WI BIO - Kenosha Co - WILLERTON, Alfred & Charles H. 

Biography of Charles H. WILLERTON (father of Alfred)

History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western 
Historical, 1879, p 708

Charles H. WILLERTON, farmer, Section 27, Pleasant Prairie Township, Kenosha 
County, Wisconsin, P.O. Kenosha, was born 25 May 1820 in Kirby Lathorpe, 
Lincolnshire, England. He went into the dry goods and grocery business in 
Ramsey, Huntingdonshire. In 1853 he came to Log City, Madison County New 
York, and was in business as a butcher.

He came to Wisconsin in 1855, and located in Pleasant Prairie Township, 
buying two and one-fourth acres of land, afterward increasing it to five. He 
returned to England on a visit in 1864, and in 1865 purchased his present 
farm of eighty acres, on which he raises all kinds of grain and stock, making 
a specialty of sheep. In the fall he butchers cattle for the Kenosha market. 
He entirely remodeled and enlarged his present homestead in 1866, and in 
that and the following year planted about two hundred apple trees, which are 
now yielding handsomely.

On 27 May 1868 he [Charles H. WILLERTON] married Miss Mary Ann SAUNDERS of 
Cork, Ireland. They are members of the Methodist Church.

Biography of Alfred WILLERTON (son of Charles H.)

History of Kenosha and Kenosha County Wisconsin. Lyman. Chicago: Clarke 
Publishing, 1916, pp 333-334

Living on a farm of eighty-one acres on Section 27, Pleasant Prairie Township 
[Kenosha County, Wisconsin], Alfred WILLERTON has been a lifelong resident of 
Kenosha County and is a representative on one of its old pioneer families. 
His father, Charles H. WILLERTON, was born on 25 May 1820 in Kirby Lathrop, 
Lincolnshire, England, and in early manhood engaged in the dry goods and 
grocery business at Ramsay, Huntingdonshire, England. Coming to the New 
World, he [Charles H. WILLERTON] settled at Log City, Madison County, New 
York, in 1853, and after two years spent in New York State he arrived in 
Wisconsin in 1855, establishing his home in Pleasant Prairie Township, 
Kenosha County. In 1865 he [Charles H. WILLERTON] purchased eighty acres of 
land and turned his attention to the cultivation of grain and the raising of 
stock.

He [Charles H. WILLERTON] was twice married, his first wife being Sarah 
Eleanor WILLERTON, whom he wedded in London in 1851. His second wife was 
Miss Mary Ann SAUNDERS, a native of County Cork, Ireland, whom he [Charles H. 
WILLERTON] wedded on 27 May 1868. Mr. [Charles H.] WILLERTON first purchased 
five acres of land, on which he lived until he bought eighty-one acres more. 
(1) Alfred WILLERTON has two brothers: (2) William H., a resident of South 
Dakota, who has one son, Arthur; and (3) John C., of Waukegan [Lake County], 
Illinois, who has two sons, Charles and Earl. [Of which marriage(s) were 
Alfred, William H., and John C. WILLERTON the issue?]

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 [Charles H.], aiding in the further cultivation and 
development of the fields of the old home place. He [Alfred] 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. [Alfred] WILLERTON chose 
Miss Sarah A. BAIRD, whom he wedded on 18 December 1889. Her parents, [p 
334] James and Jane C. (STETSON) BAIRD, were married 06 April 1858. The 
former [James BAIRD] was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1820, and he died in 
1894. His wife [Jane C. (STETSON) BAIRD], who was born in 1837, died in 
1912. She was the first white child born in Southport, now Kenosha. 
[Southport became the City of Kenosha on 07 February 1850. Kenosha County 
was created from the southern portion of Racine County on 26 January 1850. 
The Territory of Wisconsin was formed 20 April 1836. Wisconsin became a 
state on 29 May 1848.]

In the BAIRD [James and Jane C. (STETSON) BAIRD] family were nine children, 
of whom the following are still living: (1) Jennie, who became the wife of 
John C. WILLERTON [brother of Alfred?] and has two sons; (2) 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; (3) Sarah, now Mrs. 
Alfred WILLERTON [the wife of the subject of this biography]; (4) Grace, the 
wife of George CONNELL, living in Lake County, Illinois; and (5) David, a 
resident of North Vernon [Jennings County], Indiana, who is married and has 
two children, Ruth Eleanor [who graduated from the Kenosha High School in 
1910] and Jane Louise. The latter [Jane Louise] is at home, but the former 
[Ruth Eleanor] has become the wife of George C. GOULD of Lake County, 
Illinois, and has one child, Glendora Louise. 

Fraternally Mr. [Alfred] WILLERTON is connected with Russell Camp, No. 1096, 
Modern Woodmen of America, of which he is the present advisor. [Russell, 
Lake County, Illinois, is just across the state line from the Village of 
Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha County, Wisconsin.] 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 [Episcopal] church [formed a 
congregation in late 1830's but built no church then], 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.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly