My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM SEARES, a well-known citizen of Cass County and a prominent farmer residing on section 34, La Grange Township, was born in Erie County, Pa., sixteen miles from the city of that name, on the 10th of June, 1816. His paternal grandfather, Richard Seares, was a native of New Jersey, and followed the occupations of a farmer and hotel-keeper. Unto him and his wife, whose maiden name was Charity Bennett, were born the following-named children: Phoebe, who married William Dooty; Isaac, father of our subject; Polly, who married William Custard; Sophia, who became the wife of Lyman Robinson; Philema, Mrs. O. W. Brawn; and Bennett. There were also two children who died in infancy. Politically, Grandfather Seares was a prominent and active worker in the Democratic party. He was a pioneer of Erie County, Pa., where he made settlement in an early day, when settlers were few and hardships numerous.

The father of our subject, Isaac Seares, was born in Connecticut, near Hartford, and was reared to manhood in New York, receiving his education in the common schools. When about nineteen years old he accompanied his parents to Pennsylvania, and at the same time, or soon afterward, he enlisted as a private in the War of 1812. At the expiration of his term of service he returned to Erie County, where, at the age of thirty, he married Mary, daughter of Richard and Susan (Custard) Custard. He resided in various places in Pennsylvania, and about 1821 came to Michigan. In 1835 he came to Cass County and purchased eight hundred and eighty-eight acres, and during the following year he brought his family. The land was entirely unimproved, and in order to bring his family to the place he was compelled to cut the roads. However, as years passed by he was enabled to make many improvements and to bring the place to a high state of cultivation. Upon the home he there established his life was brought to a close in 1839.

At the time of his demise Isaac Seares left a widow and the following-named children: Abraham, deceased; Andrew, who went to Texas many years ago and has not been heard of for more than thirty years; John and Richard, deceased; William, of this sketch; Phoebe, Mrs. Alfred White, deceased; Susan, who married Richard Walker; Sarah, deceased; Charity, the wife of Mr. Byers; and Irene, Mrs. Jonathan Bangham. The mother of this family passed away at the age of seventy-four years of age. In his political belief, Mr. Seares, Sr., was a Whig, and served his fellow-citizens in numerous positions of trust, the most important being that of Treasurer of Cass County.

In his youthful days, the subject of this sketch remained beneath the parental roof. His father having given him one hundred and sixty acres where he now lives, he commenced the work of clearing the soil and developing the land. Through proper methods of fertilization and close study of the various cereals best adapted to the soil, he was enabled to secure the very best results and brought his land to a high slate of cultivation. In 1840 he married Miss Margaret, daughter of Thomas Miller, and a native of Pennsylvania. To them were born seven children, as follows: Thomas, who served for three years in the late war and was wounded in the hand during one of the engagements in which he participated; Mary A., who died at the age of twenty years; Arde Lissa, who married Joseph Bangham; Abraham, deceased; Isaac N., a resident of California; Frank, who makes his home in Pennsylvania; and George, deceased.

A member of the Presbyterian Church from his youth, Mr. Seares has occupied various official positions in that denomination. Politically, he is a Republican, and many years ago was chosen County Clerk. He filled the position for one term, but upon being again offered the position declined to serve. In addition to conducting a general farming business, he has engaged in the sale of farm implements for a number of years, At one time he was the owner of three hundred and forty acres of land, the greater part of which he and his brother placed under cultivation. Now, in the declining years of his life, he can look back upon the past without regret, and can look forward to the future without fear. Such has been his life that he has won a place among the honorable and enterprising citizens of the county.