John Winkelblack, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Charleston; born in Dauphin Co., Penn., March 4, 1805, where he lived until 15 years of age, when he learned and worked at the tanner’s and currier’s trade at Harrisburg, Penn., until 1829, at which date he emigrated to Ohio, working at Cleveland, Massillon and Zanesville until February, 1830, when he went to Pennsylvania and the following spring returned to Zanesville, Ohio, where he followed his trade until the fall of 1835; he then emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 30, Morgan Tp., where he now lives; upon locating here he entered 160 and purchased 236 acres of land, to which he afterward added until he held about 1100 acres, which he had accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry; when he first located here, wolves were plenty, and to obtain quail, prairie chickens, wild geese, ducks, turkeys or deer, it was only necessary to shoot from your own door or window; his trips to mill consumed from four to seven days, the distance being fifty miles, either to Roseville or Terre Haute, Ind.; although now in his 75th year, he is in possession of all his faculties, and daily attends to his stock, of which he has 70 head of cattle, 16 horses and 60 hogs. He married, March 4, 1841, to Catharine Weaver; she was born in York Co., Penn., Oct. 23, 1822; she died Jan. 23, 1866, leaving twelve children, viz.: William H., Milton C., Robert A., Mason F., Nancy J., Thomas T., Mary E., John, Victoria S., Daniel, Susannah, Jacob H. Mr. Winkelblack has taken a deep interest in the cause of education, having been School Trustee and Director, the latter office which, he now holds, he has held many years.
