Stetson

William R. Stetson
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source:  Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright October 2011)

William R. Stetson
William R. Stetson, who is engaged in general farming on Section 13, Somers Township, Kenosha County, is a native of the Empire State. He was born on the 11th of March, 1817, in Westfield, N.Y. and is the son of William A. Stetson, who was born in Maine. Oliver Stetson, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of New England, and served his country in the War of the Revolution. His father and three brothers were of English birth and emigrated from their native land to America in early colonial days.

Family Notes:  "Cap't Oliver Stetson was born November 12, 1756, Hanover, Plymouth Co., Mass. and died in Westfield, Chautauqua Co., New York on November 10, 1839.  He is buried in East Ripley Cemetery.  The D.A.R. have placed a marker on the grave which reads: "Bailey's Mass. Mil. Rev. War.".  Oliver was  a private in Capt. Amos Turner's company of "Minute Men" from Mass. which marched on Lexington alarm April 19, 1775.  There were seven Stetson in this company Col. John Bailey's Regiment, the "North Company of Minute Men".  Battles engaged in White Plains and both battles of Stillwater.  After finishing his service, he went to Hebron Maine where he married in the year 1780 in Paris, Maine, Miss Jeanette Anderson who was born in Scotland in 1757.  She died in Ripley, N.Y. December 23, 1825 in her 69th year and is also buried in East Ripley Cemetery.  Accordingly to family records, Oliver and Jeanette settled in the "wilds of Maine" far from civilization.  Here their first child was born, Oliver.  The 1790 U.S. Census has Oliver at "Canajoharietown" Montgomery Co.  He next appears in Middlefield, N.Y. where land records bear the signature of his wife, Jeanette.  When John, the youngest child was age 13, the family traveled to Westfield, Chaut Co., N.Y.  They traveled with ox teams thru Buffalo as it lay in ruins after being burned by the British.  In 1819 Oliver bought 109-1/2 acres in Ripley, N.Y. overlooking Lake Erie.  he paid $546.96 for it.  Here he built a brick house and ran a tavern.  They were active in the Presbyterian Church.  On the neighboring farm of James McMahan is a large stone on which has been carved the name of Oliver Stetson and his neighbors as the "first settlers of Chaut. So. N.Y.  He and his neighbor made a long sled a drew their grain by hand to the mill in Buffalo, sixty miles away, on the ice of Lake Erie.
Ten children were born to Oliver and Jeanette Anderson Stetson.  William A. (this story) was born Feb. 1, 1788 and died January 20, 1868. "

The father of our subject was reared to manhood in the Pine Tree State and on removing to New York, settled in Cooperstown, where he later married Jane Anderson, who was born at the place and was the daughter of Samuel Anderson, another of the Revolutionary heroes. After his marriage Mr. Stetson continued to make his home in New York until 1841, when he emigrated with his family to Wisconsin, locating in the village of Southport, now Kenosha, where he resided for a number of years. He died at the home of his daughter in that city. In the Stetson family were three sons and five daughters, the eldest of whom, Oliver, was a railroad contractor, and died in Lima, Ohio; Almira married Sheldon Fisk and is now deceased; Dorliska is also deceased; William R., of this sketch, is the next younger; Janette is the deceased wife of E.M. Kinney, one of the early settlers of Kenosha; Mary Ann has also passed away; Carl G. served in the late war as Captain of Company I, Thirty-Third Wisconsin Infantry. Carl was killed at Spanish Fort, located on the Gulf; and Jerusha, is the wife of J.R. Payson, a manufacturer of Chicago. She and our subject are now the only surviving members of the family.

(Note:  William Eugene Thompson had always thought the Stetson arrival date in Kenosha county was 1835.  They moved from Chautauqua County (previously Norwalk, Conn.) in 1833, through Ohio to Chicago, leaving two daughters at school in Oberlin, Ohio.  Moved from Chicago to Wisconsin as cholera broke out.  Traveled by oxcart.  Immigrant cholera victims buried in cemetery north of Racine, Wisconsin.  Kenosha County Historical Society has travel trunk dated 1833 used during the travels of the Stetsons to Wisconsin.)
(Source:  Thompson family records)

William R. Stetson has for half a century made his home in Kenosha County. The days of his boyhood and youth were passed in Chautauqua County, New York, where he acquired an education. He then went on the river as a pilot, running rafts on the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, to which business he continued to devote his time and attention for a number of years. He first came to Wisconsin in 1837, joining an older brother in Kenosha but returned to the East in the fall of the same year. The following spring he again went on the river as a pilot but in 1842 made a permanent location. He took up his residence upon the claim which his father had purchased and where he now resides. Clearing it of the timber and brush with which nature had clothed it, he plowed the fields, planted crops, and in course of time had a fine farm. It was no easy task to develop land which was hitherto in its primitive condition but his unceasing labors soon worked a great transformation in the place.
Mr. Stetson was married in Kenosha in 1846, to Eliza Melville, who was born in Ireland, but spent the days of her maidenhood in this country. Unto them was born one son, Charles, who is now a railroad engineer and resides in Alton, Illinois. About 1852 Mr. Stetson was again married, his second union being with Ellen Maely, who was also born on the Emerald Isle and came to the United States when fifteen years old. They became the parents of two children: Julia Bennet, the elder, is now the wife of N.E. Thompson, who is Station Agent at Somers, and until them have been born two sons, William and Harry. Grosvenor A. now carries on the home farm. He was married but his wife died leaving one son, William Sanford."
(Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin, Chicago, Lake City Publishing Co., 1892).

More About William R. Stetson
"Mr. William R. Stetson one of the oldest residents of the Town of Somers, and one of the earliest pioneer settlers of Kenosha County, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. (Julia Stetson Thompson) N.E. Thompson, Thursday morning, October 8, 1903. Mr. Stetson had been in failing health for several years. The deceased was born in Westfield, New York on March 11, 1817. He came to Wisconsin in 1837. In 1842 he took up his residence upon the farm where he lived almost to the time of his death. In 1840 he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Melville. One son was born unto them, Charles Stetson, now of Chicago. In 1852 Mr. Stetson was again married, his second union being with Miss Ellen Maely. Two children were born unto them - Julia, the wife of N.E. Thompson and Grosvenor A. Stetson, both of Somers.
The death of Mr. Stetson marks the passing of one of the best known men in the county. He was a Republican in politics. He was connected with the School Board for nearly a quarter of a century and was a warm friend to the cause of education.
The funeral services conducted by Rev. McNary, were held from the home of his daughter Saturday afternoon. A large concourse of friends followed his remains to their last resting place in Oakwood Cemetery."
(Source: Racine Weekly Journal, October 16, 1903)

More about William R. Stetson
"William R. Stetson was a farmer, owning 163 acres in Section 13 of Somers Township. He was born in Westfield, New York and came West in 1840. His father, William A. Stetson, kept a hotel for a number of years. He married Miss Ellen Omealy, a native of New York. The Stetson's have two children: Grosvenor A. and Julia B.
(The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin, Chicago, Western Historical Company, 1879).

More About Ellen Stetson, wife of William R. Stetson
"Mrs. Ellen Stetson departed this life on Friday evening at her late home of heart trouble, The deceased was born in Ireland, May 17th 1831 came to this country when 15 years of age and resided in New York State until 1850, when she came to Kenosha. She was united in marriage to William R. Stetson in 1853. Two children, a son and a daughter, were born to them, Julia, the wife of N.E. Thompson, and Grosvenor. They, with their aged and feeble father, survive. Mrs. Stetson possessed rare traits of character which endeared her to all who knew her. She was a true, gentle devoted Christan. The funeral services were held from her late home Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. O.D. Dale.
(Source: Racine Daily Journal, publication date February 20, 1901)





1861 Partial Map of Somers Township, Kenosha County
Stetson parcels
Section 13
W.R. Stetson - 20 acres
W.A. Stetson - 60 acres
W.A. Stetson - 80 acres
Section 14
W.A. Stetson - 83 acres
W.R. Stetson 17-1/2 acres
W.A. Stetson - 5 acres
Section 23
W.A. Stetson - 50 acres
Click on map for closer view

G.A. (Grosvenor) Stetson
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source:  Photo by Larry & Linda Kopet, USGenWEb Archiv Wisconsin)

Grosvenor Stetson
Grosvenor Stetson will hold an auction sale tomorrow to dispose of his stock and farm implements after which he will move to Kenosha.
(Source:  Racine Journal Mar 21, 1904)


Carlton G. Stetson
Captain Carlton G. Stetson served in the 33rd Wis. Reg, Company "I" in the Civil War
Residence:  Somers
Enlisted:  August 6, 1862.  Lieut. September 3, 1862.
Killed in action April 2, 1865 at Spanish Fort, Alabama
(Source:  Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion 1861-1865, Vol. II)

Carl Stetson
Carl Stetson owned a parcel (value of real estate $3,000) near William R. Stetson.
Name:  Carl Stetson (Stetson)
Age in 1860:  31
Birth Year:  About 1829
Birthplace:  New York
Home in 1860:  Somers, Kenosha County
Members of Household:   Jennie born about 1819 and Myra born about 1857
(Source:  1860 U.S. Fed Census)