Obit: Searls, George (1872 - 1942)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Searls, Bass, McKinney, Fleming, Wilson, Regele, Lund, Dorrance, Giertz, Endicott, Free, Reichert, Mueller, Bennett, Sandow, McMillan

----Sources: The Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 10 Sept. 1942

Searls, George (7 Sept. 1872 - 2 Sept. 1942)

George Searls was born September 7, 1872, in the town of Marshall, Richland County. He departed this life on the second of September, 1942, at his home on 691 E. Burton Street, Richland Center, Wis. He was the last surviving member of the eleven children of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Searls. As a young man he went to Grey Eagle, Minn., where he was united in marriage to Ada Bass in 1891. To this union were born three daughters and a son. He made his home there until about 1910 where he returned to Wisconsin where he stayed until the death of his father that fall.

On December 18, 1912, his second marriage to Bertha McKinney of Pau Pau, Ill., took place. The couple lived there for a year before going to Montana in January of 1914. To this union were born three sons and two daughters. They resided in Montana until October, 1926, when they returned to Clark County, where they continued farming until October, 1940. His health having failed, they moved to Richland County, near his boyhood home.

Rev. R. J. Fleming of Viroqua conducted the services. The remains were laid to rest in the Sylvan Cemetery.

He leaves to mourn his widow and the following children: Mrs. Wade Wilson, Los Angeles, Calif.; Mrs. O. M. Regele, Billings, Mont.; Harold Searls, St. Paul; Mrs. Sherman Lund, Lee, Nevada; Gerald Dorrance and Myron, Peoria, Ill.; Mrs. Milton (Myrna) Giertz, and Lorene Searls, Chicago. He also leaves ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins who will remember him for his many loving kindnesses.

Out of town relatives and friends here for the funeral were: Mrs. Julia Searls, son, Harold, and Frank Endicott, of Granton; Mrs. Herbert Free, daughter, Leatrice, and son, Donald, Neillsville; Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Reichert, Reedsburg; Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Searls, Oconomowoc; Mrs. Arthur Mueller, Madison; Mrs. Oliver Bennett; Mr. and Mrs. Len Sandow and son, and Minor McMillan, all of Beloit.