Lapeer-Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....Winship, John 1825 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 19, 2007, 7:40 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

JOHN WINSHIP. Besides being a prominent merchant of Elba, Lapeer County, our
subject is also Postmaster of the place. He was born in Dutchess County, in
1825, and was the second in order of birth of a family of eight children, all of
whom lived to reach years of maturity. They are Ann, Melissa, Catherine,
Cordelia, Lucretia, Pamelia, Nehemiah, and John. Our subject's parents were
Samuel and Nancy (Lasson) Winship, born in Dutchess County, in 1793 and 1799
respectively. Samuel was a son of Nehemiah Winship who was born at Lexington,
Mass. The grandfather was a blacksmith by trade while our subject's father
became a farmer. He of whom we write was reared on his father's farm in Genesee
County, Mich., the family having come here in September, 1836. They experienced
all the hardships of pioneer life and were instrumental in bringing out the
resources of the country. Our subject here received a common-school education.
In 1852 John Winship was united in marriage to Avis J., daughter of Lewis S. and
Amanda Tyler. Mrs. Winship died in 1853 and our subject afterward married Sarah
A., daughter of Calvin and Clarissa Hyde, formerly of Niagara County, N. Y., but
who emigrated to Michigan in an early day. By this union our subject and his
wife became the parents of five children, of whom three are still living. They
are Bertha E., Sadie E. and Zetta E.

  In 1859 Mr. Winship went to the Pacific Coast and was engaged in mining and
prospecting for some time. In 1862 he enlisted in a company with one hundred men
who volunteered and received permission by paying their way to New York, to join
the United States service. This they did, reaching the Empire State late in
December, 1862, and in January our subject was placed in the Second
Massachusetts Cavalry, advancing to the seat of war early in the following
March. The first engagement in which he was a participant was at South Ann
Bridge. He was, however, soon disabled on account of exposure and was detailed
as mail agent, which position he held until the close of hostilities. After his
discharge he returned to Genesee County, this State.

  On his return from the war our subject was married to his present wife, and in
1872 came to Elba, where he built the first house in the village. He opened a
store and was at once appointed Postmaster, which office he has held ever since,
with the exception of four years during Cleveland's administration. Politically
Mr. Winship has been a Republican since 1856. He is a pleasant and affable
gentleman, personally. He is the owner of a beautiful residence adjoining his
store, which is pleasingly presided over by his wife.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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