My Genealogy Hound

JOHN C. WINANS, farmer; P. O. Troy. Among the early settlers of Miami Co. were the Winans family; in 1807, Richard W. Winans left his native State, New Jersey, and came to this county and located at Upper Piqua; he was a son of Samuel and Hannah (Woodruff) Winans, who were also born in New Jersey; Samuel was born March 20, 1746, and his wife was born June 3, 1749; they were united in marriage Jan. 1, 1770; their son, Richard, was born Jan. 3, 1781; on June 4, 1807, Richard was united in marriage with Sarah R. Winans, who was born May 20, 1788. In coming from New Jersey to Ohio, they came with ox teams to Wheeling, Va., then by boat to Cincinnati, then by their teams to this county, the time consumed in making the journey being forty-one days; about two years after, or in 1809, his father, Samuel, came to this county and located on the southwest quarter of Sec. 14; shortly after, his son came from Upper Piqua and located with him; in the same year, between Christmas and New Year’s, Richard W. and wife were taken into the M. E. Church on probation, being the first persons uniting with the church, in this manner, in Miami Co.; for several years after locating on their farm, their house was used as a place for preaching and worship; here they lived and labored in pioneer style, opening out, clearing, and enduring all the hardships, deprivations and dangers of such early settlements; but the prospects of a better future, the comforts and benefits which they hoped to hand down to their children, renewed their courage from day to day and from year to year, enabling them to bear all their burdens patiently; finally, in their latter days, they were permitted to enjoy, to some extent, the comforts and conveniences which their labors had won. Samuel Winans, the grandfather, departed this life May 6, 1830, and his wife, Hannah, followed him on Oct. 29 of the same year; Richard, their son, continued to reside upon the home place till his death, which occurred Jan. 10, 1863. John C. Winans, the son of Richard W. Winans, was born March 8, 1822; on June 2, 1869, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Rachel Rollins, who was born Jan. 8, 1830; by this union they have one child, viz., Richard Maxwell, born April 14, 1871. Mr. Winans has always remained upon the old home farm where he was born, and probably will continue here during his life, as he can see no reason to desire any other location, having a beautiful residence and home, with everything to make his life comfortable and pleasant; Mr. Winans and wife are members of the M. E. Church, his membership dating back for nine years, and hers for thirty-five years.