1860 Census lists him as George Simpson, age 8, born in Wisconsin.

After marrying Isabel Rodgers in 1877, he and Isabel lived in her father's house at least until 1880. The 1880 Census lists them and their daughter as living on Archibald's farm. George's step father, William Simpson didn't die until 1891. Archibald also died in 1891. Since the Rodgers farm was supposed to be sold to Alexander Wills in 1889, George may have taken over operation of the Simpson/McKerrow homestead between 1880 and 1889. Archibald may have moved with them there (?).

George McKerrow is building a neat little cottage for his mother, Mrs. William Simpson, near his own residence. Waukesha Free Press, August 11, 1892.

Waukesha County Guernsey Breeders' association, elected secretary, WF 2/4/1932

Wisconsin Farmers' Institutes Bulletin 37 1924

Born in Lisbon in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, he was educated at Carroll College in Waukesha, and taught in common and village schools in the Town of Lisbon for ten years. On September 26, 1877, he married Belle Rodgers and had at least two children.

In 1893-94, he was one of the Conductors, i.e., he presided over and conducted Institute meetings, for the Farmers' Institutes. After the untimely death of Superintendent William H. Morrison, in December 1893, McKerrow was appointed as Superintendent of the Farmers' Institutes on June 20, 1894, at an annual salary of $2,000, and served until his resignation of May 31, 1914. From May 20 to July 15, 1911, he was on a leave of absence to visit livestock shows in Great Britain.

According to Ernest L. Luther, the last Superintendent, McKerrow thought more of his Oxford sheep and Guernseys than public office and did not want to leave his farm, sheep, and herd, but "fell to the cajoleries of Dean Henry and the agricultural committee of the regents, who permitted him to live on his farm and have time off during the growing season for a trial period of one year. Dean Henry added to his own many duties the work of completing Morrison's ninth year, and McKerrow took over not for one year but for twenty years."

During the McKerrow period, "the battle of silos, better breeding, better feeding, and spreading the new truths of the experiment station went forward on the basis of some 130 institutes and the 'Round-up' institute each year, including regular women's institutes where facilities permitted."

With the closing of the 'Round-up' institute of 1914, McKerrow returned to his farm in Waukesha County. During his twenty years as Superintendent, the Wisconsin Legislature had increased the appropriation from $5,000 a year to $20,000.

In addition to his University responsibilities and his farm, he was actively involved in many associations, serving as president of the American Oxford Down Sheep Breeders' Association and of the American Association of Farmers' Institute

Managers (1897), as well as vice president of the National Horse Breeders' Association, of the Wisconsin State Board of Agriculture, the Farmers' National Congress, and the Wisconsin Good Roads League. He also served as director of the

American South Down Breeders' Association.

McKerrow contributed articles to several agricultural journals including: American Sheep Breeder and Wool Grower, Breeders' Gazette, Farmers' Advocate, National Stockman and Farmer, Wisconsin Farmer and the Wisconsin

Farmers' Institute Bulletin.

References:

"George McKerrow, Superintendent of Agricultural Institutes" in The University of Wisconsin, Its History and Its Alumni, With Historical and Descriptive Sketches of Madison, ed. by Reuben Gold Thwaites. Madison (Wis.): J. N. Purcell. 1899 : 329.

Luther, Ernest L.

"Farmers' Institutes in Wisconsin, 1885-1933." Wisconsin Magazine of History 30, no. 1 (September 1946): 59-68

http://cf.uwex.edu/history/indivbio.cfm?IndivID=183

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Excerpts from "George McKerrow left his mark", Sussex Sun Retrospect by Fred H. Keller, Wednesday, February 1, 2006, page 13.

From an interview with George's granddaughter, Isabell McKerrow (Mrs. Warren Brown): Some research confirmed that George attended Richmond School and graduated from Waukesha High School and Carrol College.

After college he taught at a variety of Lisbon one- and two-room schools in the 1870's and '80's. Back then a term was one third of the school year - 16 terms was 5 1/3 years. Teachers like George would schedule their teaching duties around their farming activities.

Besides teaching at Richmond School, he taught five terms at Sussex Main Street School and around 1886 taught at Sixteen School located at today's Good Hope and Hillside Rds. The school closed in 1946 and is now a private home.

George was born April 1, 1852, at the McKerrow claim on Lisbon-Lyndale Road. His pioneer father, Gavin, died seven months later.

His mother, Elizabeth, married six weeks later. Step-father William Simpson reared young George with care and affection, and made sure he received a good education and learned how the farm world worked.

George was a teacher, orator, farmer, world-renowned stock-breeder and showman, and became one of the foremost farmers in Lisbon and the county , where he lived out his 93 years of life. He was elected Lisbon Town clerk at age 21.

The story of his many accomplishments has been told, but there are a few sidelights to this great Lisbon man.

George was an extremely strong man, as told by story in the Waukesha Democrat from April 1886.

It seems that the then 34-year-old McKerrow was a member of the Prohibitionist Party - not one of the two main parties, the Democrats or the Republicans.

The town of Lisbon held its annual town meeting in 1886, and George was there, along with a neighbor, Jack Edwards.

The newspaper clipping describes "a new and manly way of making political converts. It is said of Jack Edwards, a prominent Republican of the Town of Lisbon, just previous to the Town of Lisbon meeting met on the road, George McKerrow, who is a leading prohibitionist of that town and thereupon a lively political discussion was had. They finally agreed to wrestle, best 2 of 3, the one losing to be of the politics of the winner. At it they went, and both being strong, able-bodied men, the contest was a warm one, and twice did Jack go to grass. Now there is a Prohibition Jack in Lisbon."

McKerrow was a noted lecturer, and at the dedication of the new Waukesha County Courthouse on March 29, 1894, at age 41, he found himself the featured speaker at the occasion. (Today, 111 years later, this building is still standing at East and Main Streets in Waukesha, but now as the home of the Waukesha County Historical Society.) The speech praised Waukesha County and its farming base.

The next day, however, the newspaper quoted him as saying about one-quarter of the way into his oration: "It is said that Waukesha County is blessed with pure water and long-winded orators."

McKerrow was also the principle speaker in August 1901 at a widely attended Town of Lisbon picnic at the Elmer Weaver farm woods (today, Stoney Halquist Park). A highlight of this event was the very first automobile seen in Lisbon.

Geo. McKerrow, Famed Raiser of Livestock, Dead

George McKerrow, 93, who spent his entire life on a farm in the town of Lisbon but whose fame as a livestock authority had spread to every state in the union and to Great Britain, died Friday night at his home. He had been ill for the past two weeks, and in serious condition for the last four days.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock PM the Lisbon United Presbyterian church with the Rev. J. Curtis Russell officiating. Interment will be in Lisbon Central cemetery. Friends may call at the family residence Monday afternoon and evening. The Randle funeral home of Waukesha will be in charge.

It was Mr. McKerrow's expressed desire that no flowers be sent but that money for flowers be given to some charitable or religious organization.

Once Taught School

Mr. McKerrow was born in the town of Lisbon April 1, 1852, only son of Gavin and Elizabeth (Howitt) McKerrow, both of whom were natives of Scotland. He attended public schools and Carroll college, then taught for 16 terms. But from the age of 16, he took an active interest in the raising of thoroughbred stock and it was in this field that he gained international fame.

Early taking an interest in blooded horses, he brought the first Percheron horse to Waukesha county in 1872, LeGrande Monarch III of France. After 20 years as a raiser of horses, he imported sheep and during his life, had raised Merino, Cotswold, Leicestershire, Oxford and Southdowns, being the first Waukesha county farmer to specialize in the raising of registered sheep. From his flocks, sheep were shipped to other raisers throughout the United States and Canada.

He early began to exhibit stock at county and state fairs and international livestock expositions and had won prizes, ribbons and awards into the thousands, holding more honors for prize sheep than any other farmer in America. At the Columbia exposition in Chicago in 1893, for example, he brought away three-fourths of all the prizes offered for sheep.

Published Bulletin

For 25 years he was a lecturer for the Wisconsin Farmers' Institute and for 23 years was its superintendent, publishing the annual Farmers' Institute Bulletin for the state university. He contributed many articles to farm publications, and the McKerrow family was the subject of a recent complimentary article in Prairie Farmer. He had been president of the Wisconsin State Fair, the Wisconsin state board of agriculture for thirteen years, president of the American Oxford-Down association, president of the Wisconsin Livestock Breeders' association, president of the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders association, president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau association, and lecturer for the Farm Bureau in nearly every state. He also made 12 trips to Great Britain and the Channel Islands in the interest of livestock improvement programs, and had served as stock judge at hundreds of shows in America.

Officer of Society

He was also an early officer in the Waukesha County Agricultural society, secretary of the Wisconsin Swine Breeding association, a member of the exhibition committee of the National Livestock association at Chicago, and a director of other farm organizations. At the time of his death, he was president of the Wisconsin Mutual Tornado Insurance co., an office he had held for 20 years.

When Waukesha county court house was dedicated in 1894, he was selected to represent the farmers of the county, and spoke on "The Famer - the Bone, Muscle and Sinew of all Material Prosperity." Numerous other honors came his way during his lifetime; about 15 years ago he was honored by the University of Wisconsin, and his portrait hangs in the college of agriculture as a tribute to his national prominence in promoting agriculture. His portrait also was hung in the Saddle and Sirloin club of the International livestock exposition at Chicago by the National Livestock Breeders' Association.

A man of high morals and deeply religious, he always had taken an interest in the Presbyterian church and its college, Carroll. His death ended 65 years' service as an elder of the United Presbyterian church at Lisbon which he also served for many years during his life as secretary of the church board, Sunday school teacher and superintendent.

His wife and three of their children preceded Mr. McKerrow in death. One son, Gavin W. McKerrow and five grandchildren survive.

Waukesha Freeman, February 13, 1946

McKerrow Will Filed Here; Son Gets Farm

Personal property and real estate valued at over $30,000 was listed in the late George McKerrow's will, which was filed for probate Monday in the Waukesha county court. McKerrow, town of Lisbon farmer, died Feb. 8.

Named as principal heir was McKerrow's son, Gavin, who will receive the 240-acre farm in Lisbon. Gavin's wife, Carolyn H. McKerrow, was bequeathed $1,000. Five hundred dollars will go to the Lisbon Presbyterian church and $300 to the Lisbon Cemetery association. The rest of the estate will be divided equally among five grandchildren.

Real estate owned by the late Mr. McKerrow was estimated at $20,000 and personal property was valued at more than $10,000. Waukesha Freeman, February 20, 1946

Burial: Feb 1946, Lisbon Central Cemetery

Religion: Lisbon Presbyterian Church

A Couple Made Happy

A happy event occurred at the home of Mr. a. Rodgers, of Lisbon, on the evening of the 26th ult., the occasion being the marriage of Mr. Geo. McKerrow and Miss Belle Rodgers, both of Lisbon.

At an early hour the numerous guests, who were invited to the interesting scene, were there awaiting the appointed time to witness the ceremony, which was performed by the Rev. Greenway, of Lisbon. Both Mr. McKerrow and Miss Rodgers acted their parts in the interesting scene with true dignity, ease and grace. They made a fine appearance both in their manners and dress. In due time the guests were invited to partake of the delicious yiands with which the tables were laden.

The company, after spending the evening most pleasantly, retired to their homes, leaving, as an appreciation of the happy couple, many valuable gifts amounting to over one hundred and sixty dollars. Among the donors were Mr. And Mrs. Simpson, Mr. A. Rodgers, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cook, Mr. and Mrs. M. Howitt, Mr. and Mrs. James Templeton, Mr. and Mrs. Craven, Mr. R. Rodgers, Mrs. Small, Mrs. Moyes, Mr. and Mrs. Turner, Mr. J. Howitt, Miss R. Craven, Miss Jennie Rodgers, Miss Jane Weaver, Miss Jennie Weaver and Master Templeton. The following is also given to the two in one:

Young friends, a wreath for thee

Of sweet and gentle flowers;

For wedded love was pure and free

In Eden's happy bowers.

Young friends, a song for thee,

A song of joyous measure; For thy cup of hope shall be

Fill'd with honied pleasure.

Young friends, a prayer for thee,

That all your hopes possessing,

Your soul may praise your God, and he

may crown thee with His blessings.

Waukesha Freeman, October 4, 1877 [yiands - a supply or stock of food]

On Thursday evening at 6:30, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George McKerrow occurred the marriage of August Kamke and Mrs. Helen Wood. The ceremony was performed by Rev. C. G. Mann. Will Sedgwick acted as groomsman and Mrs. Sedgwick acted as matron of honor. Isabelle and Will McKerrow, children of Mr. and Mrs. Gavin McKerrow served as ring bearers and Helen McKerrow as flower girl. The bride wore a solid silver bracelet made from solid silver spoons used during the Civil war times by her grandmother, who was a descendant of Gen. Sackett of the Revolutionary War. About thirty guests were present. Mr. Kamke has been herdsman on the McKerrow farm for eleven years, and Mrs. Kamke has served as housekeeper for several years. They will continue to reside on the McKerrow farm. Waukesha Freeman, November 10, 1932.

Mrs. George McKerrow is confined to her bed by a severe cold. Waukesha Freeman, November 24, 1932. Editor's Note: by Dec 15, 1932, her probate notices appeared in the Waukesha Freeman, but no death notices could be found; nor is there any mention of her passing, even in casual comment, in the Sussex news column.

Marriage: 26 Sep 1877, Archibald A. Rodgers home, Lisbon, Waukesha, Wisconsin