BIOGRAPHIES: W F SEARLE, Brill, Barron County, WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Vic Gulickson 7 January 2002 ==================================================================== W. F. Searle, who is successfully conducting 40 acres in the Village of Brill, after having owned and operated numerous farms in Wisconsin and for South Dakota, is well known here and pleasantly remembered in all the places where he has resided. He was born near Lands End, Cornwall, England, Feb. 16, 1855, son of William and Ann (Pollard) Searle. The father, who was a veterinary surgeon, brought his family to America in 1859, and located near Rockford, I11. From there he came to a farm near Cambria, Columbia County, Wis., and from there to a farm near Mauston, Juneau County, Wis. During the Civil War he served about fifteen months in the 9th Wis. Battery, and was discharged by reason of eye trouble contracted in crossing the sand plains. After that he returned to Mauston. From there he went to Baraboo, Sauk County, in this state. A few years later his pension enabled him to purchase a farm near Reedsburg, in Juneau County, and there he and his wife lived the remainder of their lives. He was born June 7, 1809, and died Dec. 3, 1891. She was born Aug. 6, 1812, and died March 26, 1874. W. F. Searle received his education in the rural schools and early took up farming. As a youth he also learned the blacksmith trade. At the age of twenty-one he rented a farm in Baraboo Township, Sauk County, for a year. Then he worked as a blacksmith at Lyons, in Sauk County, this state, for a year. After a short time, in which he was variously employed, he took over the management of his father's farm at Excelsior, Sauk County, this state, in 1879, for eight years. In 1887 for a year he operated a farm near North Freedom, in Sauk County, this state. Then for three years he farmed once more in Baraboo Township. Then he returned to his father's farm for four years, then moved onto an adjoining farm for three years, and then onto another neighboring farm for three years more. Then for five years he operated a farm on Webster's Prairie, Delton Township, Sauk County. Jan. 26, 1899, he started to drive overland to South Dakota, reaching his destination Feb. 11. For seven years he rented farms in Brookings County, in that state, one farm for one year, another for three years, and still another for three years. Then he came back to this state, and collected cream at Baraboo for three years. He once more returned to Brookings County in 1909 and farmed for two years. In 1911 he came to Barron County and rented a farm in Dallas Township. He came to Brill in 1913 and bought his present farm of 40 acres. The tract was then a desolate stretch of stumps and brush and rocks, little resembling the present highly developed farm. He cleared up the property, fenced it, erected a good house, barn and other buildings, and purchased suitable tools, implements and machinery. He has a good herd of Jersey cattle, and specializes in dairying and potato raising. After a life filled with hard work he is now on the road to a well-deserved'success. Mr. Searle was married Feb. 24, 1876, in Baraboo Township, Sauk County, Wis., to Lettie Graves, who was born in that county, Aug. 12, 1855, daughter of Willet J. and Rebecca Ann (Murphy) Graves, prominent residents of Delton Township, Sauk County, where they farmed for many years, the father, who was born June 5, 1816, dying May 15, 1884, and the mother, who was born June 20, 1833, dying July 9, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Searle have had eight children: Luella Maude, L. May, Eva Belle, Edith Frances, Sarah, George H., Frank V. and Inez A. Luella Maude was born Nov. 19, 1876, and is the wife of James Brown, of South Dakota. L. May was born Sept. 6, 1878, and died in August, 1913. Eva Belle was born Sept. 20, 1880, and died June 12, 1891. Edith Frances was born July 1, 1886, and is the wife of Wallace Miner, of Stanfold Township, this county. Sarah was born Aug. 15, 1888, and is the wife of Fred Wright, of South Dakota. George H. was born March 18, 1892, and is connected with the produce business in Brill. Frank V. was born Sept. 26, 1894, and is a potato buyer at Brill. Inez A. was born Jan. 21, 1896, and died Sept. 12, 1896. The family faith is that of the Presbyterian Church. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 724-725.