Biographical Sketch of

Samuel Searls

Transcribed by Sandy Boudrou



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 549 - 550 


Samuel Searls, a representative farmer of Waushara County, has resided upon his present farm on section 31, in 
the town of Oasis, since 1858, which year witnessed his arrival in Wisconsin.  From that day to the present he 
has been regarded as one of the best citizens of the community, and has identified himself with such interests 
as are calculated to promote the general welfare.  He was born in Northwestern Canada, on the 24th of November, 
1819, but his parents, Andrew and Abigail (Dusenberry) Searls were natives of Dutchess County, N. Y.  They were 
there married, and two children were born prior to their emigration to Canada, which occurred in 1814.  William, 
their eldest child, died in Canada, and Egbert died in Rochester, N. Y.  After their removal to the north, the 
family was increased by the birth of the following children:  Sarah, widow of Jacob Carnaby, who died in England, 
his native land, is now living in Norwich, Canada; Mary is the wife of George Chittenden, an Englishman, of 
Bardford, Canada; Andrew, Jeremiah and Henry are deceased; Abigail is the wife of Henry Caton, of Norwich, 
Canada; Doreas and Alfred have also passed away.  The parents spent their last days in Norwich, Canada, where 
the father died at the age of sixty years, while the mother lived to the advanced age of eighty years.  Both 
were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Mr. Searls was a quiet, reserved man, who preferred the 
enjoyment of his home to outside pleasures.
 
When twenty years of age, our subject entered upon his business career.  He learned the carpenter's and joiner's 
trade, which he followed for some time, but has made farming his principal occupation since his arrival in Waushara 
County.  He was married on the 17th of October, 1847, to Miss Hannah Palmer, who was born in New Brunswick, and is 
a daughter of Enoch and Lybie (Burpee) Palmer, both of whom were of early New England families.  They have long 
since passed away, the father dying in Canada and the mother in New Brunswick.  Nine children have been born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Searls, as follows:  Jacob, who wedded Miss Lottie Horton, is now extensively engaged in the culture of 
cranberries, in Wood County, Wis.; Enoch, who married Miss Florence Stevens, is a farmer and carpenter of Park 
City, Yellowstone Co., Mont.; Andrew, who is engaged in the culture of cranberries in Centralia, Wis., was joined 
in wedlock with Miss Ella Gustin; Melvin, a resident farmer of the town of Oasis, Waushara County, married Miss 
Lizzie Fay; Robert, who wedded Mrs. Belle (Lane) Wileman, is engaged in farming in Deerfield; Herbert, who wedded 
Miss Ada Tustin, is living in the town of Oasis; Addie is the wife of Frank Babcock, of the same town; Lillie is the 
wife of Albert F. Dafoe, a farmer of the town of Oasis; and Howard, who married Miss Hattie Collins, has charge of 
the old home farm.
 
As before stated, Mr. Searls, in company with his family, emigrated to Waushara County.  He had traveled to some 
extent over Wisconsin, and had also visited Iowa, but found no place with which he was so well suited as this 
county.  Purchasing eighty acres of the farm on which he now resides, he built a frame house, 18 x 26 feet, and 
began life in the West.  That home, remodeled and repaired, now forms a part of his present commodious and sub-
stantial residence.  Under its sheltering roof the children grew to mature years, and when they left for homes of 
their own went forth with the parents' blessing.  They had been reared to habits of industry, honesty and sobriety, 
and following the teachings of their youth, all have become useful and honorable citizens, and are an honor to 
their parents. Intoxicating liquors have never been used by any of them, and only one of the sons has ever been 
addicted to the use of tobacco.  The members of the Searls family are all spoken of with respect, and it gives 
us pleasure to thus mention them in the volume of their county's history.
 
Mr. Searls still continues his farming operations, but his youngest son has relieved him of the harder part of 
the labor.  He increased his possessions until at one time they comprised 200 acres of land, but he has since 
disposed of sixty acres of that amount.  A worthy and valued citizen, he possesses the confidence and respect 
of his fellow townsmen in a remarkable degree, and for seventeen years has held the office of Postmaster of 
Oasis, without opposition.  He is liberal in all views of public policy, is charitable and benevolent and does 
all in his power to advance the condition of mankind.  For a half century he has been a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church and his labors in behalf of that organization have been unceasing.  Long and earnestly he has 
labored for the Master, and has lived a life of such uprightness that he is beloved by all who know him.  He is 
a man of strong convictions when he believes himself to be in the right.  Long prior to the late war he enter-
tained decided abolition principles, and freely expressed his views on that subject.  The cause of temperance 
has now taken a strong hold on his sympathies, and he will continue his opposition to the liquor traffic until 
it shall be abolished or his life shall end.  Mr. Searls is truly one of nature's noblemen, and of whom it may 
be said the world is better for his having lived.






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