From The Winkler Genealogy
October 1st, 1908
A partial history of the ancestors and descendants of John Winkler, who lived in Green Township, Wayne County, Ohio, from 1814 to 1886.
John Winkler was born near Morgantown, Burke County, North Carolina, April
22, 1799, nandid died May 22, 1086, in Green Township, Wayne County, Ohio.
He was married January 13, 1620, to Miss Dorcas Wade, who was born January
17, 1802, and died July 18, 1826, age 24 years, 6 months and I day.
(The relatives of Miss Wade were located around Ceveland and
Akron, uhio, where some at the descendants still reside.)
Children of John and Dorcas Winkler.
James Wesley Born May 20, 1822, died Sept. 7, 1900, age 78 years, 3 months, 15 days.
John F. Born March 29, 1824, died July 7, 1825, age 1 year, I month, 8 days
On November 22, 1827, John Winkler married Miss Margaret Wilford, a lady of
English ancestry, who was born December 22, 1810, and died June 4, 1876, age
66 years, 5 months and 12 days.
Children of John and Margaret Winkler
William Born March 17, 1829
Lorenzo B. Born March 20, 1831
Matilda F. Born April 24, 1833
Sarah A. Born May 11, 1835
Margaret Born October 27, 1837
Louise E. Born January 11, 1840
Hester E. Born March 19, 1842
Elizabeth M. Born May 11, 1844
Neoma Born November 21, 1846
Elmina and Lucina Born May 17, 1849
Melissa C. Born September 25, 1855
Olinda Alice Born July 28, 1855, died June 26, 1861
As stated above, John Winkler was the oldest son of Lawrence and Fannie Winkler, who accompanied and assisted his father in locating and building a new home in what to them must have been the Far Northwest. He remained with his father clearing land and farming until he was a young man, when he married, and continued farming. Soon after his second marriage he purchased two hundred acres of land adjoining his father's land on the south. Here he and his estimable wife labored, clearing and cultivating the land until they finally had one of the best improved farms in Wayne County. They raised and cared for a large and respected family, who assisted in clearing the farm and building up the home.
Grandfather Winkler was a man of limited education, but gifted with wonderful
memory, brain and will power. He was a man with large, fine physique, with
the purest of principles, a faithful Methodist and a splendid citizen. He
was Township Trustee for about twenty-five years in succession; was Guardian
and Trustee for various persons and estates. His counsel was sought by rich
and poor alike on account of his good judgment and honorable dealings. He
lived on the original farm he purchased until his death. The farm is now owned
by his son William and his grandson John and Amandas Winkler (sons of William
Winkler).
The third house built by John Winkler is still standing. It is a large, substantially
built two-story frame house with basement. The first house he built was a
little log house, then later he built a large log house, and finally in 1845
he built the present house. The site was well selected as there are two or
three of the finest springs in the world furnishing an abundance of soft and
hard water.
John Winkler enjoyed excellent health during his long life, and died from old age about thirty minutes after taking sick. His wife, Margaret, died June 6, 1877, after a beautiful and useful life, having raised a large family and having been a home-loving and charitable woman through life. Like her husband, she was a lifelong Methodist, and had full faith in a supreme being.
The writer fondly remembers grandfather and grandmother Winkler, and is proud of being a grandson of this worthy couple.
John and Margaret Winkler lived happily together, lacking only a few months
of fifty years, all of this time on the same farm, and grandfather Winkler
kept this farm from 1827 to 1886, nearly sixty years.
He lived on this farm and his father's farm adjoining for seventy- two years.
The following strange coincidences occurred in regard to important events during the life of grandfather Winkler:
He was born on the 22nd of the month.
His second wife was born on the 22nd of the month.
His second marriage took place on the 22nd of the month.
He died on the 22nd of the month.
The sale of his personal property was on the 22nd of the month.
His farm was sold on the 22nd of the month.
All these occurred without any pre-arrangement, and seem most remarkable.
Dale Austin mrwizard@umich.edu
All images and text copyright 1977-2003 Dale Austin
