Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 550] the subject of this personal notice, is one of New Castle's most honored and respected citizens, who has seen many years of varied service in the ministerial field in the United Presbyterian Church. He was born in Xenia, Ohio, July 27, 1828, and was a son of William and Elizabeth (Cochran) Winter, the former of Virginia but raised in the State of Kentucky, and the latter a native of Kentucky.
Stephen Winter, the grandfather of Rev. Thomas W., was born in London, England, where he followed his skilled trade of a lapidary or cutter of precious stones. He drifted with the tide of emigration to the American colonies in 1775, and settled in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. The common cause of the patriots against King George and his minions for deeds of oppression, violence and injustice found in him a ready sympathizer and a zealous soldier in the War of the Revolution, serving as a private through many a weary and doubtful campaign, for which service he drew a pension during his life. He later removed to the State of Virginia, and he was living with his youngest son at Xenia, Ohio, at the time of his death, in November, 1836, at the age of eighty-four years. He married Martha Linn, and their union proved fruitful in the birth of the following children: James, born Feb. 14, 1785; Joseph S., March 13, 1787; Agnes, July 21, 1789; Elizabeth, July 10, 1792; William, Dec. 14, 1795; Adam, Aug. 14, 1798; John, March 29, 1801; and Joseph C., Feb. 9, 1808. They were members of the Associate Presbyterian Church.
William, the fifth son and father of the subject of this short biography, after completing his education in his native town, early turned his attention to the tanner's trade, and served a number of years as apprentice, and also as a partner with his brother James, but finally gave up that calling to engage in agricultural pursuits, in which line of work he was occupied in Greene County, Ohio, in the vicinity of Xenia up to the time of his death, July 18, 1839, at the age of 46 years. He was considered a well-to-do farmer, and was able to provide very well for his family, but was never able to lay by any large amount of money. In his political affiliations he was a stanch Whig, and was an especially firm and decided Anti-Slavery man. Public affairs, whether of local or national interest ever appealed to him, and he served very acceptably as county assessor, and settled a large number of estates. He was a very honest man, whose reputation for strict integrity and uprightness had not its equal in the community where he lived. He possessed no small ability, that was exhibited not only in his farming operations but also in whatever transaction to which he was a party. In his religious belief he followed in the footsteps of his father, and was an elder in the Associate Presbyterian Church through many years. His wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter of William Cochran, of Cynthiana, Harrison Co., Ky. There were born to our subject's parents the following named ten children, as follows: Mary J.; James; William C.; Martha; Marguerite A.; Rev. Thomas W.; Agnes; Matthew H.; Elizabeth; and Joseph L.
From the district schools near his home our subject was advanced in the securing of an education to Xenia Academy, from where he went to Franklin College at New Athens, Ohio, and graduated from that institution in 1853. He then pursued a theological course at the Seminary in Cannonsburg, Pa., and was licensed to preach as a minister of the church in 1856. His first work was as a missionary in the State of Wisconsin. He then was a pastor of a church in Lawrence Co., Pa., for eleven years, after which he was pastor in Adamsville, Crawford Co., Pa., for eight years, and in East Palestine, Ohio, for six years. He then retired from the arduous work in which he had been engaged for so many years, and in June, 1892, came to New Castle as a pleasant spot where he could settle down and take the latter years of his life in comfort, with no harrassing cares to disturb the mind. Mr. Winter has a large circle of friends who delight to do him honor. He has always been an adherent of the Republican party.
His first wife, who was Miss Jane Scott of New Athens, Ohio, died in 1859, bore him two children, namely: Frances R., who died in 1874: and Allison T., who is engaged in railroad work in Denver, Colorado. After the death of Mrs. Winter, our subject lived alone a number of years, and was then joined in marriage with Mary McClelland of Mt. Jackson, Pa., and from this union three children resulted: Elizabeth M., Robert Mc., and William W. Mrs. Winter's brother, William McClelland, was adjutant-general under Governor Pattison at the time of his death, and before he was elevated to that office he was captain of Battery B, First Penn. Reserves, having served four years in the War of the Rebellion. Dr. Robert McClelland, Mrs. Winter's father, who married a Miss Mary Woods of Mt. Jackson, this county, was himself a native of Ireland, being brought to this country when a lad of five years by his parents. He was engaged in the practice of medicine for nearly thirty years in Mt. Jackson and vicinity. Few men were more highly respected or had greater influence in the community than he. In religion he was a United Presbyterian. In politics he was a Democrat, and served one term as a member of Assembly in the Pennsylvania Legislature. He died in 1869, in his 70th year.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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Updated: 16 Jul 2001