William Sears, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of William Sears
WILLIAM SEARS, a retired carpenter and builder of Wilmot, Salem township, Kenosha Co., Wis., is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Wayne county July 22, 1833, son of John and Betsey Elizabeth (Arnold) Sears, also natives of that State and county.
The paternal grandfather of William Sears was Josiah Sears, a farmer and a native of Pennsylvania. He was twice married, and to the second union were born two children, Archibald and Amanda. Josiah Sears died in Indiana, aged ninety-one years. The maternal grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was known as "Captain" Arnold. He made his home in Wayne county, Pa., where he died well advanced in years. He and his wife had six or seven children.
The parents of William Sears removed to Indiana in 1867, settling in Porter county, where they engaged in farming. There Mr. Sears died in 1894, aged over eighty years, while his widow survived until 1902, and was about ninety years old at the time of her death. In religion she was a Baptist, while he adhered to the faith of the Universalists. Seven children were born to them: William; Olive, deceased, who was the wife of E. C. Porter; Rosina, who died young; Jane, widow of Harvey Deming, of Chicago; John, of Hanna, Laporte Co., Ind.; and Charles and George, also of Hanna.
William Sears was reared in Wayne county, Pa., attended the common schools, and there learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for many years. In 1859 he located in Indiana, settling in Valparaiso, Porter county, where he lived for twenty-one years. He enlisted during the Civil war in the 59th Regiment, Ind. V. I., in Company H, and served from 1864 until the close of the war. During the Atlanta campaign he was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea.
In 1861 Mr. Sears married Miss Elizabeth Smith, who died the same year. During 1870 Mr. Sears removed to Wilmot, Wis., and he has been a resident of that place ever since. On Nov. 17, 1871, he married Miss Mary Mclntyre, the adopted daughter of Hugh Mclntyre and wife, old residents of Wilmot. Mr. Sears belongs to Fred Lovell Post, G. A. R., of Kenosha. Politically he is a Republican.
Source: J. H. Beers & Company. 1906. Commemorative Biographical Record of Prominent and Representative Men of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin. Chicago, Illinois: J. H. Beers & Company. 645 p.
Page(s) in Source: 439
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook