Civil War List of Somers

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1955 Berryville School 100 Year Anniversary

A new addition, shown at left, has been added to Berryville School.  Open house is being held in conjunction with the school's celebration of its 100 anniversary.
(Source:  Photo and Text below Kenosha News November 8, 1955)

"It was a big day, 100 years ago, when a log cabin in the berry path, was completed.  That cabin was Berryville community's first schoolhouse, located in the small community named by Minnie Paine because of the large variety of berries growing in the area.  On Thursday the school will observe its 100th year of service.

The same year the original school was built the last rail of the revolutionary Lake Shore Railway, going right through Berryville, was completed.  The railroad station, where farmers took their berries for shipment to Milwaukee or Chicago, was only a short distance north of the Berryville Road.

The neighborhood looked quite different from today, with 40 acres of additional land extending out into Lake Michigan.  The land since has been worn away by erosion.

Other dramatic changes in the Berryville community also have taken place.

The church (Berryville Methodist Episcopal "ME" Church) on Highway 32 and County Line Road near the old school house, has been made into a three-family apartment house.  The old log cabin, attended by the early settler families of Mrs. Minnie Paine, David Doolittle, Charles and William Smith and John Graig, since has been turned into a grainery on the John Hansche farm.

Among other families, shown on the early rosters, are E.G.  Witing, Hugh Longwell, Benjamin and Alice Field, William Braid, Allen Bradley, John Hansche, A.J. Piper, William Curtis, Herman Krueger, William Dearsley, John Gehring, Charles Paine, Bill Wensing, Herzil Dorey, Charles Barrows, William Bose, Ernst and Rudolph Hansche, Frank Swingle and Mrs. Minnie Ozanne.

After the first log cabin became obsolete for the thriving Berryville community, a second school house was constructed in 1872 on the same site.  The second building later was used as an onion storage center, but was torn down about six years ago.

Berryville's third, and present, school building was constructed on Berryville Road and Highway 32.  As the population increased, additions were made.  The newest addition is the second to be added to the original structure, and school officials report that a third addition already is being discussed.

Berryvile School, which was considered among the most progressive in the county made its gradual mark on the community."



Piper

Thomas Piper Homestead
Somers Township
Location:  Southeast corner of Lathrop Avenue and Racine/Kenosha County Line Road
(Source:  Original Photo Courtesy of Annette Piper Hartung.  Copyright March 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

William Piper and Eliza Hansche Piper

Wedding Portrait

(Source: Original photo courtesy of Carol Pattison, great-granddaughter of William Piper)

 

Augustus Piper
(Source: Original photo courtesy of Carol Pattison, great-granddaughter of William Piper)

J.I. Case tractor from William Piper's farm
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Carol Pattison, great-granddaughter of William Piper)

William Piper's first car.  1908 Pierce made in Racine, Wisconsin
(Source: Original photo courtesy of Carol Pattison, great-granddaughter of William Piper)



William Piper dynamiting trees to clear more farm land at the Piper Bros. farms.
(Source: Original photo courtesy of Carol Pattison, great-granddaughter of William Piper)

Piper Threshing
(note cabbage field)
(Source: Photo courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer. Copyright February 2012. All Rights Reserved.)
 

Piper potato harvest
(Source: Photo courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer. Copyright February 2012. All Rights Reserved.)
 

Piper sugar beet harvest
(Source: Photo courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer. Copyright February 2012. All Rights Reserved.)
 

Piper planting
(Source: Photo courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer. Copyright February 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

Piper farm field looking west.  Home on left is Thomas Piper home.
(Source: Photo courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer. Copyright February 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

Thomas Piper farm, planter and horses
(Source: Photo courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer. Copyright February 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

Piper oat hay mound.  Notice man standing next to mound.
(Source: Photo courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer. Copyright February 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

Sylvester Piper
(Source: Photo courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer. Copyright February 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

Sylvester Piper, son of Thomas Piper, at age 22
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Annette Piper Hartung.  Copyright March 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Country Club Road/Lathrop Avenue near the Kramer farm looking north toward Racine Kenosha County Line Road
(Source: Photo courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer. Copyright February 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

Thomas Piper
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Annette Piper Hartung.  Copyright March 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Piper
(Source:  Photo courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer.  Copyright February 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Wedding Invitation
of Thomas Piper and Emma DeGaris
(Source:  Original invitation courtesy of Annette Piper Hartung.  Copyright March 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Thomas Piper homestead
Corner of Racine Kenosha County Line Road and Country Club Road/Lathrop Avenue
(Source: Photo courtesy of Warren and Lyla Kramer. Copyright February 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

Piper:  In the News
"The Berryville Aid Society will give a picnic at Piper's Park on Saturday, August 26.  Supper and other refreshments will be served at the the grove.  Everybody is invited to come and have a good time.  Games and other amusements will be in progress.  The Rawson Band will furnish the music."
(Source:  Racine Journal August 24, 1899)

"Miss Ruth Piper of Milwaukee Downer and Harold Piper of Lawrence College are spending their holiday vacation with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Piper on Lake Shore Drive."
(Source:  Racine Journal December 23, 1916)

"Mrs. Thomas Piper of Berryville left this morning for Canada where she will visit her sister."
(Source:  Racine Journal News October 5, 1912)

"For Sale-41 acre farm known as the Jackson farm.  Thomas Piper, Berryville, Tel. black 22."
(Source:  Racine Weekly April 22, 1904)

"ENORMOUS ONION YIELD. Thomas Piper Gathered 1800 Bushels From One and Three-Quarters Acres.  Market prices for cabbage took another jump today, $4 and $4.50 being quoted.  The crop is larger than ever before is admitted.  The total amount will run about 1,500 rail cars, 12-1/2 tons to the car.  The onion crop in Racine and Kenosha counties is also very large this year.  Thomas Piper, living a few miles south of the city, has the distinction of having broken the record.  Off from one and three-quarters acres of land he raised 1,800 bushels, and they were bought and stored by the Hansche Bros.  It is estimated that in the two counties 90 car loads of onions have been grown this year.  The prevailing price is 50 cents a bushel."
(Source:  Racine Journal October 28, 1904)

"An attempt was made to steal the horse and buggy of August Piper of Berryville some time during last night.  The thief broke into the barn, harnessed the horse, hitched it to a buggy, and drove it away.  The animal being rather high spirited drove into a ditch, threw the thief out, and dragged him a short distance and then ran into the premises of John Hansche where it was found this morning with the buggy badly wrecked.  Nothing could be found of the thief."
(Racine Daily October 15, 1900)

"For Sale or Rent - Farm 70 acres 3 miles south of city limits, and one mile from Berryville, Address F.K. Piper."
(Source:  Racine Journal January 25, 1900)

"The season of picnics has arrived.  Racine and Kenosha people have been enjoying themselves in Mr. Piper's and Mr. Krueger's groves during the last two weeks.  There was a large picnic held in Mr. Krueger's grove one day last week.  Everybody seemed to have a good time."
(Source:  Racine Daily July 25, 1899)

"Mr. Gus J. Piper is having his house remodeled, making it the most handsome house on the road."
(Source:  Racine Journal May 18, 1899)

"Mrs. Gus J. Piper and children have gone to Chicago for two or three weeks."
(Source:  Racine Journal June 21, 1899)

"Piper Bros. who reside near Berryville, are the inventors of the new onion cultivator.  Three hundred acres of land is devoted to the growing of onions this season in what is known as the Chicory and Berryville district.  It is by far the largest acreage ever known for that industry in the history of the county.  Farmers are devoting their time to onions rather than cabbage.  Besides, they are growing many acres of sugar beets.

To harvest and grow onions at the very lowest figures is one of the problems of farmers.  The cultivating has been done by hand and was slow and not satisfactory for the reason that the strength of a man would not permit digging deep in the earth.    They have made a machine that will do the work of 15 men.  The idea was suggested from the best cultivator.  By adding and improving the elements of several farm machines they have the cultivator operated by gasoline and it is a wonder.  This machine will cultivate six rows at a time and turns up the earth to such an extent that it retains moisture for weeks.

Usually one man can cultivate an acre per day.  This machine cultivates 15 acres.  The cost of operation is less than 75 cents a day for gasoline and oil, and one man can operate it.  Thus the services of fourteen men are done away with.  These men are usually paid $2 per day and so the saving in labor alone is around $25 a day.

It is estimated that an acre of onions will yield from 400 to 500 bushels, and the price fluctuates from 30 to 50 cents a bushel.  Most of the onions grown are shipped to the west and the south."

(Source:  Racine Journal July 10, 1915)
 

"Grave fears are expressed among the farmers of Kenosha county, that an epidemic of tuberculosis is prevalent among the cattle of the county, and especially in this true with the farmers residing in the town of Somers.   The State Veterinarian was called to Somers to make an examination of a herd of cattle on the farm of Frank Piper of Berryville.  The examination proved that more than twenty of the herd were suffering from malignant tuberculosis and they were ordered killed at once.  The cattle were appraised this  morning and slaughtered this afternoon.  The action of the state officer has caused great excitement among the stock raisers in the vicinity and every effort is being made to prevent any spread of the disease.  Notwithstanding the care taken, it is reported that several other herds in the neighborhood have been affected and more cattle will be killed."

(Source:  Racine Journal March 9, 1899)
 

"Excitement of seeing a deputy sheriff’s squad car crash into two trees brought on a fatal heart attack for Sylvester Piper, 70, near his farm home on Lathrop Rd. and KR. The sheriff was chasing an arterial stop sign violator when the accident occurred. The sheriff suffered two broken ribs and bruises.
Piper ran down the driveway toward the scene of the crash when he collapsed. Another patrol car at the scene called for the coroner who pronounced Piper dead. The driver of the car being chased paid a $10 fine for failing to stop for the sign.
Piper was born Mary 25, 1884 on the family homestead, the son of pioneer farmers, the late Emma DeGaris and Thomas Piper. Piper attended the Berryville School and studied also in Racine. At the time of his death he still was active in the management of his extensive farms which are located both in Mt. Pleasant and Somers. He recently traveled in Europe. In addition to farming, Piper was interested in music. He studied under the late Annie Peat Fink and for 37 years was organist and choir director at the First Baptist Church in Racine. He began his music career when 11 as an organist at the M.E. Berryville Church. Piper took an active interest in community affairs and had served on the Taylor Children’s Home Board and the Beebe School District Board. Surviving are his wife, Edna Wadmond Piper, one son, Guilbert, and a brother, Russell."

(Source:  Racine Journal February 24, 1955)
 

" Thomas and A.J. Piper Meeting With Excellent Results in Southern Climate.  Own Farm of 823 Acres on Rio Grande.  Believe There is Fortune for Those on the Group Floor - Able to Save Considerable on Shipping Bills.

Two of Racine County's most successful cabbage growers, Thomas and A.J. Piper, who live south of the city of Racine on the Lake Shore road are on their big farm near Brownsville, Texas for the winter, raising cabbage for southern consumption and have thus far been very successful in the industry which they took up primarily as an experiment.

The Piper Bros. own a farm of 823 acres in the Lone Star state and went down there immediately after the close of the farming season here.  Their plantation is located near Brownsville, Texas, which is in the extreme southern point of the state, not far from the Gulf of Mexico, and just across the Rio Grande Del Norte from Matamoras, Mexico.  Until the Piper Bros. went into the state there was only a comparatively small amount of cabbage raised there and none whatever south of Corpus Christi.  A large percentage of the cabbage used in that part of the country had to be shipped in from the north and the demand exceeded the supply.  Consequently prices were high and cabbage was a luxury.

Realizing that cabbage could be grown there, there was a fortune in sight for the men who got in on the ground floor.  Thomas and A.J. Piper quietly made an investigation and saw no reason why cabbage could not be profitably grown there.  They then purchased an 823 acre plantation and as soon as they had harvested their crop in Racine went down there and set to work early in September.  Their success thus far has exceeded all expectations.  Besides cabbage they raise onions and other vegetables largely used in southern Texas and Mexico.

By growing the cabbage down there the Piper Bros. are enabled to sell their products at a much lower figure than the northern growers, who ship their produce into the country and yet realize a handsome profit.  They made a great saving on shipping bills.  Transportation facilities are good and considerable shipping is done via the waterways.

That there is big money in cabbage growing cannot be disputed.  Many farmers in Racine County have grown rich from this industry alone and the Piper Bros. are among them.  The past year has been an excellent one for the cabbage industry and growers have already made considerable money off the crop.  Much of the cabbage raised during the season, however, is being held for higher prices and the big cold storage houses that dot the country around Racine are well filled.  More acreage is being devoted to cabbage raising by Racine County farmers every year and this is admitted to be one of the greatest cabbage growing districts in the world.

The difference in the climatic conditions in Wisconsin and Texas enables the Piper Bros. to raise two crops during the year and make two profits.  They raise one crop here and when the season is over they go to Texas where the season is just beginning and raise another.

(Source:  Racine Journal December 13, 1905)
 

"A SAD ACCIDENT.  A sad and heart wrenching accident happened about 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon on the farm of Mr. William Piper, located four and one half miles south of the city, in the township of Mt. Pleasant, resulting in the death of Wesley A., a four year old son. The little fellow, with his half sister, Ada, had attended a picnic of the Beebe School scholars during the afternoon, and enjoyed a happy time with their schoolmates.
They arrived home and were greeted by the mother. A short time after, John Knutsen Due, a hired man, who was on his way to the barn to milk the cows, noticed little Wesley fooling with an old corn shelling machine, standing on the east side of the corn shed. He warned the little boy to be careful and not to hurt his fingers and that he had better keep away from the machine and he then passed on to the barn and milked a cow and carried the pail to the house.
He strained the milk and Mrs. Piper started to dump the skimming's in a barrel located a few feet from where the corn sheller stood. She was horrified to see her little boy under the corn sheller, which had evidently fallen on top of him. In an instant she had removed the machine, which weighed nearly seventy-five pounds, and picked the boy up in her arms, believing that he was badly hurt or dead. The screams of the poor mother were heard by Mr. Piper and his men who were down in the fields at work and without delay Mr. Piper started on a run for the house, knowing that something terrible had happened.
In the meantime, Mrs. Piper almost crazed with grief, was carrying the lifeless body of her little son about the lawn and finally went to the house and laid him on the floor and sprinkled water on his face hoping that perhaps he was only stunned, but life had left the little body, and when the father arrived there was nothing for him to do but lift the body of his body to the bed.(More to story.  Stop here)

(Source:  Racine Weekly June 23, 1898)

Wesley Piper
(Source: Original photo courtesy of Carol Pattison, great-granddaughter of William Piper)

"A beautiful lawn wedding was solemnized at the country home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Piper, of this city, at 4:30 o'clock on Thursday afternoon, when Miss Bessie A. Piper, daughter of Mrs. Kate L. Piper of Madison, was united in marriage with Gustav A. Sell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman A. Sell, of New Ulm, Minn.  The Rev. E.W. Blakeman of Madison, performed the ceremony and the bride was given away by her uncle, Thomas Piper.
The gown of the bride was of white georgette crepe and she carried a shower bouquet of asters and ferns.  The maid of honor, Miss Rena K. Piper, a sister of the bride, wore a yellow crepe de chine gown and carried a bouquet of marigolds and ferns.  The groom was attended by M.S. Nichols, of Madison, and the bridesmaids were Miss Florence N. Farmer, of Madison, and Miss Meta Sell, sister of the groom.  The bridesmaids were attended by Gilbert Barr and Russell Piper, both of Racine.  The rest of the bridal party included the ring bearers, the Misses Julia and Naomi Sorenson, and the ribbon bearers, the Misses Frances Post, Helen Crosby and Bernice Crobsy, of Madison; Alice Foxwell, Lucille Hansche, and Ilga Piper, of Racine; Elizabeth Gault of Portgage, and Mrs. W.G. Hyde, of Milwaukee.  To carry out the color scheme of green and yellow, the bridal bower was a bank of asparagus ferns and golden glow.
Mrs. W.G. Hyde and Lowell Wadmond sang, accompanied by Sylvester Piper, and the wedding march was played by Mrs. Sylvester Piper, of Racine.
The guests were Mr. and Mrs. C. George Wadmond, Mr. and Mrs. Williamm Piper, and daugher, Esther and sons, Wallace, and Howard; Mrs. A. Williamson, Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Piper and daughters, Ruth and Marjorie, and son, Harold; Mr. and Mrs. Chris Sorenson, father and mother of the little ring bearers; Kenneth Sorenson, Mrs. Thomas Piper, Miss Louise Boardman, Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Hansche and Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Hansche, all of Racine; Archer Fulton, of Baltimore, Maryland; Morgan Williams, of Omro, Wisconsin; Miss Kate Post and Samuel Post of Madison, and Mrs. Herman Sell, of New Ulm, Minn.
The bride and groom are both graduates of the University of Wisconsin, and the groom is a member of the Acacia social fraternity.  He is county agent of Winnebago County, this state, having received his appointment under the Hoover food commission.  The bride is well known here and in Madison.  After a short camping trip, Mr. and Mrs. Sell will be at home to their friends in Oshkosh.
(Source:  Racine Journal August 25, 1917)
"Mrs. Margaret Piper died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A. Williamson, 1116 Washington Avenue, aged 85 years.  She is one of the oldest settlers in Racine.  She was born in Scotland, July 22, 1834, coming to Racine when a small girl.  She has made her home in this county for 75 years.  She is survived by three sons, William, Thomas, and August of the Kenosha Road, and two daughters, Mrs. A. Williamson, and Mrs. W.F. Hansche of this city."
(Source:  Racine Journal December 1, 1919)


"William Piper, aged 68, one of the best known farmers in Racine County, died yesterday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Chris Sorenson, at Tomah, Wisconsin here he was on a Christmas visit.
Mr. Piper left his home two weeks ago today for Tomah, a week ago he was stricken down with typhoid pneumonia, and although everything possible was done for him, death ended his suffering.
Mr. Piper was born in the Township of Somers.  His boyhood days were spent on the farm and he acquired his education in the rural schools.  By hard work and after enduring the hardships of early days, he cultivated and became the owner of a fine farm.
In the community where he resided so long he was prominent and highly honored by everybody who knew him.  His death will be learned with sorrow by his many friends.
Mr. Piper is survived by his widow, two daughters, Mrs. Adolph Sorenson of Tomah, Wis.; Mrs. Phil Hilker, Racine; two sons, Wallace and Howard, Racine; two brothers and two sisters, August and Herman Piper, Mt. Pleasant and Mrs. August Williamson and Mrs. William Hansche, Mt. Pleasant.
The body will be brought to his late home and the time of the funeral will be announced later."
(Source:  Racine Journal December 27, 1921)


Racine Woman Visits Land of Midnight Sun
Mrs. S. Piper, Route 3, travels within 500 miles of N. Pole.
While Racine experienced some of its warmest summer days, Mrs. Sylvester Piper of Route 3 Lathrop Road, and her mother, Mrs. Celia Wadmond of New York City, were crusing in the land of the Midnight Sun, moving through lanes of ice packs in the northern seas in craft skillfully manipulated by expert Norwegian sailors, and eating quaint and appetizing fish dinners in the shadows of snowcovered mountains.
They were within 500 miles of the North pole and saw the spot from which Byrd Antarctic Expedition set out on his expedition.  they also visited the Amundsen hangar where the explorer launched the expedition the fate of which was never known.
Norway, Sweden and Denmark are prolific with tourists this year since many visitors do not care to visit countries over which war shadows hover.  Thus many Americans are getting their first real knowledge of the beauties of the Northland and are enjoying really "different" vacations.
The party vissited in Julling, Denmark, where the oldest church is located and where the first royal families were buried.  While there they encountered a funeral procession with the corpse on what resembled an open truck and the mourners and friends following in pairs, picking petals off flowers and scattering them along the way.
They visited Rebild National park where the memorial log cabin is built of logs sent from various parts of the United States.  There they saw the unusual display of horseshoes made by Christ Christensen of Racine and sent as a gift to Denmark.
They were four days in the Land of the Midnight Sun and fortunately, Mrs. Piper said, there was no fog.  One man had made 11 trips to see the midnight sun and had always experienced fog.  He was on his 12th and only successful trip at the time.  The trip from North Cape to Spitsbergen was one of the most fascinating features of the entire trip, Mrs. Piper said.  This is a coaling, whaling and fishing country but there is no vagetation and while men are employed under contract to work at these places, and are paid high wayges, they usually will not remain over a year.
At a stop at a little Russian colony, a Russian baker presented a cake to the Americans.  This was in appearance exactly like a book, with a flap turned back and bore an inscription greeting.
Mrs. Piper and her mother visited all the preserved old Norsk Folkmuseums where costumed characters are on hand to lend color.
Mrs. Wadmond visited in her old home and birthplace in Vejle.
(Source:  Racine Journal Times, publication date September 15, 1935)

Guilbert Piper Obituary

Died age 59, Somers, at St. Luke's Hospital in Milwaukee after heart surgery.

Mr. Piper was born February 15, 1918 in Kenosha County, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Piper.  He was a lifelong resident of the area.  He received his elementary education in county schools and later graduated from Beloit College.  He married Rosemarie Wolberg Mussat in 1946 in Evanston, Illinois.

Mr. Piper was a member of the First Baptist Church, Racine among other associations.  He was an active lecturer on firearms and travelogues and was on of the founders of the Racine Historical Museum.  Obituary published March 14, 1977.

Hansche, William F.

(Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Racine and Kenosha Counties. Lake City Publishing Co. Chicago. 1892

William F. Hansche

William F. Hansche, who is successfully engaged in farming in Somers Township, Kenosha County, Wisconsin was born in Racine County on the 23^rd of March, 1861, a son of William C. and Mary (Heck) Hansche, natives of Germany.  The father’s birth occurred in June, 1827, and after completing the public school course he learned the wagon maker’s trade in the fatherland.  In 1840 he accompanied his parents, William and Sophia Hansche. On their emigration to America the family took passage on a sailing vessel which was completely wrecked off the island of Haiti and all of the passengers were compelled to stay in San Domingo for twenty-one weeks.  In the fall the family succeeded in reaching New York and thence went to Cleveland, Ohio, where they spent five years.  While living there they met Huron Beebe, who had a farm near Racine, Wisconsin, and who induced them to settle in Racine County.  William Hansche successfully engaged in farming there until his demise, which occurred in 1873, when he was sixty-eight years old.  He was survived until 1874 by his wife.  They were the parents of three sons and one daughter.  William C. Hansche, the father of our subject, became the owner of land in Racine County and gained recognition as one of the most practical and efficient agriculturists of his locality.  His political allegiance was given to the Republican party.  He was well known and his demise, which occurred in 1893, was deeply regretted.  In 1860 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Heck, a daughter of Philip Heck, and five children were born to them, namely; William F;  Fred;  Louis,  Katie, who married Ernest Scheckler; and Sophia, the wife of Augustus J. Piper.

William F. Hansche received a good education, attending school until was eighteen years of age, when he turned his entire attention to assisting his father with the farm work, being so engaged for eight years.  When twenty-six years old he purchased sixty-five acres of land on Section 5, Somers Township, and has since increased his holdings until his farm now comprises one hundred acres, all of which is under cultivation.  He has made all of the excellent improvements on the place and has taken great pride in making his farm one of the best developed in his Township.  He uses up-to-date methods in his work and gains a good income from his land.

In May, 1890, Mr. Hansche was united in marriage to Miss Jane Piper, and they have two children;  Harvey, who married Etna Halter, a daughter of Henry Halter, of Mount Pleasant; and Lucille, who is at home.

Mr. Hansche supports the Republican part at national elections but at other times votes independently.  He is a member of the Woodmen camp at Somers, and in religious faith is a Methodist.  He has thoroughly identified his interests with those of his community and can be depended upon to advance the public good in any possible.

(Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Racine and Kenosha Counties.  Lake City Publishing Co.  Chicago.  1892.  Additional Source:  City and County of Kenosha, Wisconsin, A Record of Settlement, Vol. II)

Partial 1908 Map of Somers Township
Section 5, W.F. Hansche parcel

Lucille Hansche (daughter of William F. and Jane B.)

Harvey W. Hansche
Route 3 Box 128
Age 77.  Passed away unexpectedly May 17, 1967 in St. Luke's Hospital.  Mr. Hansche was born in Kenosha Count on Sept 8, 1889 and had been a lifelong resident.  he was a farmer all of his life.  Mr. Hansche attended the Bethany Methodist Church.  Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Virginia Young of Milwaukee and Mrs. Wendell (Betty) Hall of St. Louis, Mo.; two grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Lucille Barr, living on the South Lakeshore Road.  His wife, Esther, preceded him in death on Nov. 28, 1965 and a son was killed in service during World War II.  West Lawn Memorial Park, Racine. 
(Source:  Racine Journal May 18, 1967)




Berryville Hansche Relatives

John Scheckler (born 1836 in Germany and settled  in Mt. Pleasant, Racine County) married Elizabeth Hansche (daughter of Ernest and Kathrina Hansche) in 1859.  John and Elizabeth had seven children:  Ernest, Fred, Elizabeth, John, Minnie, William and George.  George married Grace Dearsley, daughter of William Dearsley of Berryville.

Frederick J. Hansche (born October 1837) arrived about 1865 and married Fredricka Tigges before leaving Germany.  They had 6 children

• George, Polk City, Wisconsin
• Minnie married A.J. Scheckler
• Alfred J. married Jennie Bose, daughter of William F. and Nellie Braid (Breaid) Bose
• Samuel H. married Emma Wensing
• Emma, deceased

Rudoph Hansche (born about 1814 in Germany) arrived in 1841 and married in 1859 Miss Anna Seorgel.  The had 9 children:

• Sophia married Norbert Grabher
• Eliza married William Piper
• George married Lucy Olle
• Fred William married Theresa Grobher
• Katherine married Anton Lund
• William J. married Etta Bradley
• Clara married Carl Scheckler
• Lottie
• Ernest married Marie Jorgensen

Almer William Hansche, son of William J. and Etta Bradley

(Source:  DorisMayesBennett shared originally to MyHartland @ ancestry.com)

Almer Hansche, age 63, passed away March 5 in St. Luke's Hospital in Racine.  Mr. Hansche was born in Racine on Sept 14, 1892.  Surviving are his wife, Grace; two daughters, Miss June Hansche and Mrs. Doris Hansche Rhodes; mother, Mrs. William Hansche, one sister, Mrs. Alice Mortensen, all of Racine.  Mound Cemetery.  Date of death March 5, 1956.
(Source:  Racine Journal, March 6, 1956)

Hansche and Harcus




News article:  Mrs. and Mrs. Samuel F. Harcus, Town of Somers
(Source:  DianesConnection originally shared on ancestry.com)
 

Grace and Sam ran this little gas station / grocery on Sheridan Road. In 2008 the little building is still there, but it is now part of a house that someone is living in, surrounded by many other homes. (Left to Right) Grace, unknown, Sam

(Source:  DianesConnection originally shared on ancestry.com)



Samuel and Grace Harcus with children
left to right:  Leslie Harcus, Mrs. Grace Harcus Hansche, Ellsworth Harcus
(Source:  DianesConnection originally shared on ancestry.com)

Mrs. Harcus and Grace Harcus Hansche, Somers Township, Kenosha County

(Source:  Original photo from the collection Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson who took piano lesson from Grace Hansche in the 1960's.  Grace Hansche and Jackie's grandmother, Vernetta Klapproth, were friends and neighbors.)

Jacob Rudolph Hansche
Jacob Rudolph Hansche was born October 13, 1841.  Immigration date from passport is June 1868. His wife's name was Rika.  NOTE:  The Naturalization application of Jacob Hansche shows two witnesses:  Peter J. Meyers and Fred Hansche.  Jacob and Rika's children: Kate, Fred, August, Edward Henry and Louise.

Edward Henry Hansche married Anna. They had one son, Henry Edward, born about 1913.





Anna Hansche and "Jr." who is Daniel Klapproth, Jr., neighbors of the Hansche's
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright February 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)



Sherwood Klapproth, Daniel Klapproth, Jr. and Henry Hansche taken at the Hansche Farm looking east.
(Source: Original photo courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson. Copyright February 2012. All Rights Reserved. Klapproth family were neighbors of the Ed Hansche family)

Edward and Anna Hansche wedding photo
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright February 2012.  All Rights Reserved.  Klapproth family were neighbors of the Ed Hansche family)

Henry Hansche
Edward and Anna Hansche had one son, Henry Edward, born about 1913.

Partial 1927 Map of Somers Township

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)

Swartz, Frederick August and John Jacob

John F. Swartz homestead
Somers Township
(Source:  Photo courtesy of Robert Swartz.  Copyright January 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

John J. and Emma Swartz
(Source: Photo courtesy of Robert Swartz. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

Frederick August Schwarz
Frederick August Schwarz was born in 1804 in Usingen, Germany.  He was the son of Johann Philipp Schwarz.
Frederick was united in marriage in 1825 to Miss Marie Christianne Enders, who was born in Heringen, Nassau, Germany.  Of this union, six children were born:
Wilhelm (William) born about 1828
Katharine Christiane born about 1830
Christian August born about 1832
Marie Katharine born about 1835
Marie (Wilhelmina) Christiane born about 1835
Johann (John) Jacob, born January 9, 1842

"According to a letter from William Schwartz, written in 1899, the family sailed from Antwerp, Belgium on about March 15, 1849. They arrived in New Orleans, about mid-May.  In the July 7 Missouri Republican, there was printed a report from the German Society which indicated that during March, April, and May, there were 4,520 German emigrants who arrived in America.  Of that number, 3,520 had come via New Orleans.  From New Orleans, the Swartz family traveled up the Mississippi River to St. Louis.  They arrived facing a cholera epidemic where Frederick's wife, Marie Christianne, died.  Marie was buried in St. Louis."
(Source: Photo courtesy of Robert Swartz. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

Immigration Story Told
On July 24, 1924, John Frederick Swartz told his sixteen year old son, Glenn, the story of the Schwarz family journey from Germany.  That evening, Glenn wrote the story down so he would not forget it.
"The following may seem queer to some but it was new to me when I first heard it today while we (Pa and I) were picking cherries, and so I am writing it down, knowing it will be interesting later.
John Swartz, my father's grandfather (it was actually Frederick August) came to America in 1849.  While in Germany, he was rather well-to-do but hearing of wonderful chances in America, he decided to come over.  And so, he packed his belongings and with his family (his wife, William and John Jacob) set out for America.  He took with him a relative and two other men, who agreed to work out their passage bill later.
In those days, ocean travel was very different from now.  It also took much longer and living conditions were disagreeable.  Also each family had to carry its own provisions and had to cook there.  As these provisions had to be of a nature which could be kept for a long time, they cost a great deal.
Grandfather (John Jacob) was then seven years old and his brother William, some older.  The family first went to St. Louis.  Here a cholera plague started and my great-grandmother died, also two of the men whom had come over with them, and the third ran away.  And so my great-grandfather not only lost the amount he had spent to bring them over, but also had to bury them.  He then decided to go to Milwaukee and so he packed his goods on a canal boat and headed for Chicago by way of what is now the Chicago Drainage Canal.  On the way, my grandfather had a touch of the cholera and was nursed by his brother, William.  When they arrived at Chicago, they took a boat to Milwaukee where their baggage was dumped on the pier.  My great-grandfather now had just one dollar left.  A dray man came along, loaded up the luggage and asked where to do.  They told him to go anywhere a dollar would take them.  He drove up what is now Grand Avenue and dumped off the luggage on a side hill by the Milwaukee River.  At the time, Milwaukee was a little burg and any land that did not have a house on was free to anyone.  There was only one other shanty on the hill so the three put up a canvas and settled down.  They soon were able to gather enough drift boards to build a little shanty.  All worked.  William worked at a slaughter house from which he was occasionally able to bring home a beef's head.  Grandfather worked up a piece of ground into a garden.  The next summer someone came wanting to buy land and the garden and shack was sold to him for $50.  With this money and with what they had made during the winter, they came to Southport (Kenosha)."

With the proceeds from the shanty sale, they moved to the City of Kenosha.  Glenn Swartz recalled being told that John Jacob, age seven, and his sister Wilhelmina, age eleven, gathered wild strawberries on the prairie and sold them in Kenosha for $0.25.  On October 15, 1851, Frederick August purchased a lot on Broad Street (now 45th Street).  He owned this land until August 14, 1858, when he sold it to William.  Glenn Swartz (1924) reported that Frederick August then purchased land in Section 12 of Somers Township.  This land was referred to as the "Stanbridge farm" and was located on the corner of what is now Wood Road and Dorey Road.
(Source: Photo courtesy of Robert Swartz. Copyright January 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

1887 partial map of Somers Township
Section 12,  J.J. Schwartz parcel

Partial 1861 Map of Somers Township
Section 12, W. Schwarz parcel

   

1908 Partial Somers Township Map
Section 12, J.J. Schwartz parcel

Civil War:  John Jacob and his brother William
Tullahoma, Tenn. on March 24, 1864.  On April 19, at Fayetteville, Tenn. he transferred from Company I to Company B so he was in the same unit as his brother, William.
His first combat was on May 15, 1864 at Resaca, Georgia.  On May 25, at Dallas, Georgia, the regiment suffered a number of casualties.  In Company B, one was killed and fifteen were wounded, including John Jacob's brother, William.
On April 1, 1865, he was promoted to Corporal.  The Third Wisconsin was on Sherman's "March to the Sea" and marched in the "Grand Review" through Washington, D.C.
They encamped at Camp Slocum through early June, 1865.  On June 11, they left for home.  They took a train and the steamer, "Nevada", to Louisville, Kentucky where they arrived on June 16.  They encamped in a beech tree grove three miles southeast of the city.  On July 18, the regiment mustered out and on July 21 everyone crossed the Ohio River and took trains back to Wisconsin, arriving in Madison on July 24, 1865.  On the Company muster-out roll, it indicates that John Jacob owed the government $84.63 for clothing allotments and that he was owed $120 in bounty payments.
(Source: Story courtesy of Robert Swartz. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

Family Civil War Stories
Some stories from the war have been passed down through the generations.  In some cases, it is not certain whether the incidents happened to John Jacob or his brother, William.  Two incidents were attributed to John Jacob.  One was that he was once hit by a minnie ball in the buckle of a strap, but not injured.  The second incident may be related to the first.  It was said that he was once carrying one end of a stretcher, carrying a wounded man.  A strap broke and as he stumbled forward, a ball went through his kepi.
Another story had to do with the division of food.  When Sherman's army went through South Carolina and North Carolina, they were very hard pressed for food because much of the land was pine forest, rather than the productive farms that they had found in Georgia.  They took to eating horses and devised a lottery system to decide who would get which parts of the horse.  The men were grouped in "mess" units and each mess unit would be able to decide if they wanted to keep the part of the horse that was up for consideration, or pass on it.  One time John's mess unit got the horses head.  They put it in a cauldron to boil.  The horse's head would roll around in the boiler water and sometimes an eye would come to the surface and "wink".  The "winking" was probably a muscular contraction related to going from one temperature to another, but it was remembered as unsettling to see your dinner winking at you.
John Jacob became a member of the Grand Army of the Republic on May 21, 1900.
(Source: Story courtesy of Robert Swartz. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

William and John Jacob Swatz
Civil War uniforms
(Source: Photo courtesy of Robert Swartz. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

John Jacob Swartz
John Jacob Swartz was born January 9, 1842 in Heringen, Nassau, Germany. He is the son of Frederick August Scharz and Marie Christianne Enders Schwarz. John Jacob came to America with his family in 1849.
John Jacob was united in marriage to Emma Becker, daughter of Johann Becker and Marie Fries Becker, on November 6, 1866 at the Immanuel Methodist Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Emma Becker was born February 15, 1846 in Friedewald, Germany.
After working nine years in the construction trade in Kenosha, Jacob purchased a farm in Somers Township and began fruit growing. A ten acre apple orchard was planted in addition to cherries, grapes, currants, gooseberries, and the Swartz farm was one of the first to plant red raspberries in Kenosha County.
(Source: Story courtesy of Robert Swartz. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

John J. Swartz
(Source: Photo courtesy of Robert Swartz. Copyright February 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

Emma Becker Swartz (Mrs. John Jacob)
(Source: Photo courtesy of Robert Swartz. Copyright February 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

John Jacob, Emma, and daughter Emma
(Source: Photo courtesy of Robert Swartz. Copyright February 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

1880 U.S. Federal Census with side notes
John Jacob and Emma were married in 1866 and six children were born of this union:
John, born about 1867 (died Feb. 19, 1961 in Somers.  Married Martha Eva Pedley)
Charles, born about 1869 (died Oct. 9, 1948 in Kenosha. Married Louisa Carrie M. Otto)
Edward, born about 1873 (died Oct. 16, 1939 in Kenosha. Married Bessie Elizabeth Hansche, daughter of John W. and Minnie Hansche of Berryville)
Emma, born about 1874 (married John Abresch of Somers Township)
Arthur, born about 1882 (died Mar. 20, 1974 in Kenosha. Married Amelia "Millie" Bittorf)
Carrie, born about 1884 (died Aug. 13, 1930 in Kenosha.  Married Benjamin Bose, son of Henry and Frederica Bose of Berryville)

The Swartz Family
Ed, Art, Charlie, Emma, John F.
(Source: Photo courtesy of Robert Swartz. Copyright January 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

Carrie Swartz, daughter of John Jacob and Emma Swartz
 Click here to read about Bose family. Carrie married Benjamin Bose, son of Henry and Frederica Bose
(Source:  Original Photo Courtesy of Robert Swartz.  Copyright February 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Carrie Swartz, daughter of John Jacob and Emma Swartz
Click here to view Bose family.  Carrie married Benjamin Bose, son of Henry and Frederica Bose
(Source: Original Photo Courtesy of Robert Swartz. Copyright February 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

Swartz and Hansche Wedding
"The home of Mr. and Mrs. John Hansche of Berryville was most artistically decorated last evening, the occasion being the marriage of their daughter, Miss Bessie Hansche to Mr. Edward Swartz, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Jacob Swartz of the Town of Somers. The bridal party descended the stairs and entered the parlor, taking their places under a wedding bell and canopy composed of evergreen and white roses, while Miss Anna Bose, played the wedding march. Rev. F. Kaneem, using the impressive ring service of the Methodist Episcopal Church, spoke the words which united them in the bonds of matrimony. The bride was very prettily and daintily attired in white. At the conclusion of the ceremony a sumptuous wedding supper was served. The bride is one of Berryville's most popular and charming young ladies and is very efficient in church work. The groom is one of the progressive farmers of Somers who has built a beautiful new home for his bride.
(Source: Racine Journal Times, publication date February 7, 1907)
1870 Agricultural Census for John Jacob Swartz
65 acre farm worth $1,800
Value of implements was $60.
Three horses, two milk cows, five other cattle and one pig.  Total of livestock was $440.
He produced 80 bushel of spring wheat, 150 bushel of corn and 30 bushel of oats.
He produced two pounds of wool and 250 pounds of potatoes.  Total value of market good was $8.
Cows produced 375 pounds of butter.  He grew fourteen tons of hay.
Value of all farm production was $758.

1880 Agricultural Census of Wisconsin
36 tilled acres, 15 pasture acres, 10 woodland acres and 19 unimproved acres.
Farm value $3,250.  Value of implements $200.  Value of livestock $350.
In 1879, he spent $40 to repair fences and paid $40 in wages for four weeks of hired labor.
Estimate value of all farm production was $1,000.
He mowed 15 acres of pasture and produced 20 tons of hay.
He had four horses, three milk cows, and five other cattle.  His cows dropped two calves.
He sold four cattle live and slaughtered one.
His cows produced 400 pounds of butter.
He had two pigs and 30 chickens.

John Jacob Swartz Obituary
John Jacob Swartz, one of the pioneers of the Town of Somers, died at his home near Stetson's Corners at an early hour this morning.  Death resulted from an attack of heart disease.  Mr. Swartz had been in failing health for some time but death came very suddenly.  The deceased was 71 years of age and a native of Germany.  He had resided in this country for many years and had conducted a nursery at the homestead in Somers.  He is survived by his widow, four sons and two daughters.  The children are: John, Edward, and Arthur of Somers; Charles of Kenosha; Mrs. Ben Bose and Mrs. Emma Abresch of Somers.  The funeral will be held from the German Methodist Church on Sunday afternoon, the hour to be announced Saturday.  Burial at Greenridge Cemetery.
(Source:  Kenosha Evening News, September 19, 1913)