Dearsley

1861 Partial Somers Township Map
Section 6.  Walter Dearsley parcel, lake shore

William S. Dearsley
William S. Dearsley, who is operating a fine farm on Section 6 in Somers Township was born in England on the 29th of September 1846 and received his education in the common schools of that country.  When thirteen years of age, however, he accompanied his parents, Walter and Ann (Shepard) Dearsley, on their emigration to the United States.  The family settled in Kenosha County, where the father bought forty-five acres of land.  He engaged in operating that place during his remaining years and gained recognition as one of the successful agriculturists of his locality.  He was a Republican in politics and for several years, served as district clerk and for one term as a member of the Town Board.  In religious faith he was an Episcopalian.  He was married in 1845 and his children were two in number:  William W. and Laura.
William S. Dearsley continued his education in the public schools of Somers Township until he was eighteen years of age, when he concentrated his energies upon assisting his father with the farm work.  He was so engaged until the later's death in 1893, when the home place came into the possession of our subject, who is still cultivating it.  Everything about the farm is kept in excellent condition, the land is in a high state of cultivation, and the improvements are substantial and modern.  Mr. Dearsley is energetic and progressive, and his well directed labors are rewarded by a good financial return.
In 1875 Mr. Dearsley was married to Miss Helena Wyman, a daughter of Michael and Emeline Wyman, who were among the earliest settlers of Racine County.  Six children have been born to this union, as follows:  Mabel who is at home; Grace, the wife of George Scheckler a resident of Mt. Pleasant who whom she has two children, Irwin and Ethel; William Walter, who married Inez Shaw and has had two children, Lorraine and Virginia, deceased; Isabel who is at home; Ethel Lucy; and Lillian, deceased.
(Source:  City and County of Kenosha Record of Settlement by Frank H. Lyman, Vol. II, Chicago, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1916)

William S. Dearsley
Oakwood Cemetery, Somers, Wisconsin
(Source:  Photo by Larry & Linda Kopet, USGenWebArchives Wisconsin)

Laura I.  Dearsley
Oakwood Cemetery, Somers, Wisconsin
(Source: Photo by Larry & Linda Kopet, USGenWebArchives Wisconsin)

 Ethel Lucy Dearsley
Oakwood Cemetery, Somers, Wisconsin
(Source: Photo by Larry & Linda Kopet, USGenWebArchives Wisconsin)

Lena  Dearsley
Oakwood Cemetery, Somers, Wisconsin
(Source: Photo by Larry & Linda Kopet, USGenWebArchives Wisconsin)

Mabel Dearsley
Oakwood Cemetery, Somers, Wisconsin
(Source: Photo by Larry & Linda Kopet, USGenWebArchives Wisconsin)

More About Dearsley
"Michael Wyman, age 86, died at the home of his daughter at Berryville, Mrs. W.S. Dearsley.  He was born in Germany and came to America in 1852.  Funeral services will take place at the Berryville church."
(Source:  Racine Journal News, publication date April 10, 1903)

"At the last meeting of the Berryville church Sunday School, the following was elected:
 Miss Grace Dearsley, Missionary Treasurer and Teacher of Class No. 4"
(Source:  Racine Journal, publication date August 22, 1899)

"Miss Julia Dearsley of Racine has been visiting Miss Belle Dearsley."
(Source:  Racine Daily, publication date August 9, 1899)

"Three of the churches of Racine held picnics in Berryville on Saturday.  The First M.E. church in Mr. Piper's Grove; the church of the Holy Innocents in Mr. Dearsley's Grove; and the German Evangelical in Mr. Kreuger's Grove."
(Source:  Racine Daily, publication date August 17, 1899)

"Mrs. J.W. Dearsley and son of Racine were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Dearsley in Berryville last week."
(Source:  Racine Daily, publication date September 6, 1899)

"President Larson of the Foreman's National Assoc. in Racine was given a painting, life size portrait, painted by John W. Dearsley, foreman of the molding department of S. Freeman & Sons Mfg. Co. of Racine.  Mr. Dearsley has made other paintings in the past and is classed among the lead amateur artists of the state."
(Source:  Racine Daily, publication date January 13, 1908)

"Farmer Dearsley, residing on the Lake Shore Road in Berryville, came to town last night and stated than unusual thing happened at his barn early in the afternoon.  More than fifteen hundred swallows appeared and swarmed into the barn.  His son went into the building and scooped up the birds in his hands, the same as one would scoop up corn.  The cold appeared to have driven the birds to shelter and they were numb.  The species of the swallow is entirely different from anything Mr. Dearsley has ever seen in this part of the country."
(Source:  Racine Daily, publication date May 16, 1907)

"The funeral service of the late Lorraine Dearsley, 4 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Dearsley was private because of the nature of the illness from which she had suffered.  Internment was held at Graceland Cemetery."  (Note:  This entry is provided to suggest other family members may be interred at Graceland Cemetery in Racine.)
(Source:  Racine Daily, publication date May 15, 1918)

Note:  The biographical sketch of John W. Dearsley is found starting on page 532 of the book:  Biographical Record of representative men of Racine and Kenosha Counties by J.H. Beers & Co. Chicago 1906.  This may provide additional resources to relate the two Dearsley families.


1880 U. S. Federal Census
Walter Dearsley, age 64 in 1880, born about 1816 in England
Home in 1880:  Somers Township, Kenosha County
Marital Status:  Widower
Occupation:  Huckster (Note:  huckster is one who sells wares or provisions in the street, a peddler of fruits)
Lived at this location:
William Dearsley, age 33
Helena Dearsley, age 26, daughter-in-law
Mabel Dearsley, age 4, grand-daughter
Grace Dearsley, age 1, grand-daughter
Laura Dearsley, age 22, school teacher
Christopher Peterson, age 18, farm labor
Frank Grasser, age 15, farm labor

U.S. Naturalization Records
Walter Dearsley was born in England in 1816 and arrived in the United States in June 1856 in New York.
William Shepard Dearsley was born in England on September 29, 1846 and arrived in June 1858 in New York.

Note About Dearsley regarding Shepard
To anyone researching the Dearsley family history, you may want to investigate the Ann Shepard family.  The Township of Somers had a Shepard family (named spelled the same) who lived in the western part of the Township.  You may or may not find a connection.  You will find information about the Shepard family in my Somers Pioneer History web site.  See link above "More Blogs".