers.
The blaze started in a two story building used by Bailey as a hog pen.  When the firemen arrived at the scene of the blaze, flames had spread to a large quantity of straw stored in the upper section of the frame building and threatened to destroy the large dairy barn to which the hog pen was attached.
Workers at the farm has closed off all ventilation in the hog pen immediately after the fire was discovered preventing rapid spread of the flames and thus permitting the firemen to gain control of the blaze almost immediately after their arrival at The Bailey Farm.
The loss which might have mounted to several thousand dollars, was confined to a comparatively small sum.  A large number of chickens were lost in the fire and an undetermined amount of straw was destroyed.  None of the hogs were lost in the fire and the building although badly scorched can be repaired."
(Source:  Racine Journal, Feb. 14, 1935)

Baker

Myron A. Baker
Myron A Baker, the pioneer attorney, who is yet a successful and prominent practitioner of Kenosha, was born in Cuyahoga County, New York, October 26, 1839, and is the son of Elisha and Adeline R. (Bailey).  Bakers, natives of New York, were married there and reared a family of four children, all of whom are yet living, as follows:
Laura B., now the wife of A.T. Gould of Somers Township
Myron A. (this biography)
Frances A., wife if F.B. Dunning of Madison, Wisconsin
Warren E. a carpenter, living in Somers Township.

Elisha Baker was a cashier of a bank in Syracuse, New York for many years.  After coming to Wisconsin he engaged in farming.  Both Elisha and his wife's remains rest in the cemetery at Sylvania, Racine County where a monument has been erected to their memory.  Mr. Elisha Baker was a stanch Republican and took a very active part in local politics.  He held the office Township Clerk for several years and at the time of the uprising of New York against Canada was Colonel of the regiment called the Silver Grays.  He was a personal friend and schoolmate of Millard Filmore, also of William H. Seward, Secretary of State under President Lincoln.  A man of sterling worth and integrity he had a host of warm friends and his death was mourned by many.
We now take up the history of Myron A. Baker who is well and favorable known throughout this county.  he acquired his education in the district schools until sixteen years of age, when he entered the Kenosha schools, and finished the common branches of learning.  Having spent some time at the State University of Madison, he returned home and further continued his studies in the law office of E.W. Evans and later of J.J. Pettit, being admitted to the bar in May, 1862.
Some time previous he had completed his studies but his enlistment for service in the late war interfered with his admission to the bar.  He was one of the first volunteers in Wisconsin, becoming a member of company G, First Wisconsin Infantry, in April, 1861.  On a certain Sunday in that month on returning from church, he found a notice tacked on office stairs which told him that war had begun.  Hastily eating his dinner, he in company with Levi Howland started out in the county to find men to form a company and by Monday night, had secured forty recruits.
An incident or two connected with Mr. Baker's first experience as a soldier are especially interesting and go to show the metal of the man.  Before going to Milwaukee to be sworn into service he was told that he would not be accepted on account of a sightless eye.  Not wishing to be rejected from the service, he went to Chicago , had an oculist put in an eye and then repaired to Milwaukee where he was examined by a regular army examining officer who prided himself upon his skill in detecting blemishes.  Mr. Baker was examed, pronounced sound and sworn into service.  The facts in the case soon reached the examiner's ear, and he recalled Mr. Baker to ascertain if it could be possible.  On finding that it was even true, he replied that he could not reject him then and if he could he would not.  He realized that a man with such grit would make a better soldier than one with perfect vision lacking courage.
After being mustered into service the regiment remained at Milwaukee for four weeks, drilling and preparing for the field.  One evening several of the regimental officers drove out to try the boys on guard duty.  Of course the order to the guards was to let no one pass without giving the countersign.  After driving past several guards they came to Mr. Baker's beat and on his demanding the countersign they feigned to be indignant that a private should make a demand of this officer.  He was threatened with arrest and finally the Lieutenant Colonel alighted from the carriage and started to pass the line anyhow whereupon Mr. Baker promptly prodded him with his bayonet.  The countersign was then given and away the officers rode leaving threats behind them.  Mr. Baker began to have some misgivings as to whether he had done right, but somehow he felt that "no one" meant them.  The next morning two men were sent to arrest him and take him to headquarters.  What was his surprise to find that a banquet and complimentary speeches were in reserve for him instead of punishment.
Mr. Baker served for three months as a private and received a gunshot wound in the first battle in which he was engaged, and then returned to his home, remaining until 1864, when he went to Memphis, Tenn., the location of the Thirty-Third Wisconsin Infantry, to visit his brother Warren E. who served for three years as one of the boys in the blue.
Continuing there until after the fall of Vicksburg, Mr. Baker returned to Kenosha on the 6th of July, 1864 and resumed practice as a lawyer.  In 1866 he formed a partnership with Judge Webster, which connection continued until the election of Mr. Baker as District Attorney in 1870.  He served his full term, was re-elected and served for the two succeeding years.  After an interval of two years he was again elected District Attorney, which position he has held altogether for twelve years.  At the same time he continued the practice of law and in 1873 resumed partnership with Judge Webster, their business relations continuing until the death of the latter.
On July 1, 1868, Mr. Baker married Rachel F. Burgess, who was born in Salem Township, Kenosha County, on May 30, 1843, and is a daughter of Daniel C. and Sylvia (Maynard) Burgess.  Her parents were of English extraction and were natives of the Empire State. Emigrating westward in 1837, they became pioneer settlers of Kenosha County, where Mr. Burgess followed farming.  He died in 1876 and his wife in 1889.  He and his wife were prominent and highly respected people.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Baker have been born seven children:  Myron B. who is now a student in Harvard College, preparing for general literary work; Norman L. graduated from the Kenosha High School and is now studying law with this father; Robert V. was also graduated from the High School of Kenosha; Almeda L., Addie B., and Portia Eudora complete the family.
Socially Mr. Baker is a Knight Templar Mason, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Knights of Pythias.

More About Elisha Baker
Elisha Baker was born about 1811 in the State of New York.  He married Adeline R. Bailey who was born in New York about 1814.  Adeline R. Bailey was the sister of Norman Bailey.  Their daughter Laura and son Myron (2nd Myron) were born in Owasco, Cayuga County, New York.  Elisha was a cashier in a bank in Syracuse, New York for many years.  He was a captain in the New York state militia.  He came to Wisconsin in 1838 and became a farmer in Paris Township and owned an additional 40 acres in Somers Township, Section 7 West.
Two children were born in Wisconsin:  Frances A. (Abigail) and Warren E.
Elisha died on May 6, 1857.  His wife died June, 1889.  Both are buried in Sylvania Cemetery.  There is no stone with her name on it anymore.  It is not known who Deborah Baker was, this stone is almost illegible, and it could be Elisha's mother, because she came West with the Baker family.
Elisha's father was a Revolutionary War solider and died in New York.  His mother Lois came West and died in Kenosha County.  Adaline's father also served in the Revolutionary War.  Mr. Bailey married Abigail Price who came to Wisconsin and died in Kenosha County.  Abigail (Price) Bailey, mother of Adaline, could also be buried here.  She lived with her daughter on the farm in Parish Township.  She died on April 13, 1866 at the age of 65.

1861 Partial map of Somers Township, Kenosha County
See Section 7 - lower left - 40 acres of Baker.
Click on map to view larger.