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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 & Hannah (Woodruff) Winans, who were also born in
New Jersey; Samuel was born Mar. 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 team 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 Years',
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 Mar. 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 Apr. 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 se no reason to desire any other location, having a
beautiful residence and home, with members of the M. E. Church,
his membership dating back for nine years, and hers for
thirty-five years.
Source: The History of Miami
County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 - Staunton
Twp. |
