Welcome to
Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
|
|
|
|
Frank
D. Winn From the
successful career of this
gentleman there may be gleaned many lessons worthy of the emulation of the young
and the admiration of the old. Commencing
for himself at the age of fourteen, without money or influential friends, be net
only supported himself, but also cared for his mother until the time of her
death. From boyhood he has steadily
advanced in commercial circles until now (1893), at the age of only thirty-six,
he stands at the head of one of the largest mercantile houses in central Iowa.
This flourishing establishment is located in the city of Newton, and is
conducted under the firm name of F. D. Winn & Co. Born
in Zanesville, Ohio, in September 1857, our subject is the youngest in a family
of eight children, six sons and two daughters, all of whom are now deceased with
the exception of three sons. His parents were John W, and Harriet (Virden) Winn,
both of whom were members of old Virginia families, the father being a prominent
dry-goods merchant in a little village not far from Zanesville, Ohio. There his
death occurred when Frank was six years of age.
The paternal grandfather was a farmer, and was killed by accident while
felling timber in the woods. The
maternal grandfather was a quarryman and was killed by an explosion. By
the time our subject reached the age of fourteen, the property left by his
father bad been completely exhausted, and it devolved upon him to discontinue
his studies and support himself and his widowed mother.
He set about the work with a determination to succeed.
Entering the dry-goods store of an uncle at Bridgeville, Ohio, he
continued there until he was nineteen years of age, and out of his small
earnings managed to support himself and his mother. After her death he resigned from his uncle’s employ, and
coming west, secured a position in the counting room of Barton & Spry, at
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he was bookkeeper for one year. From
Mt. Pleasant Mr. Winn came to Newton, where be procured a position in the Grange
store, of which A. L. Harrah was the head.
He remained in that establishment for four years, and during the latter
part of that time he was the headman in the dry-goods department. He then spent
one year in the dry goods business at Des Moines, after which he returned to
Newton and entered the dry-goods house of J. M. McFarland & Son, remaining
in the employ of that firm for eight years.
At the expiation of that time he went to 0skaloosa, where for one year he
had charge of the dress goods and carpet department of Jordan & Stone's
store. Later he established himself
in the dry-goods business in Newton, under the firm name of F. D. Winn &
Co., which he has since conducted with flattering success. As a merchant he has woo the confidence of the people of
Newton and the surrounding country and by his honorable dealings with all and
the uniform reliability of his transactions he has gained a high place in
mercantile Circles. January
6, 1886, Mr. Winn married Mrs. Sara (Lister) Lamb, the widow of Henry Lamb.
She was born in England, and at the age of about seven years immigrated
to America with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Winn have had three children, two of
whom died in infancy; the only surviving child, Walter Lister, is a boy of two
years (1898). Prominent
in the Masonic fraternity, Mr. Winn is now serving as Recorder of Oriental
Commandery No. 22 and High Priest of Gebal Chapter. He is also identified with
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In his
religions connections he is a member of the Congregational Church in which he is
an active worker and a Deacon. Though a stanch Democrat, he never meddles in
local politics, preferring to devote his attention to his business affairs.
His excellent qualities of heart and mind have endeared him to a large
circle of friends, and as a businessman he is one of the most influential men of
Jasper County. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, IL, 1894, p. 168. |
|
|
