From the Jackson County [Minnesota] Historical Society newsletter:
Recently in the search for Civil War veterans the name Sears has surfaced once again in Jackson County. It has been long noted that the Sears family once lived here in Jackson County. James Warren Sears, with his family consisting of Eliza (Benton), his wife, and his three children: Richard, Alta, and Eva came to Alba township in 1877. James Warren, a blacksmith and wagon maker by trade, decided to become a land owner and livestock farmer. He sold out his business in Spring Valley, Minnesota, and came to Jackson County where he bought the NW1/4 of section 20 of Alba township for $1200. He took about a $600 mortgage; to probably buy livestock. James failed in this venture. The details of how it happened have been lost to time, but it forced James to return to his original vocation to feed his family He set up and operated a blacksmith shop on main street of Heron Lake.
In case you haven't realized it by now we are talking about the father of Richard W. Sears, the co-founder of Sears & Roebuck company. Richard, born in 1863, would have been 14 years old when his father came to Jackson County, and he was almost certain to have been with him at that time. In the _Jackson Republic of January 11, 1879_ an item appears that R. W. Sears had returned from school in Mankato to visit his former school in Heron Lake to the delight of his former classmates. This explains why when 1880 census was taken, Richard wasn't listed in the county, but his parents and sisters were. It has been speculated that Richard had went to work to help support the family, possibly at the Heron Lake Depot; and after his schooling in Mankato, went on to later work at a railroad in northern Minnesota prior to obtaining the position of station master at the North Redwood Falls Station — the place where the Sears and Roebuck Company is said to have began.
James W. Sears was a veteran of the Civil War, and will be included in the annals of the history of Jackson County. Jackson can not claim the origin of Sears and Roebuck, but we an claim the "cause" to the "effect". If James Warren Sears had been a successful stockman and prospered it is possible that Richard would have partnered with his father, and the need for the Richard to move on would not have been.
James Warren Sears followed his son to Redwood County, and then again followed his son to Minneapolis as the business grew.
James W. Sears died in Hennepin County and is buried in the Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis along with all of his family with the exception of Richard who is buried in Chicago, Illinois.
Thanks to MarillaW
Recently in the search for Civil War veterans the name Sears has surfaced once again in Jackson County. It has been long noted that the Sears family once lived here in Jackson County. James Warren Sears, with his family consisting of Eliza (Benton), his wife, and his three children: Richard, Alta, and Eva came to Alba township in 1877. James Warren, a blacksmith and wagon maker by trade, decided to become a land owner and livestock farmer. He sold out his business in Spring Valley, Minnesota, and came to Jackson County where he bought the NW1/4 of section 20 of Alba township for $1200. He took about a $600 mortgage; to probably buy livestock. James failed in this venture. The details of how it happened have been lost to time, but it forced James to return to his original vocation to feed his family He set up and operated a blacksmith shop on main street of Heron Lake.
In case you haven't realized it by now we are talking about the father of Richard W. Sears, the co-founder of Sears & Roebuck company. Richard, born in 1863, would have been 14 years old when his father came to Jackson County, and he was almost certain to have been with him at that time. In the _Jackson Republic of January 11, 1879_ an item appears that R. W. Sears had returned from school in Mankato to visit his former school in Heron Lake to the delight of his former classmates. This explains why when 1880 census was taken, Richard wasn't listed in the county, but his parents and sisters were. It has been speculated that Richard had went to work to help support the family, possibly at the Heron Lake Depot; and after his schooling in Mankato, went on to later work at a railroad in northern Minnesota prior to obtaining the position of station master at the North Redwood Falls Station — the place where the Sears and Roebuck Company is said to have began.
James W. Sears was a veteran of the Civil War, and will be included in the annals of the history of Jackson County. Jackson can not claim the origin of Sears and Roebuck, but we an claim the "cause" to the "effect". If James Warren Sears had been a successful stockman and prospered it is possible that Richard would have partnered with his father, and the need for the Richard to move on would not have been.
James Warren Sears followed his son to Redwood County, and then again followed his son to Minneapolis as the business grew.
James W. Sears died in Hennepin County and is buried in the Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis along with all of his family with the exception of Richard who is buried in Chicago, Illinois.
Thanks to MarillaW
From the Jackson County [Minnesota] Historical Society newsletter:
Recently in the search for Civil War veterans the name Sears has surfaced once again in Jackson County. It has been long noted that the Sears family once lived here in Jackson County. James Warren Sears, with his family consisting of Eliza (Benton), his wife, and his three children: Richard, Alta, and Eva came to Alba township in 1877. James Warren, a blacksmith and wagon maker by trade, decided to become a land owner and livestock farmer. He sold out his business in Spring Valley, Minnesota, and came to Jackson County where he bought the NW1/4 of section 20 of Alba township for $1200. He took about a $600 mortgage; to probably buy livestock. James failed in this venture. The details of how it happened have been lost to time, but it forced James to return to his original vocation to feed his family He set up and operated a blacksmith shop on main street of Heron Lake.
In case you haven't realized it by now we are talking about the father of Richard W. Sears, the co-founder of Sears & Roebuck company. Richard, born in 1863, would have been 14 years old when his father came to Jackson County, and he was almost certain to have been with him at that time. In the _Jackson Republic of January 11, 1879_ an item appears that R. W. Sears had returned from school in Mankato to visit his former school in Heron Lake to the delight of his former classmates. This explains why when 1880 census was taken, Richard wasn't listed in the county, but his parents and sisters were. It has been speculated that Richard had went to work to help support the family, possibly at the Heron Lake Depot; and after his schooling in Mankato, went on to later work at a railroad in northern Minnesota prior to obtaining the position of station master at the North Redwood Falls Station — the place where the Sears and Roebuck Company is said to have began.
James W. Sears was a veteran of the Civil War, and will be included in the annals of the history of Jackson County. Jackson can not claim the origin of Sears and Roebuck, but we an claim the "cause" to the "effect". If James Warren Sears had been a successful stockman and prospered it is possible that Richard would have partnered with his father, and the need for the Richard to move on would not have been.
James Warren Sears followed his son to Redwood County, and then again followed his son to Minneapolis as the business grew.
James W. Sears died in Hennepin County and is buried in the Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis along with all of his family with the exception of Richard who is buried in Chicago, Illinois.
Thanks to MarillaW
Recently in the search for Civil War veterans the name Sears has surfaced once again in Jackson County. It has been long noted that the Sears family once lived here in Jackson County. James Warren Sears, with his family consisting of Eliza (Benton), his wife, and his three children: Richard, Alta, and Eva came to Alba township in 1877. James Warren, a blacksmith and wagon maker by trade, decided to become a land owner and livestock farmer. He sold out his business in Spring Valley, Minnesota, and came to Jackson County where he bought the NW1/4 of section 20 of Alba township for $1200. He took about a $600 mortgage; to probably buy livestock. James failed in this venture. The details of how it happened have been lost to time, but it forced James to return to his original vocation to feed his family He set up and operated a blacksmith shop on main street of Heron Lake.
In case you haven't realized it by now we are talking about the father of Richard W. Sears, the co-founder of Sears & Roebuck company. Richard, born in 1863, would have been 14 years old when his father came to Jackson County, and he was almost certain to have been with him at that time. In the _Jackson Republic of January 11, 1879_ an item appears that R. W. Sears had returned from school in Mankato to visit his former school in Heron Lake to the delight of his former classmates. This explains why when 1880 census was taken, Richard wasn't listed in the county, but his parents and sisters were. It has been speculated that Richard had went to work to help support the family, possibly at the Heron Lake Depot; and after his schooling in Mankato, went on to later work at a railroad in northern Minnesota prior to obtaining the position of station master at the North Redwood Falls Station — the place where the Sears and Roebuck Company is said to have began.
James W. Sears was a veteran of the Civil War, and will be included in the annals of the history of Jackson County. Jackson can not claim the origin of Sears and Roebuck, but we an claim the "cause" to the "effect". If James Warren Sears had been a successful stockman and prospered it is possible that Richard would have partnered with his father, and the need for the Richard to move on would not have been.
James Warren Sears followed his son to Redwood County, and then again followed his son to Minneapolis as the business grew.
James W. Sears died in Hennepin County and is buried in the Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis along with all of his family with the exception of Richard who is buried in Chicago, Illinois.
Thanks to MarillaW
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