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)

Neu

Mathias Neu
Mathias Neu, who owns an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Paris township, still resides upon that place although it is operated by others.  His birth occurred in Sulm, Kreis, Bittburg, Rhine, Province of Prussia, on the 13th of January 1850.  His parents were Valentine and Eva (Lawrence) Neu, the former born in 1819 and the latter in 1827.  The father was a well to do  farmer and passed his entire life in the fatherland, dying in 1863.  He had survived his wife for thirteen years, as she was called by death in 1850.  They were married in 1845 and had two children:  Herbert, who was a successful farmer in Germany and died in 1914; and Mathias.  The religious faith of the family was that of the Roman Catholic Church.
Mathias Neu received a good education in the public schools of Germany and after putting aside his textbooks engaged in farming until 1873, when as a young man of twenty-three years he came to the United States as he wished to avoid compulsory service in the German army.  He first located in Chicago and there worked in a lumberyard for six months, after which he went to Iowa.  Four months later he returned to Chicago but in December 1873 arrived in Kenosha County.  During that winter he worked on a farm for his board and for the following three years he was employed as a farm hand.  In 1877 he bought eighty-two acres of land with his savings and subsequently he purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres.  He operated both places and his well directed labors broght him a good annual return.  He managed his business affairs well and in time accumulated a competence which now enables him to live retired.  When he took up the occupation of farming he owned two hundred and forty-two acres of land but has since disposed of eighty-two acres, still retaining title to the one hudred sixty acre farm, which he rents.
Mr. Neu was united in marriage in Racine in 1876, to Miss Elizabeth Honold, who was born in Paris Township, and they had five children: Hobart, who is employed in the shops in Racine' George, who is farming one hundred and sixty acres of land in Somers Township; Phillip also farming in Somers Township; John, who is farming in Paris Township; and Nicholas, a milk dealer in Racine.  The wife and mother passed away in 1886 and in 1887 Mr. Neu was married to Elizabeth Huck, of Paris Township, by whom he has four children:  August who is farming in somers Township; Josephine the wife of Nicholas Wilcomb, a farmer of Paris Township' Agnes who married Frank Bowers; and Joseph who is employed at farm work in Iowa.
(Source:  City and County of Kenosha, A Record of Settlement by Frank H. Lyman, Vol. II, Chicago, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1916)

1887 Partial Map of Somers Township
Section 18 - Mathias New (Neu)
Note:  Section 7 - 80 acres of J. Huck father of Elizabeth Huck Neu. 
The 1908 Somers map shows Section 7 owned by Mathias Neu.

Haigh

Enoch Haigh
Enoch Haigh, a well known and representative farmer of Somers Township, living on Section 8, represents one of the old and prominent pioneer families of Kenosha County.  He was born in Paris Township, on the 24 of February 1844.  Three years before this his parents, John and Sarah (Lawton) Haigh, natives of England, had taken up their abode in this county after crossing the Atlantic to the new world.  The father purchased forty acres of land, on which he engaged in farming until 1849, and then, attracted by the gold discoveries on the Pacific coast, he made the long and arduous trip across the plains to California, hoping to win a fortune in the mines.  He was lost, however, in the mountains and undoubtedly starved to death.  His widow retained her residence in Kenosha County throughout her remaining days, passing away in 1892.  In their family were four children:  Enoch; Mary Jane; John, deceased; and Elizabeth.
Enoch Haigh spent his youthful days amid pioneer conditions and surroundings.  He was but eight years of age at the time of his father's demise and from early youth he has known earnest toil.  He attended the common schools through the winter seasons to the age of fifteen years and in the summer months worked on the farm, and when his textbooks were put aside he devoted all of his attention to farm work on the old homestead until he attained his majority.  He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Somers Township and has resided thereon continuously since, his home being on Section 8.  At every point in his career he has been actuated by the spirit of laudable ambition that has resulted in steady progress along business lines.  From time to time he has invested his earnings in more land until today he has five hundred and seventy acres, constituting a very valuable and productive farm.
In 1871 Mr. Haigh was married to Miss Charlotte Bowers, and they have become the parents of three children; John; Charlotte, who married Thomas Birchell and has two children; and Sadie, the wife of Harry Dixon.
In his political views Mr. Haigh is a Republican.  He has served as Chairman of the Town Board for eight or ten years and has been a member of the School Board.  His religious belief is that of the Presbyterian Church. 
(Source:  City and County of Kenosha A Record of Settlement by Frank H. Lyman, Vol. II, Chicago, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1916)

Partial 1887 map of Somers Township
Section 8
E. Haigh parcel

Marriage of Haigh and Birchell
"A very pretty home wedding was solemnized Thursday evening, December 29 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Haigh when their eldest daughter, Charlotte Edna was united in marriage to Mr. Thomas Birchell of Yorkville.  Rev. McNary of the Presbyterian Church officiated in the presence of about one hundred invited friends and relatives.  After the usual congratulations and best wishes a bountiful wedding dinner was served.  The display of gifts was both useful and beautiful showing the high esteem in which the young couple is held.  After the wedding trip the happy couple will be at home  on the Birchell farm in Yorkville."
(Source:  Racine Journal publication date January 6, 1905)

Marriage of Haigh and Dixon
One of the prettiest home weddings that ever occurred in Somers was solemnized at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Haigh on Wednesday evening, December 2, 1903, when their youngest daughter, Sadie May, was united in marriage to Harry Raymond Dixon of Wilmington, Delaware, in the presence of over 80 invited guests.
The bridal party, moving to the sweet strains of the wedding march from Lohengren played by Miss Mabelle Laura Cook, entered the tastily decorated parlor and took their position under a beautiful arch and here exhanged the vows which made them one.  Rev. McNary of the Presbyterian Church performed the ceremony.
The bride was most becomingly attired in cream crepe de chine with ribbon trimmings and carried bride's roses.  The little ribbon girls wore white.  After the usual congratulations, the guests repaired to the dining room, where a most sumptuous dinner was served.  They were the recipients of many beautiful and costly presents.  The bride was reared in Somers and the groom is a young man whose prospects are of the brightest.  They will make their home in Joliet, Illinois where the groom has fitted up a beautiful home.
(Source:  Racine Journal publication date December 8, 1903)

Enoch Haigh Obituary:  November 19, 1917
Enoch Haigh for many years chairman of the Somers Town Board and one of the most prominent farmers in the community, died Monday (1917) at his home near Somers at the age of 73 years.  He had been in failing health for over a year and had been confined to his bed for many months.  Enoch Haigh was born near the Town of Paris and was the son of Mrs. Mrs. John Haigh, early pioneers of Kenosha County.  Early in his life he moved to his farm near the Town of Somers, where he has spent the greater part of his life.  He was one of the most prominent men in the history of the Somers community.  In addition to being Chairman of the Town Board for several terms he served as Commissioner and as School Officer of the Township.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by his wife, one son, John Haigh, and two daughters, Mrs. Thomas Birchell and Mrs. R.H. Dixon.  The funeral services will be held Thursday morning from the house near Somers, after which interment will be made at the Sylvania Cemetery.

More About Enoch Haigh
Enoch Haigh was born in Paris Township on February 24, 1844.  His parents, John and Sarah (Lawton) Haigh had come to America in September of 1841.  In 1849, Enoch's father went to California during the Gold Rush.  He never returned.  This left his wife Sarah with four children to raise; Enoch, Mary Jane (married John Henderson-Block 1, Lot 4, SD), John, and Elizabeth.  Sarah married again to James Buckley and he was awarded guardianship of the children.  Enoch worked on the family farm until he became of age.  Then he purchased land in Section 8 of Somers Township where remained for the rest of his life.  He married Charlotte Bowers, daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Lee) Bowers, in 1871 and they had four children.  Enoch died November 19, 1917.  Charlotte died on January 12, 1936.

Children of Enoch Haigh and Charlotte Bowers
John Haigh.  Born September 1, 1874 at Sylvania.  Married Katharine Lytle, daughter of Henry Lytle on April 5, 1900.  They had four children.   Farmed his father's farm.  Died April 12, 1944 and is buried in Sunset Ridge Cemetery in Kenosha.
Charlotte Edna Haigh.  Born March 24, 1882 in Somers Township.  Married Thomas R. Birchell, son of James Birchell on December 29, 1904 at Somers.  They had two children.  Died December 22, 1943 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Somers.
Sadie M. Haigh.  Born July 31, 1883 in Somers Township.  Married to Harry R. Dixon on December 2, 1903.  They had 3 children. Sadie died April 28, 1951 buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Somers.
Jesse Harold Haigh.  Born November 30, 1890.  Died November 10, 1910.  Buried at Sylvania Cemetery,.
(Source:  Mary Ann Culshaw Falk and the Sylvania Cemetery Board of Trustees)

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)