William Searles

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

William Searles

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

William SEARLES is one of the prosperous farmers of the younger generation in German Valley, Morris county, New Jersey, and represents a family which has been identified with the interests of this country for many generations. The name of Searles is an ancient English one, and is found under various spellings in the early Colonial records, such as: Searl, Serl, Serle, etc. The family appears to have had several representatives who vibrated between Boston and Barbadoes, and most of them appear to have been men of considerable means, which were probably acquired in maritime speculation. The name was spread by the wave of pioneer migration 200 years ago, and has been found numerously represented throughout the United States, and always with honorable mention.

Isaiah, father of William SEARLES, was born in Morris county on the homestead, and died there at the age of sixty-six years. He was a farmer all the active years of his life. He married Margaret D. HULL, born in 1841, died in January, 1914, and had five children.

William SEARLES was born in Warren county, New Jersey, in 1878 and at the age of three years removed with his parents to Morris county, where he has lived since that time. He attended the public schools near his home, and at a suitable age became actively identified with farming interests. He has been located on his present farm at German Valley, for a number of years, and utilizes the 113 acres of which it consists, for general market gardening and for dairy purposes. He has no trouble in disposing of his products, as they are all of a very fine quality. He has made numerous improvements on this property, and a number of the buildings now on it were erected by him. He is a staunch supported of the Republican party, has served as a member of the Republican county committee, member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. SEARLES married Susie PERRINE, born in Warren county, a daughter of Theodore, and they have children: Mabel and William Jr.