My Genealogy Hound

JAMES H. L. WINCHEL, an old native resident of the county, was born September 14, 1820, and is the fifth son of a family of nine sons and three daughters born to the marriage of Smith Winchel and Anna Mallory both of whom were natives of Delaware County, New York. In 1810 they anticipated Horace Greeley’s advice and came to this county, locating in Polk’s Bottom, Tobin Township. A few years later they bought 160 acres of land on Section 33, where the father died November 23, 1845. His widow survived him until the fall of 1863. James received only a limited education in youth on account of the scarcity of schools. At the age of twenty-two he learned the millwright and carpenter’s trade, which he followed for about five years. After his marriage, which occurred on September 22, 1846, he located on the old homestead where he has since resided. Mr. Winchel is an industrious, enterprising farmer, and has one of the best farms in the township. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and himself and wife belong to the Baptist Church. He chose for a wife Elizabeth Hughes, a native of Marion County, Ky., and to their union have been born eight children. Those now living are Anna M. (wife of John D. Cockrell), Harriet F. R. (wife of Casper Whitehead), and George R., all of whom are living in Tobin Township.