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| Somers, Wisconsin Circa about early 1920's View of the village on Highway E or Somers Road, west of the railroad tracks, looking south west. The first two story building was the Wirtz tavern, now known as Tina's. The building in front of the old car is the former Somers Superette, general store. (Source: Original photo and identification courtesy of Ernest "Bunkie" Tabbert.) |
Showing posts with label Village. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Village. Show all posts
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Somers "The Village"
Monday, February 20, 2012
Bailey, Alexander Price
Alexander Price Bailey
"Alexander Price Bailey was born in Auburn, Cayuga, New York on March 25, 1846 to Norman and Lavina (Remington) Bailey. He came to Somers Township in Kenosha County with his parents in 1848. At the age of 23, he began to farm on his own, and continued to farm until 1905. He married Isabella Lee, daughter of Richard and Ellen Lee, in 1868 in Kenosha County. They had two children. In 1905, they moved to the Village of Somers, where they lived for the rest of their lives. Alexander Price Bailey died September 1, 1923 and his wife, Isabella Lee Bailey, died February 26, 1928. They are buried at Sylvania Cemetery.
Children of Alexander Price Bailey and Isabella Lee Bailey:
William Norman Bailey. Married Alice Bush, daughter of William Bush. They lived on the father's farm.
LeRoy Frank Bailey. Married Etta Bush, daughter of William Bush. They had one child: Orilla Alice May."
(Source: 1991 Mary Ann Culshaw Falk and the Sylvania Cemetery Board of Trustees)
More About Alexander Price Bailey
"Alexander Price Bailey is a retired farmer living in the Village of Somers and the rest which he is now enjoying has been well earned. He has reached the seventieth milestone on life's journal, his birth having occurred in Auburn, New York, on the 25th of March, 1846, his parents being Norman and Lavina (Remington) Bailey. In the year 1841 the father became a resident of Kenosha County and in 1848 brought his family to this locality. The work of development and improvement had scarcely been begun at the time of his first arrival here. Much of the land was still in possession of the government and was covered with the native prairie grasses or the original forest growth. He purchased eighty acres of land at the usual government price of a dollar and a quarter per acre and afterward added to his farm by the additional purchase of forty acres. His was a well spent life characterized by integrity, by energy and laudable purpose. In politics he was a Republican and filled the office of district clerk. His religious faith was that of the Methodist Church. In his family were four children: Alexander price, Jay Le Roy, Sophronia, and Frank Ney.
The first named attended the public schools until he reached the age of twenty years, after which he continued to work upon the home farm to the age of twenty-three. He then began farming on his own account upon a tract of rented land of one hundred and seventy-five acres, upon which he lived for two years. He afterward rented other land and made his home thereon for two years. He afterward purchased seventy-three and one-half acres and subsequently thirty-two and five-tenths acres and still later further investment made him the owner of another tract of one hundred and seventy-five acres. He thus became one of the extensive landowners of the community and was actively and successfully engaged in general farming until 1905, when the success that had attended his efforts enabled him to put aside further business cares. He then purchased a place in the Village of Somers and has lived there continuously since, having an attractive and comfortable home in which he has not only the necessities but many of the luxuries of life.
In 1868 Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Lee, a daughter of Richard Lee, a native of England, who came to the United States in early life. To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have been born two children. William Norman married Alice, daughter of William Bush, and is living on his father's farm. Le Roy Frank married Etta Bush, daughter of William Bush, and they have one child, Orilla Alice May.
In his political views Mr. Bailey is a Republican but at local elections, where no issue is involved, does not feel himself bound by party ties and casts his ballot for the candidate whom he regards as best qualified for office. For several years he filled the position of Justice of the Peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. He has been a member of the School Board and served as its clerk for twelve years. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church and he ever endeavors to follow the Golden Rule. In his business affairs he was strictly reliable as well as enterprising and his success is the merited reward of energy and integrity.
(Source: City and County of Kenosha, Vol. II, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1916)
Jay LeRoy Bailey
Jay LeRoy Bailey, a representative farmer of Somers Township, whose success is largely attributable to his earnest effort and indefatigable industry, was born in Paris Township, Kenosha County, December 4, 1854, his parents being Norman and Lavina (Remington) Bailey.
He obtained a common school education, dividing his time during his youth between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. His father died when his son Jay was twenty years of age, and the young man then assumed the management of the home place, which he operated for a year for his mother. He then rented the land and began farming on his own account. In addition to the cultivation of the old homestead he cultivated forty acres which he purchased and was busily engaged in the further development and improvement of that property until 1904. At the present time he owns two hundred acres of rich and arable land, one hundred and twenty acres being on Section 18, Somers Township, and eighty acres of the old homestead in Parish Township, and he rents one hundred acres of this to L.J. Prang, who has resided thereon for eight years.
The old Bailey homestead was purchased from the government at the usual price of one dollar and a quarter per acre and has since been in possession of the family. Upon the place are fine buildings, including a modern residence, substantial barns and good sheds, furnishing ample shelter for grain and stock. he secures the latest improved machinery to advance the work of the fields, practices the rotation of crops and does everything necessary to make his farm profitable. He built a new barn thirty-four by seventy-four feet. In addition to raising the crops best adapted to the soil and climate he conducts a dairy business and for the past thirty years.
(Source: City and County of Kenosha, Vol. II, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1916)
Fire Imperils Farm Building
Somers Volunteer Firemen Extinguish Blaze On Bailey Farm
The Somers Volunteer fire department was called out at 6:00 o'clock last night when a fire originating in defective wiring threatened the large dairy barn on the Norman Bailey farm, located on Highway 41, two and one-half miles from the village of Somers.
The blaze started in a two story building used by Bailey as a hog pen. When the firemen arrived at the scene of the blaze, flames had spread to a large quantity of straw stored in the upper section of the frame building and threatened to destroy the large dairy barn to which the hog pen was attached.
Workers at the farm has closed off all ventilation in the hog pen immediately after the fire was discovered preventing rapid spread of the flames and thus permitting the firemen to gain control of the blaze almost immediately after their arrival at The Bailey Farm.
The loss which might have mounted to several thousand dollars, was confined to a comparatively small sum. A large number of chickens were lost in the fire and an undetermined amount of straw was destroyed. None of the hogs were lost in the fire and the building although badly scorched can be repaired."
(Source: Racine Journal, Feb. 14, 1935)
"Alexander Price Bailey was born in Auburn, Cayuga, New York on March 25, 1846 to Norman and Lavina (Remington) Bailey. He came to Somers Township in Kenosha County with his parents in 1848. At the age of 23, he began to farm on his own, and continued to farm until 1905. He married Isabella Lee, daughter of Richard and Ellen Lee, in 1868 in Kenosha County. They had two children. In 1905, they moved to the Village of Somers, where they lived for the rest of their lives. Alexander Price Bailey died September 1, 1923 and his wife, Isabella Lee Bailey, died February 26, 1928. They are buried at Sylvania Cemetery.
Children of Alexander Price Bailey and Isabella Lee Bailey:
William Norman Bailey. Married Alice Bush, daughter of William Bush. They lived on the father's farm.
LeRoy Frank Bailey. Married Etta Bush, daughter of William Bush. They had one child: Orilla Alice May."
(Source: 1991 Mary Ann Culshaw Falk and the Sylvania Cemetery Board of Trustees)
More About Alexander Price Bailey
"Alexander Price Bailey is a retired farmer living in the Village of Somers and the rest which he is now enjoying has been well earned. He has reached the seventieth milestone on life's journal, his birth having occurred in Auburn, New York, on the 25th of March, 1846, his parents being Norman and Lavina (Remington) Bailey. In the year 1841 the father became a resident of Kenosha County and in 1848 brought his family to this locality. The work of development and improvement had scarcely been begun at the time of his first arrival here. Much of the land was still in possession of the government and was covered with the native prairie grasses or the original forest growth. He purchased eighty acres of land at the usual government price of a dollar and a quarter per acre and afterward added to his farm by the additional purchase of forty acres. His was a well spent life characterized by integrity, by energy and laudable purpose. In politics he was a Republican and filled the office of district clerk. His religious faith was that of the Methodist Church. In his family were four children: Alexander price, Jay Le Roy, Sophronia, and Frank Ney.
The first named attended the public schools until he reached the age of twenty years, after which he continued to work upon the home farm to the age of twenty-three. He then began farming on his own account upon a tract of rented land of one hundred and seventy-five acres, upon which he lived for two years. He afterward rented other land and made his home thereon for two years. He afterward purchased seventy-three and one-half acres and subsequently thirty-two and five-tenths acres and still later further investment made him the owner of another tract of one hundred and seventy-five acres. He thus became one of the extensive landowners of the community and was actively and successfully engaged in general farming until 1905, when the success that had attended his efforts enabled him to put aside further business cares. He then purchased a place in the Village of Somers and has lived there continuously since, having an attractive and comfortable home in which he has not only the necessities but many of the luxuries of life.
In 1868 Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Lee, a daughter of Richard Lee, a native of England, who came to the United States in early life. To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have been born two children. William Norman married Alice, daughter of William Bush, and is living on his father's farm. Le Roy Frank married Etta Bush, daughter of William Bush, and they have one child, Orilla Alice May.
In his political views Mr. Bailey is a Republican but at local elections, where no issue is involved, does not feel himself bound by party ties and casts his ballot for the candidate whom he regards as best qualified for office. For several years he filled the position of Justice of the Peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. He has been a member of the School Board and served as its clerk for twelve years. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church and he ever endeavors to follow the Golden Rule. In his business affairs he was strictly reliable as well as enterprising and his success is the merited reward of energy and integrity.
(Source: City and County of Kenosha, Vol. II, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1916)
Jay LeRoy Bailey
Jay LeRoy Bailey, a representative farmer of Somers Township, whose success is largely attributable to his earnest effort and indefatigable industry, was born in Paris Township, Kenosha County, December 4, 1854, his parents being Norman and Lavina (Remington) Bailey.
He obtained a common school education, dividing his time during his youth between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. His father died when his son Jay was twenty years of age, and the young man then assumed the management of the home place, which he operated for a year for his mother. He then rented the land and began farming on his own account. In addition to the cultivation of the old homestead he cultivated forty acres which he purchased and was busily engaged in the further development and improvement of that property until 1904. At the present time he owns two hundred acres of rich and arable land, one hundred and twenty acres being on Section 18, Somers Township, and eighty acres of the old homestead in Parish Township, and he rents one hundred acres of this to L.J. Prang, who has resided thereon for eight years.
The old Bailey homestead was purchased from the government at the usual price of one dollar and a quarter per acre and has since been in possession of the family. Upon the place are fine buildings, including a modern residence, substantial barns and good sheds, furnishing ample shelter for grain and stock. he secures the latest improved machinery to advance the work of the fields, practices the rotation of crops and does everything necessary to make his farm profitable. He built a new barn thirty-four by seventy-four feet. In addition to raising the crops best adapted to the soil and climate he conducts a dairy business and for the past thirty years.
(Source: City and County of Kenosha, Vol. II, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1916)
Fire Imperils Farm Building
Somers Volunteer Firemen Extinguish Blaze On Bailey Farm
The Somers Volunteer fire department was called out at 6:00 o'clock last night when a fire originating in defective wiring threatened the large dairy barn on the Norman Bailey farm, located on Highway 41, two and one-half miles from the village of Somers.
The blaze started in a two story building used by Bailey as a hog pen. When the firemen arrived at the scene of the blaze, flames had spread to a large quantity of straw stored in the upper section of the frame building and threatened to destroy the large dairy barn to which the hog pen was attached.
Workers at the farm has closed off all ventilation in the hog pen immediately after the fire was discovered preventing rapid spread of the flames and thus permitting the firemen to gain control of the blaze almost immediately after their arrival at The Bailey Farm.
The loss which might have mounted to several thousand dollars, was confined to a comparatively small sum. A large number of chickens were lost in the fire and an undetermined amount of straw was destroyed. None of the hogs were lost in the fire and the building although badly scorched can be repaired."
(Source: Racine Journal, Feb. 14, 1935)
Monday, January 23, 2012
Wirtz
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| (Plat Book Racine and Kenosha County, Hennessey & Co., Delavan, Wis. 1908) |
John B. Wirtz
"John B. Wirtz, a well known citizen of Somers, has been a lifelong resident of this county, his birth occurring in Somers Township near Kenosha, on the 10th of April, 1870. His parents were John and Mary (Eberhardt) Wirtz, who were born in the Rhine country of Germany, where they were reared and educated. The father was forty-two years of age when he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and made his way to this county, settled just outside the city limits of Kenosha. There he purchased land and engaged in farming for a time but afterward took up his abode in the city and worked at the blacksmith's trade, continuing his residence there until his life's labors were ended in death. His widow survives and yet makes her home in Kenosha.
John B. Wirtz spent his youthful days in that city and after the common schools had prepared him for life's practical and responsible duties. He secured employment in the Bain Wagon Works, where he remained for twelve years. He then went to Racine, where he was engaged in the grocery business for a year, but afterward returned to the trade of wagon making and for eight years occupied the responsible position of foreman in a Kenosha factory. On the expiration of that period he removed to Somers, where he opened an inn and has now been identified with the hotel interests of the town for twelve years, during which period he has built up a trade of large and gratifying proportions, being now accorded a liberal patronage.
On the 9th of October, 1905, Mr. Wirtz was united in marriage to Miss Margaret De Frang, a daughter of John and Margaret (Weiler) De Frang, who were early settlers of Kenosha. Her father was baggageman at the Northwestern depot for several years and the family is well known.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wirtz; Marie, Isabel, Adeline and Elizabeth.
The family are communicants of the Catholic church and fraternally Mr. Wirtz belongs to the Catholic Knights and the Fraternal Order of Eagles of Kenosha.
(Source: City and County of Kenosha Wisconsin, Vol. II, Chicago, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1916)
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| St. George Cemetery, Kenosha, Wisconsin (Source of Photo: USGenArchivesProjectKenoshaWis by Larry & Linda Kopet) |
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| St. George Cemetery, Kenosha, Wisconsin (Source of Photo: USGenArchivesProjectKenoshaWis by Larry & Linda Kopet) |
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| St. George Cemetery, Kenosha, Wisconsin (Source of Photo: USGenArchivesProjectKenoshaWis by Larry & Linda Kopet) |
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| St. George Cemetery, Kenosha, Wisconsin (Source of Photo: USGenArchivesProjectKenoshaWis by Larry & Linda Kopet) |
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| St. George Cemetery, Kenosha, Wisconsin (Source of Photo: USGenArchivesProjectKenoshaWis by Larry & Linda Kopet) |
Wirtz-Rassmussen
The marriage of Miss Isabelle Wirtz to Mr. M.A. Rasmussen is announced for July 10, 1919.
(Source: Racine Journal July 9, 1919)
Children of John B. Wirtz and Margarethe E. DeFrang Wirtz
Marie Margaret Wirtz born about 1896/1897
Isabel B. Wirtz born about 1898, died in Kenosha, Wisconsin December 15, 1971
Adeline B. Wirtz born 1899/1900
Elizabeth Wirtz born 1904/1906
Children of the father, John Wirtz -1880 U.S. Federal Census
Elizabeth, born about 1869
John, born about 1870
Anthony, born about 1873
Mathias, born about 1874
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| Map of the "village" of Somers. Wirtz parcel on the south side of Highway E, west of the RR tracks. |
Monday, September 26, 2011
1908 "Village" of Somers
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| 1908 Map of the "Village" of Somers, Township of Somers, Kenosha County, Wisconsin Click on map for closer view. |
Settlement of "The Village"
Early pioneer settlement of farms and little neighborhood clusters were established in Somers Township as early as the 1830's. The building of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad is the primary reason why the "village" of Somers established and grew at its current location. Here are a few photos that may interest you.
Click on this link to view a freight train and Somers Station (c. 1934).
Click on this link to view a passenger train photographed in Somers (c.1934).
Pioneer Family Names on Map - West to East North Side of Highway E or Somers Road
- Bush, W.R.
- Sorensen, C.
- Bishop A.J.*
- Longmore, J.
- Heddle F.*
- Thompson, N.E.*
- Spence*
- Woodmen Hall
- Nelson, J.
- Bain, W. (east of tracks)
- Mitchell, Mrs. (east of tracks)
- Hamilton, G. (east of tracks)*
- Longmore, E.
- Bailey, P.*
- Cook, E.
- Anderson, P.M.*
- Grimshaw, Mrs.*
- Bishop, J.*
- Longmore J.*
- Bishop J.*
- M.E. (Methodist Episcopal) Church Parsonage
- Lytle, H.*
- Gould, M.R.*
- Mitchell Bros.
- M.E. (Methodist Episcopal) Church
- Bishop*
- Yule, B.F.*
- Presbyterian Church Parsonage*
- Schultz, A.*
- Mitchell Bros.
- Wirtz, J.B.*
- Bullamore Bros.*
- Lauer (east of tracks)
- Rasmussen (east of tracks)
- L.H. Fenske*
- Lytle, H.
- Fenske, L.H.
- Lytle, H.
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