My Genealogy Hound

William Winter, proprietor of the Orion Lumber Yards, is a representative citizen of Orion, Orion township, Oakland County, and does an extensive business in lumber of all kinds, coal and wood, and brick, cement and other building materials. Mr. Winter was born in Thamesville, Ontario, Canada, May 4, 1864, and is a son of John and Catherine (McFarland) Winter.

John Winter was born in County Armagh, Ireland, and removed to Canada when about 18 years of age, locating at Thamesville, where he followed agricultural pursuits. He was held in high esteem as a citizen and neighbor. He died at the age of 67 in 1887. His wife, who was born in Scotland, removed to the vicinity of Thamesville, Canada, when 12 years old, in company with her parents. She died in 1895 at the age of 78 years. They were the parents of 13 children, six of whom are living, namely: John, of Detroit; Maria, who married George Handley, of Thamesville, Ontario; Rebecca, who married Rev. S. H. Hazzard, a Methodist Episcopal minister, of Algonac, Michigan; Mary, who married Henry B. Gadd, of Detroit; William, our subject; and Ellen, who married Austin Walsh, of Holland, Michigan.

William Winter was reared and educated in Canada, and commenced life for, himself at the age of 20 years at Thamesville, where he engaged in farming for two years. He then removed to Detroit, Michigan, and entered upon a service of nine years in the employ of the Detroit Citizens’ Street Railway Company. Beginning as a barn man, after six months he was promoted to be conductor, a position he filled for two years, being then promoted to be foreman of all construction work done by the company. Later he took charge of the operating department at the Woodward avenue car barns, in which capacity he continued for two years. He then entered upon general job and contracting work in Detroit, continuing to be thus engaged until he removed to Orion, Oakland County, in 1898. He was connected with the Orion Resort Association as superintendent for two years, and in 1900 engaged in bridge contracting, building all the bridges on the Detroit United Railway from Royal Oak to Flint, and from Rochester to Romeo. Later he built all the bridges on the Grand Rapids, Holland & Lake Michigan Electric Railway. On March 21, 1902, he purchased the lumber business of Stanaback & Smolley, and has since increased the stock about double that of the old company, and at present conducts one of the best equipped and best managed lumber yards in the county, carrying a full supply of everything in his line.

Mr. Winter was married November 25, 1884, to Esther Jane Gadd, of Northwood, Canada, a daughter of N. B. Gadd, who now resides in Detroit, Michigan. They are the parents of three children, namely: Ethel May; Ernest La Verne and Ida Pearl. Mr. Winter is a Republican, and at present is a member of the Council and the School Board. In fraternal circles he is a member of the I. O. O. F., Independent Order of Foresters, and a thirty degree Mason.