Alfred Willerton
As published in
"The City of Kenosha and Kenosha County Wisconsin: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement"
by Frank H. Lyman Vol. 2, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1916.
Living on a farm of eighty-one acres on Section 27, Pleasant Prairie Township Alfred Willerton has been a lifelong resident of Kenosha County and is a representative of one of its old pioneer families. His father, Charles H. Willerton, was born in Kirby Lathrop, Lincolnshire, England, on the 25th of May, 1820, and in early manhood engaged in the dry goods and grocery business at Ramsay, Huntingdonshire, England. Coming to the New World, he settled at Log City, Madison County, New York, in 1853, and after two years spent in the Empire State he arrived in Wisconsin in 1855, establishing his home in Pleasant Prairie Township, Kenosha County. In 1865 he purchased eighty acres of land and turned his attention to the cultivation of grain and the raising of stock.
He was twice married, his first wife being Sarah Eleanor Willerton, whom he wedded in London in 1851, his second wife being Miss Mary Ann Saunders, a native of County Cork, Ireland, whom he wedded on the 27th of May 1868. Mr. Willerton first purchased five acres of land, on which he lived until he bought eighty-one acres more. Alfred Willerton has two brothers: William H., a resident of South Dakota, who has one son, Arthur; and John C., of Waukegan, Illinois, who has two sons, Charles and Earl.
In the district schools of his home locality Alfred Willerton pursued his early education and in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons. When his textbooks were put aside he concentrated his efforts upon farm work with his father, aiding in the further cultivation and development of the fields of the old home place. He has since carried on general farming on Section 27, Pleasant Prairie Township, and has an excellent property, well improved with all modern equipments and accessories.
As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Willerton chose Miss Sarah A. Baird, whom he wedded on the 18th of December, 1889. Her parents, James and Jane C. (Stetson) Baird, were married April 6, 1858. The former was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1820, and his life record covered the intervening period to the year 1894. His wife, who was born in 1837, died in 1912. She was the first white child born in Southport, now Kenosha. In the Baird family were nine children, of whom the following are still living: Jennie, who became the wife of John C. Willerton and has two sons; Agnes L., who became the wife of William Fields of Lake County, Illinois, and removed to Utah, where they now live with their two children; Sarah, now Mrs. Alfred Willerton; Grace, the wife of George Connell, living in Lake County, Illinois; and David, a resident of North Vernon, Indiana, who is married and has two children, Ruth Eleanor and Jane Louise. The latter is at home, but the former has become the wife of George C. Gould of Lake County, Illinois, and has one child, Glendora Louise.
Fraternally Mr. Willerton is connected with Russell Camp, No. 1096, Modern Woodmen of America, of which he is the present advisor. He has been escort of the camp for several years and also manager. He votes with the Republican party but has never sought nor desired political office. He has, however, been officially connected with the schools, and he is a consistent and faithful member of the North Prairie Methodist church, guiding his life according to its teachings. He displays many sterling traits of character manifest in his reliability in business affairs, his public-spirited citizenship and his loyalty in friendship.
Typed by: Michelle Laycock
 |
|