My Genealogy Hound

HENRY H. WINTER is an example of the self-made American citizen. His history is an exemplification of the progress that an ambitious man can make in a country of unbounded opportunities. His singular success is due to his own energy and the high ideal which his laudable ambition placed before him. Success in any walk of life is an indication of honest endeavor and persevering effort, characteristics that Mr. Winter possesses in an eminent degree. He is entirely free from ostentation and display, and though he is now numbered among the most substantial citizens of Woodson County, he is a man of the people and the humblest person of upright character may claim him as a friend.

Henry H. Winter was born in York, Pennsylvania, March 21, 1846. His grandfather was John Winter who died in early manhood. The nationality of the family is uncertain for the family records were not preserved and the name is found among many people, including the English, Germans and Scotch, and even among the Latin races. Henry Winter, the father of our subject, was born in York, Pennsylvania, in 1816 and followed farming and blacksmithing. He spent his entire life in the place of his birth, his death occurring in 1891. He was one of the prominent men and worthy citizens of his community. He married Miss Catherine Dietz, who died in York, in 1882. Of their six children five are yet living in the vicinity of the old homestead, namely: Isaiah; Elizabeth, the wife of Joseph Stauffer; Jacob; Mary A., the wife of Henry Matthews, and Leah, the wife of Joseph Loyd.

Mr. Winter, whose name introduces this record, was the third in order of birth, and upon the old home farm in the Keystone state he was reared. He is a graduate of the York high school and for a time he was a student is the normal school at Millersville, Pennsylvania. When twenty-two years of age he began teaching and after following that profession for six years he joined an engineering corps in the employ of the Peach Bottom Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, but the financial panic which spread over the country in 1873 put an end to all railroad work and Mr. Winter then followed Horace Greeley’s advice to young men and came to the west. He first took up his abode in Stephenson County, Illinois. He had no capital, but possessed great energy, a strong constitution and a resolute spirit, and he set to work to wrest fortune from the hands of an adverse fate. At first he followed teaching there and later embarked in the lumber trade on his own account, borrowing the capital with which to purchase a yard. That enterprise proved successful and he was soon enabled to pay off all indebtedness. For seven years he was engaged in the lumber trade in Atlantic, Iowa, and then disposed of his interests there and came to Woodson County, Kansas, where for a time he was engaged in the cattle business and followed farming to some extent. He has been a resident of this county since 1883 and in 1885 succeeded the firm of Dickerson & Opdyke, in the banking business in Yates Center. In 1887 he assumed active control of the bank and has since built up one of the strongest institutions in this portion of the state. The safe, reliable policy which he has followed has been the means of largely increasing the business which is transacted over his counters and the banks therefore able to annually declare a good dividend.

While residing in Stephenson County, Illinois, Mr. Winter was married on the 5th of October, 1875, to Miss Flora Sabin, a daughter of Ralph Sabin, and they now have four daughters: Clara, who is a graduate of the musical department of the Kansas State University; Alice and Blanche, of the Yates Center high school, and Frances, who is still pursuing her studies. Mr. Winter was reared in the faith of the Democracy with which party his people have always been allied until within a decade. But since the principles advocated by William Jennings Bryan have been incorporated into the Democratic platform, Henry H. Winter has given his support to the Republican party. The quality which wins Mr. Winter’s friendship and admiration is uprightness of character. He is easily approachable, showing great courtesy to all with whom he comes in contact. He never acts except from honest motives and in all his varied relations in business affairs and in social life he maintains a character and standing that have impressed all with his sincere and manly purpose to do by others as he would have others do by him.