My Genealogy Hound

WINTERS, J. C. COL. a leading agriculturist of Greene County and one of its most prominent citizens, is a native of Sinclair County, Ill.; born in 1816. Passing briefly by the earlier years of his life, spent upon the old farm homestead, we arrive at the year 1846, when war was declared between Mexico and the United States Government, with a zeal consistent with his early years, he enlisted as a private in Company C, 1st Reg. Ill. Vol., under the command of Col. J, I. Hardin. Proceeding to the front, ranking as a 2d Lieutenant, he became engaged in the battle, so famous in history, and known as Buena Vista. Sharing the privations incident to a soldier’s life thirteen months, he was honorably discharged, at Camargo, and returned to Greene County, where he had moved to from Morgan. While quietly pursuing his vocation of farmer, the rebellion coming on, and realizing the danger to the old flag that had proudly waved over many a battle field years prior, he quickly organized a company and proceeded to Missouri. Although he first ranked as captain, through meritorious conduct he became the popular colonel of the 59th Ill. Entering for three years’ service, when his term expired, owing to ill health, he resigned his commission, retiring from the stirring scenes of war to the quiet pursuits of agriculture. In 1850, while a member of the legislature, he became known among the members who voted in favor of the Illinois Central R.R., then seeking to extend its lines to Chicago, Since his retirement from the legislature, the name of Colonel Winters has been frequently mentioned in connection with responsible offices, but he has invariably declined them all, preferring to attend to the duties of his farm, comprising 317 acres in Tp. 12, R. 11. Like our late martyred President, Mr. Winters, thirty-eight years ago, split rails for a livelihood, and today can point with pride to a success achieved by no ordinary energy. Mr. Winters was married to Miss Cynthia Cochran, a most estimable lady, by whom he has seven children: Frank, Samuel, Lafayette, Solon, Joshua, Josephine, and Byron.