The decade of the ’40s brought to southeastern Wisconsin many citizens who became permanent residents and were active in promoting conditions that have brought about present-day progress and prosperity. To this number belonged George Acklam, who arrived in Racine in 1849, being at that time a man of about thirty-two years, his birth having occurred in England in 1817. He pursued a common school education and there engaged in farming until 1848, when he determined to embrace the opportunities offered in the new world and crossed the Atlantic to the United States. For a year he resided in Adams County, Illinois, and then came northward to Racine in 1849. He secured employment in the Bell soap factory on what is now Standard street, but after a few years, when the Wilmot plank road was built, he took charge of a toll gate and continued to fill that position to the time of his death in 1855.
It was in 1848 Mr. Acklam was married to Miss Harriett Bean, a daughter of John Bean, who passed away in England. To them were born four children, as follows: George Edmond, a resident of St. Joseph, Missouri; Thomas Henry, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work; William Wellborn; and Alice, who is deceased. In 1857 the mother was again married, her second union being with Alfred ‘Williams, by whom she had three children, namely : Harriett, who is the wife of Lewis J. Parks and resides in Franksville, Wisconsin ; Alfred, living in Racine ; and Sarah, who gave her hand in marriage to John Spencer, of Racine. The parents were members of the Baptist church and lived the lives of earnest, consistent Christian people. In his political views Mr. Acklam was a Whig.