William A. Winters

WILLIAM A. WINTERS, a prominent and influential farmer of Labette county, Kansas, has been a resident of this county since 1897, and owns 400 acres of land in Hackberry township, in sections 5 and 8, township 34, range 20. He was born in Bureau county, Illinois, in 1853, and is a son of James and Catherine A. (Sheller) Winters.

James Winters was born in Pennsylvania, and after his marriage went west to Burlington, Iowa, plying his trade as a carpenter. He was robbed by his partner of all his money, trunk and effects, and so he located in Illinois and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. His father was a native of Germany, and his mother was of Scotch-Irish stock. He married Catherine A. Sheller, and of the 12 children born to them they reared nine, as follows: Anna M.; William A.; Mary E.; Hannah C., deceased; Emma J.; Sarah B.; Alice M.; John R.; and A. Christian. William A. and Alice M. (Hawley) reside in Labette county. James Winters came west to Kansas previous to the arrival of William A. and acquired property in Ross township, Cherokee county, but later returned to Illinois, where he died in June, 1898.

William A. Winters moved to Cherokee county, Kansas, in 1875, whither his father had preceded him some years, and purchased land, which the former bought from him in 1883. There he resided until he located in Labette county, March 6, 1897, purchasing 400 acres of fine land in sections 5 and 8, township 34, range 20. He set out an orchard that year, and also ornamental trees, and in 1900 erected his present fine home of nine rooms, which is one of the most attractive residences in the southern part of the county. He, expects to build a large barn in the near future. He is a very progressive man and is well deserving of success.

Mr. Winters was united in marriage, in Cherokee county, with Mary E. Hawkins, a daughter of G. W. D. Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1826, and there was reared. He moved west to the vicinity of Aurora, Kane county, Illinois, in 1848. He was married there, and also purchased a farm, on which he lived until 1861. He was then located in Nebraska until 1866, when he took a claim east of Columbus, in Cherokee county, Kansas. There he resided for a period of twelve years, and then moved to Ross township, where William A. Winters was located. In 1886, he removed to Pratt county, Kansas, where he farmed until 1891. He went to Washington, in 1891. In 1898 Mrs. Hawkins died, and he went to Oregon; thence, August 29, 1899, he returned to Kansas, and has since made his home with the subject hereof. He married Adelaide R. Jay, and unto them were born seven children, as follows: Arthur O.; Minnie A.; Mary E.; Martha A.; Hattie V.; Ralph R.; and Allie J.

Mr. and Mrs. Winters have one son, J. Ross, who is twenty-one years of age, and is living at home. In politics, William A. Winters belongs to the Peoples party, while Mr. Hawkins is a Republican. The former has filled many of the township offices. Fraternally, he and his son are members of the A. 0. U. W., of Bartlett. In religious views, Mr. Winters is liberal.