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Swiss Brothers Grant PioneersTwo cousins, Benjamin and Jacob Winkleman, were among the very early pioneers of Greene county, particularly in the Jefferson vicinityComing from Switzerland, they lived together until each founded his own family vfankleman’s switch south of town still has facilities to flag the train to take on freight.married at Cincinnati in 1843 to Margaret Phoner. a native of Germany, and they had three children. Catharine, John and Fred, before she died in Illinois in 1854.Crossed Panamacome over the railroad built there In Vermillion county, ind. he married Angeline Bu^h m 1855, and they were parent at six children Mary, James, Susa Martha, William and Ella Elia died of injuries ; after falling off Me Panora bridge in 1885.Benjamin and h.s family cameafterwards as being famous for deep snow and severe weather, and the outlook was lonesome—but the family suffered little.They purchased 320 acres of land, paying $1,500. At that time, thereas far as Panora. and they had to go to Des Moiries for lettersEssentially religious, Benjamin Winkleman joined the Methodist church in Greene county, and his obituary chained the Information that an old German Bible printed about the time of the Revolutionary war was one of his dearest possessions.Jacob Was 17Jacob Winkleman also was bom in Kanton Bern. Switzerland, Oct 10, 1835, and as a young man came to Urbana. Ill, in Champaign county, when his cousin's family livedthere His obituary stated the cousins came to Greene county in 1855, the house which Benjamin established being about two and a half miles south of JeffersonJacob was one of a family of eight! children, all of whom survived him when he died in February of 1901 All, however, were in the old country with the exception of a sister m St Louis, Mo7 Children SurvivedHe and Nancy Ann Rhoades were married May 29. 1859 in Greene county, and they settled on a small farm which they purchased five miles from Jefferson About six years prior to his death, they retired to Jefferson At time of his death his progeny included seven living children, four others hav-7 The Jefferson BeeJefferson, la., Tues., Oct. 2G, 1954overcome the difficulties of adjusting to a new country, and to a frontier life He had assumed a place m the Methodist church he joined and served as Sunday school superintendent, class leader, church steward, trustee Together the cousins established a family which has increased and prospered and numbers many personsIIThe CM St P railway people are doing a great woik at Herndon at this time putting m an immense switch yard for the handling of the transf *r business which has grown to so big proportions s.nee they assumed control of the Spencer branch When the work is done theBenjamin was born Aug 17. 1818 in Siselen. Kanton Bern, Switzerland. and at the age of 15 came with his parents, Benjamin and Catharine to America The family settled at Blue Creek. Franklin county, Ind and then to Champaign county, 111 Benjamin hadto Greene county . , 1856 and settled on a farm w h c h was his home until his death e.ulv in 1899 The first family homo a.js a log cabin 16 by 18, and they had no nearneighbors.That first wuitci ht remembereding diedWhen he came to the United four passenger trains whuh meet States at the age of 17 years, he there every morning will be abit to could not speak English and had no pull up to the station s de by side — property When he died, he had ' Jefferson Bee, Nov 8, 1901He then went to California, returning in 1855 by way 0f the Isthmus of -Panama, ai.d crossing on the first passenger train ever towas no post office at Jefferson, the inhabitants getting their mail at the nearest mill at Panora After a while, the mail did not even come
Newspaper Details
Jefferson Bee
Jefferson, Iowa, US
Tue, Oct 26, 1954
Page 95
Full Page
Clipped by
Mid-Continent L.
MO, USA 01 Jul 2019
Other Publications Near Jefferson, Iowa
Jefferson Era
Jefferson Bee
Jefferson Herald
Standard Atlas of Greene County Iowa
Atlas of Greene County Iowa
