Birchell

Thomas Richard Birchell
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source:  Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright October 2011)

Charlotte E. Birchell, wife of Thomas Richard Birchell
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source:  Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright October 2011)

About the Birchell Family
Thomas Birchell was born in Lancashire, England on about 1807.  He married Ann Collier on August 21, 1826 at Pennington, Lancashire, England.  They had 7 children, of which 4 died in England before the Birchell family came to America.
Thomas' eldest son, William, came to America in 1848 with his three cousins: Joseph Collier, Joshua Boydell, and Joshua Collier.  Joshua Collier served in the Wisconsin cavalry during the Civil War and he was a minister at the M.E. Church at Kellogg's Corners.
William worked on the Jonathan Dorning farm.  His father Thomas, mother Ann, and two children followed in May, 1853.  Thomas farmed land in Section 25 of Yorkville Township, Racine County.  Thomas died September 25, 1876 and Ann died May 30, 1889.
Children of Thomas and Ann Collier Birchell are: William died in Kansas in 1926, Mary died in England in 1932, Roger died in England in 1847, Richard died in England in 1849, Elizabeth died in England in 1847, Mary married Leonard Steiner of Yorkville and died 1910 buried in Sylvania Cemetery, and James married Christina Meinzer and died April 3, 1916 buried in Sylvania Cemetery.




James Birchell, about 1900, Yorkville, Racine County, Wisconsin
(Source:  Culshaw-Lee Family Tree/Ancestry.com)

James Birchell came to America with his parents in May, 1853 arriving at the Port of New York.  He married Christina B. Meinzer on June 4, 1867 in Racine, Wisconsin.  The Meinzer's came to America from Baden, Germany in 1847.  James farmed in parts of Sections 25 and 26 in Yorkville Township.  James and Christina had seven children.  Christina died on the family farm on April 16, 1901.  James later married again to Anna E. Johansen of Racine and they lived in Racine.  He died there on April 3, 1916.  His second wife, Anna Johansen Birchell, is buried in Mound Cemetery, Racine, Wisconsin.
Children of James Birchell and Christina K. Meinzer:

Elizabeth A. Birchell.  Born April 26, 1868 in Yorkville Township.  She married Alvin B. Jones (Feb. 22, 1866 - Nov 23, 1957) on December 6, 1893.  They had one daughter, Gertrude, who died of meningitis as a baby.  Elizabeth died August 6, 1950 and is buried in the Union Grove Cemetery.

Wendell Thomas Birchell.  Born July 7, 1870 in Yorkville Township.  He married Minnie F. Jones (Nov 22, 1876 - Feb. 2, 1904) on December 25, 1899.  Minnie was the sister of Alvin B. Jones (see above).  Wendell and Minnie had one daughter, Ella Florence who was born May 18, 1901.  Wendell died July 20, 1956 and is buried in Yorkville Cemetery.

Katherine H. Birchell.  Born March 26, 1872 in Yorkville Township.  She married Anthony Jackson (June 12, 1878 - Aug. 13, 1945).  They had no children.  Katherine died December 17, 1950 and is buried in Mound Cemetery in Racine.

Frank A. Birchell.  Born May 14, 1875 in Yorkville Township.  He married  Lulu Bell Woolfenden (Mar. 1, 1874 - May 30, 1948) on December 25, 1898 in Stratton, Nebraska.  The had one daughter, Helen (Oct 9, 1908 - March 4, 1980).  Frank died as the result of an automobile accident at Douglas, Wyoming on August 19, 1932.  He is buried in West Lawn Cemetery in Gering, Nebraska.

Thomas Richard Birchell.  Born June 29, 1877 in Yorkville Township.  He married Charlotte Edna Haigh (March 24, 1882 - December 22, 1943) on December 29, 1904.  Charlette is the daughter of Enoch and Charlotte (Bowers) Haigh (See map and Section 8) of Somers Township.  Thomas and Charlotte had two children:  Gladys (Mrs. Archie Bush) and Jesse Enoch.  Thomas died in Somers Township on November 2, 1955.  He and Charlotte are buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Somers, Wisconsin.

Ada F. Birchell.  Born March 27, 1879 in Yorkville Township.  He married William P. Pultz (July 7, 1877 - June 22, 1946) on November 28, 1905.  They had no children.  Ada died January 24, 1932 at Racine and is buried in Mound Cemetery in Racine.

Charles M. Birchell.  Born December 4, 1886 in Yorkville Township.  He never married.  Charles died in Somers Township on May 8, 1932 and is buried in Sylvania Cemetery.

About Ann Collier Birchell
Ann Collier had several siblings who resided in Yorkville.  They are buried in Sylvania Cemetery.  One of Ann Collier's brothers, Richard Collier, owned approximately 121 acres in Section 6 West of Somers Township.  It is shown here as the "R. Collier Est."  See map below.

"Richard Collier was born in Lancashire, England on May 14, 1814.  He was married to Martha in England.  He had a daughter Betsey before he was married to Martha.  Richard and Martha came to America in 1851.  They settled first in Connecticut, and came to Wisconsin three years later.  Martha died September 16, 1882.  Richard Collier first farmed in Yorkville township in Racine County.  He sold that farm on September 5, 1889 and bought a larger farm in Somers Township on August 28, 1894.  Richard died from a farming accident on July 20, 1897.
Richard's daughter Betsey was born June 2, 1830 in Lancashire, England, married William Woodward, had a son Henry and came to America in 1883 to keep house for Richard after his wife died.  Betsey died Feb. 10, 1913 and is buried at Sylvania Cemetery."

About Mary Birchell Steiner
Leonard Steiner was born on March 12, 1836 in Oberwalden, Goppingen, Wurtemburg, Germany. He came to America with his parents who settled in Greenfield Township, Milwaukee County, but Leonard came to Racine County by the early 1850's to work on farms in the Sylvania (Yorkville) area.  On November 20, 1864 he married Mary Birchell, daughter of Thomas and Ann (Collier) Birchell.
(Source: Mary Ann Culshaw Falk and the Sylvania Cemetery Trustees)

1899 partial map of Somers Township, Kenosha County
This map highlights the North West corner (I-94 and Racine-kenosha County Line Road)
of Somers Township, also known as Kellogg's Corner.  Notice on the map there is a church and school icon which represent the M.E. Church and Kellogg's Corners School.

A Little More About the Birchell's

"The Somers Farm Bureau Association will hold a big picnic at Birchell's Woods on Labor Day.

(Source:  Racine Journal Times, publication date August 24, 1921)

"Mrs. Harry Dixon and daughter are spending the week with her sister, Mrs. Thomas Birchell at Sylvania.

(Source:  Racine Journal Times, publication date April 6, 1906)

"Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Birchell and family of Yorkville will move into one of Enoch Haigh's farms after November 1.

(Source:  Racine Journal Times, publication date October 26, 1917)