Maxwell, Hon. Walter S.

W.S. Maxwell
(Source:  Portrait and Biographical Album, Racine and Kenosha  Counties, Lake City Publishing Co., 1892, Chicago)

Hon. Walter S. Maxwell, who resides on Section 34, Somers Township, is  not only one of the well-known citizens of Kenosha County, but has also a wide acquaintance throughout the State, his official career having brought him in contact with many of the most prominent men of Wisconsin.  He now devotes his time and attention to agricultural pursuits and to business connected with the operation of a stone quarry in Superior, Wisconsin, owned by the Arcadian Brown Stone Company, of which he is manager and treasurer.  Mr. Maxwell was born in Washington County, New York, September 12, 1836, and his father, Alexander Maxwell, also claimed that county as his birthplace.  He was born January 24, 1809.  In his native county he married Jane Alexander, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, who when a maiden of ten summers came to this country with her father, Robert Alexander, who was one of the early settlers and substantial farmers of Washington County, New York.

On the paternal side, our subject is also of Scotch descent.  His grandfather, Walter Maxwell, was born in Scotland, and on crossing the Atlantic took up his residence in Washington County, New York, which was then an almost unbroken wilderness.  His son Daniel served as a soldier in the War of 1812.  The father, Alexander Maxwell, resided upon the old family homestead after his marriage and purchasing the interest of the other heirs, succeeded to the ownership of that estate.

For long he made it his home and upon it reared his family, but in 1890, he sold out and, laying aside all business cares,  removed to Coila, a little village six miles from the old farm, where he and his estimable wife are now living retired.  They are highly respected people and the esteem of the entire community is accorded them.  In their family were six sons and four daughters who grew to manhood and womanhood and with one exception all are living - Mary is the wife of Hon. Robert Graham, ex-State Superintendent of schools, residing in Oshkosh, Wis.; Elizabeth is the wife of William Eldridge of Cambridge, New York; Walter S. is the next younger; Hon. Robert A. of Batavia, New York, is a prominent politician and the only member of the family who advocates Democracy.  He was one of the State Commissioners of New York and also served as State Treasurer being the only one elected on the Democratic ticket; Catherine C., wife of J.H. Alexander, who is a resident of Huron, South Dak.  He is a merchant by occupation; William J. is a real-estate dealer of Omaha, Neb; Jennie is the wife of Horton Barber of Greenwich, New York; George H. is living in Ames, Iowa; Alexander grew to manhood and came to Kenosha County, where his death occurred; Martin B., a resident of Washington County, has been a most successful teacher.

We now take up the personal history of our subject who in his native county spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm.  In the common schools and the State Normal he acquired his education, and after completing his studies engaged in teaching for a few years.  Believing the West furnished better opportunities for young men, he came to Wisconsin in 1860, locating in Kenosha County.  He bought a half section of fine prairie land, which has since been his home, and although then unimproved, he has made it one of the most valuable and desirable farms in the county.  It is situated three miles west of Kenosha and with all its improvements, accessories and conveniences it is a model farm.

Mr. Maxwell has been three times married.  In Easton, New York, he wedded Miss Anna A. Robinson, a native of the Empire State, who died in Kenosha county, leaving one son, Elmer A., who is now operating the home farm.  He wedded Anna A. Greenbaum, who was born in Connecticut, and survived her marriage only two years.  The present Mrs. Maxwell was in her maidenhood Miss Cornelia McLean.  She was born in Washington County, New York, is a daughter of John C. McLean of Greenwich, New York, and their marriage was celebrated in 1880.

In 1860, Mr. Maxwell proudly cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln and at each Presidential election since that time has supported the candidates of the Republican Party.  He takes great interest in the triumph of its principles and has been frequently honored with positions of public trust.  For ten consecutive years he served as Supervisor of the Town Board, was elected its Chairman and for one year was Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors.  In 1877, he was elected to the State Legislature as the representative from his district and so well did he fill the office that he was re-elected in 1881, and again in 1883.    He served as Chairman of the Educational Committee, and upon a number of other important committees.  When his term as Representative had expired he was elected State Senator in 1884, serving four years with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents.  He was again on several important committees and was Chairman of the Agricultural Committee.  Mr. Maxwell has ever endeavored to use his influence and power for the advancement of those interests which will bring the best good to the greatest number.  His public life is above reproach and he proved himself to be an honorable and trusted official.

Purchasing an interest in the Arcadian Brown Stone company of Superior, Wis., he was made its manager and Treasurer serving as such for the past four years.  The quarry turns out a very superior quality of brown sand stone for building purposes and the company is now doing a good business, working about thirty men.  Mr. Maxwell gives that interest his attention during the summer months and with the snows of winter returns to his home in Kenosha County.  He and his estimable wife are members of the Congregational Church of Kenosha and in social circles rank high.

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

 



Partial 1861 Map of Somers Township, Kenosha County
Section 34, W.S. Maxwell parcels - two at 160 acres (also extends south into Illinois)
Click on image for larger view.

 

Breaid

John Breaid (name later changed to Braid)

John Breaid, who is engaged in general farming on Section 6, Somers Township, Kenosha County, has for forty-one years made his home in this locality. He was born near Edinburg, Scotland, November 20th, 1820. His father, Thomas Breaid, was also a native of that land and a man of superior intelligence, well educated.  By occupation he was a contractor.  He married Ellen Greig, also a native of Scotland and they crossed the Atlantic to America in 1853, joining our subject in Kenosha County, where they spent the remainder of their lives.

John Breaid was also well educated for the times and when a youth learned the flax dresser’s trade, which he followed for several years. He was married in Scotland in 1843, to Jane Whitelaw, daughter of John and Anna (Drummond) Whitelaw, who was born in Scotland. The young couple began their domestic life in that land but after several years Mr. Breaid came to America leaving his family behind. He arrived in New York in May, 1850, and by way of the Hudson River to Albany, Erie Canal to Buffalo, and the Great Lakes to Racine, he reached the state which has since been his home, in June of that year. Nearly all of his means had been exhausted in paying the expenses of his journey and he was willing to engage in any honest labor. He stopped for a short time with a Scotch family on the lake shore near Racine and worked by the day at anything he could do. By industry and economy he had saved enough to send for his family at the end of a year and Mrs. Breaid crossed the Atlantic with her three children, the oldest a lad of six and the youngest a child of eighteen months, joining her husband in the fall of 1851.
Mr. Breaid had built an humble dwelling for his wife and family in the shape of a log cabin, located in the town of Mt. Pleasant, Racine County, and they began life in the New World in true pioneer style. The husband and father engaged in cutting cord wood and also raised a few vegetables for the market. He there made his home for two years, during which time his financial condition was somewhat improved, after which he located on a farm on the county line, where was a comfortable home. He cleared and fenced about forty aces of land and upon that farm made his home for about three years; during which time he saved about $800. In Kenosha County we next find him after his purchased of 20 acres of land on Section 6, Somers Township. This was a timbered tract but with characteristic energy he began to clear and improve it and where once stood the monarchs of the forest were soon seen fields of waiving grain. From time to time he made additional purchases until he now has a valuable farm of one hundred acres, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation. It is improved with a commodious brick residence, an orchard, good barns, and all the other accessories of a model farm.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Breaid have been born seven sons and three daughters; Thomas, a railroad engineer, is married and resides in Savanna, Illinois; John is married and engages in merchandising in Waukesha, Wisconsin; Andrew was married and went to North Carolina, where he did an extensive business, shipping lumber to the North. He is now deceased. The three children just mentioned were born in Scotland and the remaining members of the family were born in Wisconsin. Katie is the wife of Charles Windsor, of Racine; Nellie is the wife of William Bose, a farmer of Kenosha County, James who is married and lives in Savanna, is also a railroad engineer; William died in infancy; George is a telegraph operator and real estate dealer of Chehalis, Washington; William, the second of that name is married and resides on the home farm; and Maggie (Margaret) is the wife of Chester Barrows, an agriculturist of Mt. Pleasant Township, Racine, Wisconsin.
Mr. and Mrs. Breaid are prominent members of the Methodist Church and in politics he is a stanch Republican. He has supported each Presidential candidate since casting his first vote for John C. Fremont, but has never sought or desired public office for himself. However, he served for two years as Assessor and has been an efficient member of the School Board for a number of years. In the earlier days, he and his family endured many hardships and privations but industry, perseverance and good management on the part of Mr. Breaid have secured him a comfortable competence and he is numbered among the well-do-do farmers in the community.
(Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Racine and Kenosha Counties. Lake City Publishing Co. Chicago. 1892. Text and Photo)

John Braid Bio

Lived in Section 6 (Berryville).  Born in Scotland in 1821.  Came to America in 1850 and located in Mt. Pleasant.  He remained there until 1855 when he removed to Kenosha County purchasing a farm, then very heavily timbered, which he cleared, having at present 75 acres under cultivation.  He was Assessor for the Town of Somers in 1869.  March 18, 1854, he married Miss Jane Whitley, a native of Scotland.  They have had ten children, nine still living.

(Source:  History of Racine and Kenosha Counties 1879)

More about the Breaid's

"Mrs. John Breaid, who has been very sick, was a little better this last week."

(Source:  Racine Journal publication date July 27, 1899)

"Mrs. Jane Breaid, wife of John Breaid, died at her home in Berryville at 11:30 last night.  Besides a husband she leaves three sons and five daughters, and a large number of relatives and friends to  mourn her loss.  The funeral will take place Friday afternoon at one o'clock from the house and the remains will be interred in Mound Cemetery, Racine."

(Source:  Racine Daily Journal publication date November 29, 1899)

"The funeral of Mrs. Breaid was held on Friday last at the residence.  The services were conducted by Rev. Coldstead after which the friends tenderly laid the aged form to rest in Mound Cemetery at Racine.  Mr. and Mrs. Breaid were among the first to settle at Berryville and have spent a long and useful life among us.  She leaves a host of friends, her husband, eight children, twenty-four grandchildren and one great-grandchild."

(Source:  Racine Journal publication date December 7, 1899)

About William Braid (spelling of named changed from Breaid)

Among the successful farmers of Somers Township is William Braid, who is operating the family homestead on Section 6.  He was born upon that farm on the 5th of October 1862, a son of John Braid, who birth occurred in King Horn, Scotland, on the 8th of November, 1820, and who received his education in his native country.  In 1850 he emigrated to the United States and located in Kenosha County where he worked at ditching and as a farm hand for two or three years.  He then rented land, which he cultivated for a similar period of time, and next bought seven acres of land in Somers Township, to which he added as he was able from time to time.  At his death, in 1904, his farm comprised one hundred acres.  He was united in marriage to Miss Jean Whitelaw and they became the parents of eight children.  Thomas, who married Mary Joerey and has four children, is a resident of Savannah, Illinois.  John, deceased, married Agnes Casey, who, with her four children, is living in Waukesha, Wisconsin.  Andrew married Olive Commander and both are deceased.  Their daughter married Lewis Markeson of Somers Township and has two children.  Katherine, who married Charles Wensing (Wensing family of Somers), deceased, has six children and resides in Racine.  Nellie married William F. Bose of Somers and they have five children.  James married and his wife passed away, leaving two children.  he resides in Milwaukee.  George, who is married and has one child, is a resident of Portland, Oregon.  William, of this review, is the youngest of the family.  The father, who is a stalwart Republican, served as a member of the School Board, was a member of the Town Board and also held the office of Road commissioner and proved very efficient in these capacities.  He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.  His wife preceded him in death two years, her demise occurring in 1902, and his in 1904.

William Braid attended the common schools until he was eighteen years of age, when he gave his entire attention to assisting in the operation of the farm.  He worked for his father at a wage of two hundred dollars a year until he attained his majority, when he purchased the homestead, which he has since operated on his own account.  The place comprises one hundred acres and is one of the well improved and valuable farms of Somers Township.  He is progressive in his methods and receives a good financial return from his land.

On the 13th of June, 1889, Mr. Braid was united in marriage to Miss Mary Sorensen, a daughter of Nels Sorensen.  Mr. and Mrs. Braid hava a son, Roy W., who is connected with an automobile tire manufacturing concern in Racine.  Mr. Braid is a stalwart Republican in politics and for ten or twelve years has been a member of the School Board.

(Source: City and County of Kenosha Record of Settlement by Frank H. Lyman, Vol II, Chicago, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1916)

Heddle



1924 Map of the Village of Somers
Fred Heddle parcel north side of Highway E or Somers Road.


Frederick W. Heddle
Frederick W. Heddle was born in 1863 in Illinois.  He was the son of David and Mary Yule Heddle.  David Heddle was born July 24, 1827 in Shapinshav, Orkney, Scotland.  He came to America June 2, 1855 and first settled for a short itme in Millburn, Illinois where he met upon the Yule family, some of which moved to Somers Township from Millburn, Illinois.  David Heddle married Mary Yule, July 1861 in Somers Township.  Mary was born Feb. 16, 1836 in Aberdeen, Scotland and is the daughter of Alexander Yule and Jane Watson Yule.
David and Mary lived in Somers until 1863 when they moved to Newport, Lake County, Illinois
Children of David and Mary:
Frederick W. born in Illinois about 1863.  Lived in Somers and worked as a carpenter.  Died October 26, 1925.
Cora Jane born in Illinois about 1866 (also seen Aug 4, 1965) and died June 3, 1891
Margaret Eleanor born in Illinois 1870.  Married John Connell.
David born about 1871 and died Aug. 14, 1872.
Marion/MaryAnn/Mollie (have seen all three names in census reports) born about 1877.
After the death of David Heddle on November 12, 1880,  Mary Yule Heddle moved back to Somers with her son Frederick W. and daughter Marion/MaryAnn/Mollie.  Fred Heddle lived in the village of Somers.
(Source:  Partial information from the Historic Millburn Community Assoc., Inc.)

More About Heddle
"Judge and Mrs. D.H. Flett of Racine and Dr. Charles Flett of Waterford spent Sunday with Mrs. Mary Heddle."
(Source:  Racine Daily Journal publication date Aug. 22, 1902)

"Mrs. Mary Heddle and Miss Annie Yule have been very ill at Millburn, Illinois but are reported better."
(Source:  Racine Journal publication date April 3, 1903)

There are seven vacncies in the public schools.  Normal school training is now required of all applicants for positions.  Mollie Heddle, Somers, Kenosha County, Graduate of rochester Academy and Whitewater Normal."
(Source:  Racine Daily Journal, publication date June 1, 1905)

"Mr. Fred Heddle has returned from a trip to Denver, Colorado.  Mr. Heddle has been selected as Director of the Stamp springs Mining Co., Denver, Colorado."
(Source:  Racine Journal News, publication date Sept. 28, 1909).



More About Mary Yule Heddle
"Mrs. Mary Heddle, age 76, widow of the late David Heddle and one of the best known of the pioneer residents of the Town of Somers, was found dead in bed at  her home just after 6 o'clock Wednesday morning.  Death came during the night but it came so peacefully that the other members of the household did not know that Mrs. Heddle had been ill until her son Fred went to her room to call her for breakfast and found her dead.  Mrs. Heddle had been in the best of health as of Tuesday and after the big rain of Tuesday afternoon had walked more than a half mile to the house of a neighbor where she had made a social visit.  When she returned she did not complain of any illness.  The deceased was a daughter of the late Alexander Yule, one of the first settlers of the Town of Somers.  She was born Feb. 16, 1836 and spent much of her time in Somers Township.  She is survived by one son, Fred of Somers, and two daughters Mrs. John Connell of Russell, Illinois and Mrs. Ira Burgess of Kellogg's Corners and also by six brothers.  Mrs. Heddle was a half sister of George H.Yule and John T. Yule of this city.
Mrs. Heddle was united in marriage to David Heddle in 1861.  Mr. Heddle died 31 years ago.
The remains of Mrs. Heddle were taken to Millburn, Illinois where a short service was conducted by Rev. Safford. A quartet from Milburn sang a number of favorite songs.  Interment beside her husband and daughter in the family plot in the Millburn, Illinois cemetery.
(Source:  Racine Journal News, publication date May 30, 1912)

Thom



Partial 1887 Map, Somers Township, Kenosha County
A. Thom parcels
Section 1:  22 acres, 30 acres, and another parcel 80 acres
Section 2: 5 acres

Also:  Mrs. J. Thom owned 75 acres in Section 11 but it is not clear if this person is related to A. Thom.

Click on the map for a larger view.




Alexander Thom

Alexander Thom
ALEX THOM DIES SUDDENLY WITH HEART ATTACK
NORTH BEND, September 12, 1928
"This community was shocked Wednesday morning to hear that one of her foremost citizens, Alex Thom, has passed away at 1:45 following a sudden heart attack.
Mr. Thom was in his usual good health on Tuesday and had accompanied Mrs. Thom in the car to the post office for the evening mail.  His attack came on in the middle of the night and he passed away despite medical attention.
For many years Alex Thom has been prominent in business and politics of North Bend and had been elected Mayor for four terms.  He came to North Bend in 1882 when he associated himself with Smith & Mallon, a firm engaged in handling imported horses.   His specialty was of raising blooded Clydesdale horses and Chester White swine.  Four years later he purchased a farm and turned his attention vigorously to general farming and stock raising until 1892, when he retired and again became a citizen of North Bend.  He was a staunch churchman having been a lifelong member of the United Presbyterian Church and was one of the country's leading prohibitionists and elected Mayor on a dry ticket.
He was one of the organizers and the president of the First State Bank of North Bend but had retired and severed his connections with it several years ago.
Alexander Thom was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, September 25, 1847 and would have been 81 years old this month.  He was afforded the advantages of the schools of his native land and was associated with farm enterprises.  In 1877 he came to this country and settled in Wisconsin, where for five years, he was the foreman of an estate owned by Henry B. Sherman in Dodge County, Wisconsin.
The deceased has been married three times.  His first wife was Margaret Agen of Illinois who died in 1892.  For his second wife he married Anna Colllins, who died a few years later.  On April 15, 1913 he married Laura Miller of North Bend, who survives him with one daughter, Mrs. Andrew Harvey of Fremont.  Mr. Thom was the last member of his family.
Mr. Thom was held in high esteem by everyone who knew him and he had a large acquaintance over Dodge County.  He was recognized as a radical prohibitionist and was zealous in the furtherance of the national observance.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed but it will probably be held from the family home Saturday afternoon at 2:30 with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery.

More About Alexander Thom
Alexander Thom  was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, September 25, 1847, and is the son of William and Christina (Chalmers) Thom.  William Thom was a farmer by vocation and both he and his wife were zealous members of the Free Church of Scotland.  Of the six children of William and Christina, three came to the United States:  William became a resident of Nebraska and whose death occurred in a hospital at Omaha, December 13, 1919; Isabelle who was the wife of James Thain of Illinois, and Alexander.  Of the other three children, James and George died in Scotland and Andrew was pastor of a church in Stirlingshire as a representative clergyman of the Free Church of Scotland.

More About Alexander Thom and B.F. Yule
CENTENNIAL OF THE ALEXANDER THOM BARN
Thom Barn Centennial Celebration - July 9, 1988
By Donald Harvey
Dodge County Historical Society

"For one hundred years, the candy striped barn north of North Bend, Nebraska has been a landmark for local residents and is listed as one of the historic sites and points of interest in Dodge county.
The barn was constructed during 1888 for Alexander Thom, my grandfather, by Benjamin Franklin (B.F.) Yule, a friend and master barn builder from Somers, Wisconsin.
My favorite stories during my boyhood involved this barn.  My mother, Mabel Thom Harvey, who was Alexander Thom's only child, was born in what is now the dining room of the farm house on October 8, 1888, the same year Frank Yule built the barn.  How I loved the stories of her childhood, the animals and the barn.
Alexander Thom emigrated to America in 1877, spending five years in Wisconsin.  In 1882, he came to North bend to manage the horse importing business of the firm of Smith and Mallon.  In 1886, he bought 160 acres of land, lying on the hill overlooking the Platte valley.
In March 1888, Alex Thom wrote a letter to B. Frank Yule, in Wisconsin, asking him to design a barn for the hillside, with dimensions to accommodate his Clydesdale stock and an upstairs drive-in loft.  he also requested him to figure a bill for lumber.
The original structure was built without nails and, if you look at the beams inside, you will see they are held in place by the oak "pins" which Frank Yule spent the winter of 1888 making.  Through the years I have been intrigued by the beams, supports, pegs and the angles made by them.
Following the standard practice of the time, the wall skeleton was assembled on the ground and teams of horses were used to raise the sides, or "bents" as they were called.  One newspaper account said "it took 50 teams of horses and a lot of men to pull the sides up and pin them together with pegs."
Mr. Yule's wages for the job included $191.75 cash and his fare from Millburn and Wisconsin to North Bend and his return home.  B. Frank Yule was the father of Blanche Thom, wife of Dr. James Thom of North Bend, Dr. James Thom was a nephew of Alex Thom.
The walnut mallet and broad ax used by Yule during the construction are on display at the barn.  These are a gift of his granddaughter, Mrs. Katherine Thom Knox of Lincoln.  They were given to her by her uncle, Earl Yule of Wisconsin.  Earl Yule told Katherine that his father always stood on his head stop the framework of the barn after it was all in place and that Benjamin Franklin Yule was of slight build, 5'9" in height.
Since I was only three years old when my grandfather died in 1928, I don't have many tales to tell.  There are no surviving records of the building of the barn or records of the Clydesdale importing and breeding business.
We do have two silver medals granted in 1882 and 1883 by the Nebraska Board of Agriculture.  The legend engraved on them states they were awarded for the best mare and best stallion of any age shown at the state fair during those years.
In 1893 or 1894, Alex Thom moved to North Bend and was one of the organizers and president of the First State Bank (1907).  he was also Mayor of North Bend for four different terms.  Most of the family stories seem to be centered around his North Bend life rather than the farm.
In 1935, major repairs were begun on the barn.  It needed a new foundation, shingles and was painted in 1937, but the painters left the barn red with no white stripes.  It was not until 1964 that the barn was again painted and the white stripes were added once more.  The barn was painted again in 1976 and this past year Joe Woita has restored and painted the barn for its centennial.
In 1979 Dr. Andre Harvey, my father and son-in-law of Alex Thom, gave use of the barn to the Dodge County Historical Society for the display of agricultural items.  He wished future generations to see the horse drawn equipment he knew in his youth.

Piper, Augustus

(Source of Photo:  Album of Racine and Kenosha Counties.  Lake City Publishing Co. Chicago, 1892)

Augustus Piper

Augustus Piper was an enterprising farmer and self-made man who was born on the 19^th of August, 1825 in Prussia and a son of Conrad Piper, a native of Germany.  Conrad Piper was a carpenter by trade and died when Augustus was a babe of six months old.  When Augustus was 14 years of age in 1840, he accompanied his widowed mother and friends to America.  The vessel on which they sailed was wrecked off the Island of Haiti and the passengers and crew were saved by being taken to the shore in small boats.  They were then sent to San Domingo where they remained for 5 months, while during the winter of 1840-41, his mother was stricken with yellow fever and died.

Mr. Piper left San Domino and went to New York, from whence he made his way to Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked as a farm hand, making his home with Mr. Hansche, an old friend.   He remained in Ohio for three years, went to new Orleans for six months with an older brother, where he had an attack of yellow fever.  He returned to Ohio, engaged in farming.  In 1846 married and soon after started with a team for Wisconsin but stopped in Indiana and for a year in Michigan City where he engaged in farming.  His wife died during that time and Augustus suffered much with fever and ague that he resolved to seek a home elsewhere and drove across country to Racine.  When he arrived in November 1847 he worked as a farmhand to improve his economy.  Again he had to contend with sickness and the many hardships and trials of pioneer life fell to his lot.  He lived with his old friend, Mr. Hansche until his health was restored.  He exhausted his entire earnings for the following year, paying off his indebtedness. He worked by the month for two years and in course of time his financial resources improved.  When by his industry and economy, he had accumulated a sufficient sum of money, he purchased a small farm on the County Line in Kenosha County, paying for it on time.  He worked hard until every dollar was paid, nor did he cease his activity then, but continuing his untiring labors he was enabled to add to his farm by subsequent purchases and is now the owner of 350 acres of fine land, which he has purchased from time to time and all of which is situated near his home.  Great credit is certainly due him, for his success in life has all been achieved through his own efforts.

On November 8, 1852 Augustus married Miss Margaret Braid, a native of Scotland and daughter of Thomas Braid, who was from an early Somers pioneer family.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Piper, six children were born of this union, namely: William, a farmer in Racine County; Ellen, the wife of August Williamson a farmer in Racine County; Thomas, who lives on the corner of Country Club Road and County Line operates the home farm; Frank, engaged in farming in the same County; August J. or "Gus"engaged in farming; and Jane who is the wife of W.F. Hansche and resides in Kenosha County.

Mr. Piper cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont and has since been a supporter of Republican nominees and the party principles.  He has been called upon to fill several local offices, served as Supervisor for the Town of Somers, and was a Member of the School Board.
(Source: Album of Racine and Kenosha Counties. Lake City Publishing Co. Chicago, 1892)



1861 Partial Map of Somers Township
A. Piper parcel in Section 6 (Berryville neighborhood)
Location today:  Lathrop Avenue/Country Club Road and Racine Kenosha County Line Road



1908 Partial Map of Somers Township
Sections 5 and 6, Piper parcels

Smith, William

Photo Courtesy of the American Geographical Society
Partial Map of 1861 Plat Map of the Township of Somers, Kenosha County, Wisconsin

Introduction

This 1861 map shows four parcels owned by William Smith; 120 acres (Wm Smith), 160 acres (Wm Smith), and 2 parcels of 55 acres (W. P. Smith) each.  Of significance is the location of his parcels; the location being the intersections of Highway E (Somers Road) and Highway 31 (Green Bay Road), the site of the earliest settlements in the Township of Somers.  Please take special note of the school, town house, and cemetery on this intersection.

About William Smith

"William Smith, a farmer in Somers Township, was born in Scotland in 1802. He came to America in 1834 and in the fall of that year went to Milwaukee.  In the spring of 1835 he purchased 160 acres of land where the city of Milwaukee now stands.  In the fall of 1836, Mr. Smith burned a kiln of lime of 300 barrels, in what was probably the first lime kiln built in Wisconsin.  He sold his land in Milwaukee in 1836, and repurchased it in 1838.

In 1836, he came to Kenosha County and at the land sale the following spring, he purchased 320 acres in what is now Somers Township, (see map above) and began cultivating it.  Mr. Smith married in Burlington, Wisconsin in 1842, Miss Arvilla Dyer, a native of Herkimer Co., New York.  Mr. Smith, some years ago, while ordering from his premises two young men who were shooting pigeons, on a Sunday morning, was fired upon by one of them, shooting his right arm entirely off, from which Mr. Smith has since suffered very much, being quite old at the time of the occurrence."

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

William Smith - 1860 Awarded 2nd Prize from Wisconsin State Agricultural Society

A judging committee, appointed by the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society, assembled to judge six farms that were entered in the statewide competition.  Awards would be given for "superior tillage, proper rotation of crops, and general good management, calculated to be economical and profitable, than, to costly buildings or large outlays of an amateur or fancy nature".  Examination was made between the 15th of June and the 15th of July, 1860.  The written report for William Smith of Somers is as follows:

"Mr. Smith's farm is located in the Town of Somers, in Kenosha County, nine miles from Racine.  Mr. Smith, a Scotsman by birth, having landed in this country in 1834, coming to the territory of Wisconsin soon after, and stopping for a time in Milwaukee.  In 1836 he located on the farm upon which he now lives, and have ever since devoted himself to farming, and with excellent success.  His farm, at present, consists of 280 acres, 200 of which is under a good state of cultivation, the balance being timber land.  The portion under cultivation is upon prairie - of an excellent soil naturally, and which has lost nothing of its excellence under the judicious management of Mr. Smith.

His farm is subdivided into lots of 28 acres each, and each lot is provided with a good spring, rendering it convenient for pasturing stock in its regular turn, and a regular rotation of pasturage, meadow, and tillage is kept up with the various lots.

The fencing upon this farm is mostly of boards.  Five boards with a cap of scantling about two by five inches.  These caps are spiked firmly to the posts, and where the ends come together, they are coupled with a scrap of iron some four inches long, and spiked through the cap pieces into the posts.  This makes the fence remarkably firm, and protects the lots against the most vicious animals with entire certainty.  We are thus particular in this description, as it was new to us, and we were very favorably impressed with it, and would be glad to see the example followed by others.  The crops upon this farm are very fine, and the appearance of the whole farm gives abundant proof that the director of the operations upon it, is worthy to rank with the finest farmers in the State.  Mr. Smith's herd of cattle is among the best, as a whole, that we have seen in the State.  In his buildings, Mr. Smith has shown good taste, having in both economy and utility."

(Source:  Wisconsin State Agricultural Society, Reports and Awards of Premiums, Report of Committee on Counties, Vol. VI 1860).