Harry A. WINTER, a reliable and intelligent agriculturist of Evans township, residing on section 8, first drew the breath of life at Ottawa, Illinois, November 28, 1856, and is the son of John J. and Martha Maria (PARKINSON) WINTER, the former born in Pennsylvania, September 19, 1832, and the latter August 17, 1832. In April, 1855, the father located at Ottawa, but now makes his home in Garfield, La Salle county, where he is engaged in merchandising, and also cultivates a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres. He has ever been quite a prominent man in his locality, serving in a number of official positions, including that of justice of the peace. The mother, who is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, is the sister of William H. PARKINSON, of Evans township, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.
In the family were six children, five still living, of whom our subject is the eldest. Oral Dell is the wife of Patrick JENNETT, of Iowa, and the mother of ten children. Lyman Lee married Anna LECHNER, by whom he has four children, and lives in Garfield, Illinois. William D., of Garfield, married Ida THRASHER, and they have one child. Sarah Jane is the wife of Jeff R. EWARD, of Garfield, and is the mother of three children.
Harry A. WINTER was educated at Ottawa, and in 1873 accompanied his parents to Garfield. At the age of fourteen he began life for himself, engaged in teaming in Ottawa, and for three winters worked in the coal mines. It was in 1877 that he first came to Evans township, where he was employed on the farm of Aaron G. MARTIN until December, 1878.
On the 26th of February, 1879, a marriage ceremony was performed which united the destinies of Mr. WINTER and Miss Florence WILSON, a daughter of Joshua and Rosanna (SPILLERS) WILSON, both natives of Pennsylvania. Her parents were married in Ohio, and came to Putnam county, Illinois, where they resided for a time, but later settled upon the farm where our subject now resides. This the father improved and cultivated until his death, in 1876. The mother, who survives him, now makes her home in Wenona. They were the parents of thirteen children, ten of whom are now living – Oliver, of Lincoln, Nebraska, who married Addie WILSON, and has four children; Corwin, of Iowa, who wedded Mary DILLMAN, and has seven children; Emma, who is the wife of A. I. THEIRRY, of Wenona, and has an adopted child; Luretta, wife of F. F. Theirry, of Wenona, and the mother of two children; Martin V., of Wenona, who married Hettie A. Downey, by whom he has one child; Reuben M., of Kansas, who married Anna ANDERSON, now deceased, by whom he had one son; Rosella, wife of Joseph STRANARD, of Creston, Iowa, and the mother of three children; Mrs. WINTER; Ida B., wife of Thomas d. JUDD, of Wenona, by whom she has one child; and Joshua Walter, of Evans township, who married Minie BRENN, and has two children. The parents were both members of the Society of Friends, and in politics the father was a republican.
Mrs. WINTER was born on the farm where she now resides, September 27, 1858, and attended the district schools of the neighborhood. By her marriage with our subject she has become the mother of two children – Jay W., born October 21, 1882, and Reuben Roy, born January 27, 1884. The farm, consisting of one hundred and four acres, which is a part of the Joshua WILSON estate, is well improved, with good buildings, fences, tiling and water works, and the land is under a high state of cultivation. Mr. WINTER is engaged in mixed farming and the operation of a threshing machine, and is meeting with a fair degree of success.
Conscientious and earnest Christians, both Mr. and Mrs. WINTER are worthy members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and teachers in the Sunday school, while he has been superintendent of that organization and president of the Christian Endeavor society. Socially, he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, and politically, is an adherent of republican principles, and served for three years as road commissioner, and is still serving in that capacity.
Source: The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois published in 1896, page 457.
| Bureau |  |
LaSalle |
| Marshall |
