- BIRTH: 28 APR 1804, Lima,,NY
- DEATH: 22 JAN 1884, Sears,,IL
- BURIAL: ,,,1271
Father: Joseph SEARS
Mother: Sarah PITTS
Family 1:
Melinda STOKES
- MARRIAGE: 1824, Shawneetown,,IL
- Melinda SEARS
- Mary SEARS
- Abigail SEARS
- SEARS
- Caroline SEARS
- Sarah SEARS
Family 2:
Delia CALDWELL
- Polly SEARS
- Margaret SEARS
- David SEARS
- William H H SEARS
- George Washington SEARS
- Barbara Jane SEARS
- Janette SEARS
- Henry H SEARS
_Simeon SEARS ______
_Joseph SEARS _|
| |_Tryphena HURLBURT _
|
|--David Benton SEARS
|
| ____________________
|_Sarah PITTS __|
|____________________
INDEX
Notes
!BIRTH-FATHER-SPOUSE-CHILDREN-DEATH-BIOGRAPHY: Samuel Pearce May, THE
DESCENDANTS OF RICHARD SARES(SEARS) OF YARMOUTH,MASS; 1638-1888; Albany, Joel
Munsell's Sons, 1890; p 379; NEHGS Library, Boston, MA; I combined RIN 970 with
this record because of the close match with the census record.
David Sears was born in Lima, Livingston co., NY in Apr 1804,
and in his seventh year removed with his parents to Sciota Valley, OH, where
they lived during the war of 1812, enduring great hardships, their lives being
frequently imperiled by the attacks of marauding Indians.
They were finally compelled to leave their home, and flee for safety to Fort
Erie, thier flight taking them across the Sciota river, and in making the
passage their rude boat was upset, and two of his sisters and a brother were
drowned.
Reaching the fort they availed themselves of its protection until after
Perry's famous victory, they being within sound of the guns during the
engagement.
They then removed to Cincinatti, and in 1814, ventured still further west,
settling in Switzerland co., IN.
In 1818, they again pulled up stakes, and struck out for the Wabash valley,
where they finally located permanently.
Two years after, David, who was then in his seventeenth year, yearning for an
education, resolved to return to his native state.
Accordingly, wrapping all his spare clothing in a cotton handkerchief, he
started for New Orleans on a flat-boat, where he arrived safely, and went round
to New York by sailing vessel, from whence he proceeded to his mother's people,
living near Syracuse.
Something seems to have to occurred which interfered with his plans for
obtaining an education, for in the course of a year we find him on his way back
to IL. The reason for this sudden move may, perhaps, be reading the record of
his first marriage, which occurred in 1824, the woman of his choice being Miss
Melinda Stokes of Shawneetown, IL.
The young people commenced life on a farm of eighty acres near that place, and
for a period of fourteen years Mr Sears made farming his vocation, taking annual
trips to New orleans to dispose of his produce, which he shipped by flat-boat.
On these trips lucrative inducements were frequently held out to him by south
-ern traders to enter the slave trade, but to accept such a proposition was
contrary to the cardinal principles of his life, and he never attempted to
better his fortunes in that way.
In 1836, Mr Sears became possessed of a desire to see the Upper Mississippi
valey, of whose wonderful fertility and beauty he had heard so much, and leaving
his home, he directed his course to the point now covered by the busy little
city of Moline. Not a building of any kind then stood there, the lovely Rock
Island had remained as nature had made it. The swift waters of the mighty
river flowed wastefully past it on either side.
Five miles below, old "Black Hawk's watch tower" raised its head in primitive
grandeur above the broad valley of the Rock river, whose enchained water
power now turns the wheels of numerous industries.
The scene unfolded to the gaze of Mr. Sears was not only one of surpassing
loveliness, but it also revealed, as his quick eye discovered, superior
advantages for the location and development of large manufacturing interests.
The purpose of making this his permanent abiding place was immediately
formed. The building of a habitation and removal of his family and chattels
was soon accomplished, and then began the work which has made the name of
Sears and the history of Moline's industrial progress inseparable.
In 1837, Mr. Sears, in company with J.W. Spencer, Calvin Ainsworth, and
Spencer M. White, commenced building the first dam across the river between
Rock Island and the Illinois shore.
In the fall of 1841, they erected a two-story saw-mill, and placed on the
upper floor a run of burrs, for the accommodation of the neighboring farmers,
the nearest flour-mill at that time being one hundred miles distant.
Thomas Patterson supervised the work as millwright, and Jona. Huntoon dressed
and fitted the stones.
In 1843, the company built the "big mill," at a cost of some $30,000;
it was a four-run mill, and the machinery the best that could be procured
at that period.
Mr. Sears was noted for his readiness to adopt improved appliances for the
simplification and lightening of labor.
He brought to Moline the first rotary saw used in the Mississippi valley
above St. Louis, thereby incurring the transient displeasure of his employees
who looked upon it as an encroachment on their rights.
By an arrangement with his partmers, he completed the new structure with
his own funds, his right to the water power being made for a term of years.
He controlled the mill and its business until 1848, shipping its products
to St. Louis and lower Mississippi river points.
About 1843, Mr. Sears in company with Charles Atkinson, laid out and plotted
the town of Moline and its "Island City" subdivision, which consisted of a
tract of thirty-seven acres, on the upper end of Rock Island, then held as
a military reserve.
This tract he secured the right from Congress to enter at $1.25 per acre,
the privilege being granted him in consideration of the benefits to navigation
which had accrued from the building of the dam on the Illinois side.
Mr. Sears established a foundry, erected a store and other buildings in
Moline, and thereafter for years had a hand in the advancement of every
project which had the material improvement of the town for its aim.
In 1845, he built a saw-mill, and in 1859, a three-run flour-mill on
Benham's Island, a narrow strip of land lying contiguous to Rock Island on
the north, thereby developing a water power between the two islands.
He constructed a steamboat landing below the mill, erected a house and
other buildings on the main land, and when in 1865, the government took
possession of the island for the purpose of a National arsenal and armory,
the commission awarded him $145,175 for his property and improvements.
In 1855, Mr. Sears purchased one-fourth of the present milling site of
Minneapolis, (one-fourth of forty-nine acres, and one-fourth of the water
power ,) which he sold to the late Gov. C.C. Washburn for $4,000, and in
doing so made a great mistake, as he frequently remarked, and as events
subsequently proved.
He at the same time built a saw-mill and furniture factory on Lake
Minnetonka, which with a bridge contract was the end of his building
operations until after the war.
In August, 1861, he enlisted in 22d Illinois Regiment, and served honor-
ably as Quartermaster for three years.
In 1867, he built the fine 300-barrel mill at Sears, now operated by his
sons, David, William and George, and in 1870, a flour-mill at Cleveland,
Mo., and another at Linden in 1873.
In 1875, he went to Tama City, Iowa, erected a large mill, and two years
later dug a canal, put in a dam and otherwise improved the water power at
Ottumka.
In 1880, he constructed water-works at Red Oak, Iowa, and the following
year performed a like work at Joplin, Mo.
Mr. Sears was a man of sterling principles. Honest in all his dealings,
he was respected by all with whom he had business relations. Liberal to an
extreme, none ever asked his charity, who did not receive what he could
afford to give.
He was a strong advocate of temperance, and practised what he preached.
Up to wthin a few moments of his dath, he seemed to be in the enjoyment
of good health, in his 80th year, apparently as hale and hearty as at any
period of his life.
The history of his life is a record of good deeds, and worthy of
emulation.
!LAND: IL Land Tract Sales Archive; 1815-1880; IL Secy of State; ; Univ of IL
at Chicago; Date: 14 May 1822; Acres:80; Price: $1.25; Type: Federal;
County:Gallatin; Meridian: 3; Township-Range: 08S 10E; Section-Part:2-E2SW; Vol
pg: 002; Arch Vol No: 110; Purch Res:Gallatin co
Date: 12 Sep 1831; Acres:19.66; Price: $1.25; Type: Federal;
County:Gallatin; Meridian: 3; Township-Range: 08S 11E; Section-Part:7-NWFR; Vol
pg: 013; Arch Vol No: 110; Purch Res:Galatin co
Date: 10 Mar 1831; Acres:125.63; Price: $1.25; Type: Federal;
County:Gallatin; Meridian: 3; Township-Range: 08S 10E; Section-Part:2-SEFR; Vol
pg: 011; Arch Vol No: 110; Purch Res:Galatin co
Date: 10 Mar 1831; Acres:34.59; Price: $1.25; Type: Federal;
County:Gallatin; Meridian: 3; Township-Range: 08S 10E; Section-Part:1-FRSECT;
Vol pg: 011; Arch Vol No: 110; Purch Res:Galatin co
Date: 18 Jun 1841; Acres:40; Price: $1.25; Type: Federal;
County:Rock Island; Meridian: 4; Township-Range: 17N 01W;
Section-Part:9-SWNW; Vol pg: 012; Arch Vol No: 710
Date: 28 Feb 1855; Acres:14.18; Price: $1.25; Type: Federal;
County:Rock Island; Meridian: 4; Township-Range: 18N 01W; Section-Part:32-NEFR;
Vol pg: 096; Arch Vol No: 710
Date: 25 Sep 1839; Acres:58.45; Price: $1.25; Type: Federal;
County:Rock Island; Meridian: 4; Township-Range: 18N 01W;
Section-Part:32-SWFRSIBL; Vol pg 096; Arch Vol No:710
Date: 28 Feb 1855; Acres:7.09; Price: $1.25; Type: Federal;
County:Rock Island; Meridian: 4; Township-Range: 18N 01W;
Section-Part:29-E2SWFR; Vol pg: 095; Arch Vol No: 710
Date: 28 Feb 1855; Acres:14.18; Price: $1.25; Type: Federal;
County:Rock Island; Meridian: 4; Township-Range: 18N 01W;
Section-Part:29-SEFR; Vol pg: 095; Arch Vol No: 710
Date: 24 Dec 1832; Acres:80; Price: $1.25; Type: Federal;
County:Gallatin; Meridian: 3; Township-Range: 08S 10E;
Section-Part:11-N2SE; Vol pg: 020; Arch Vol No: 110; Purch Co: Gallatin
Date: 19 Nov 1831; Acres:70.89; Price: $1.25; Type: Federal;
County:Gallatin; Meridian: 3; Township-Range: 08S 10E;
Section-Part:12-NEFR; Vol pg: 014; Arch Vol No: 110; Purch Co: Gallatin
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