SETH WINSLOW - A SHORT BIOGRAPHY
(by FRED E. WINSLOW 8/1953)
Seth Winslow, the seventh of
eleven children of John Woolman and Phebe Lacy Winslow, was born May 19, 1825,
In a log cabin on the homestead entered by his father in the fall of 1812.
The cabin was built at once and the family moved into it, probably in
December of the same year. At that time there were few settlers in the County.
The home was located about one fourth mile south of Delaney's Cross
Roads, about seven miles northeast of Salem, Indiana, which was not laid out
until a few years later.
His education was limited to a
few short terms in the private schools, the only schools of that day, but his
opportunity was used well. His
ear2y life in the big woods was probably similar to that of other boys of the
time. He early became skilled in
the use of the axe, broadaxe, and other tools, and in rolling logs to clear the
woods for cultivation. This life
developed Individual resourcefulness, always useful in any occupation.
He was about five feet eight
inches tall, weighed about 165; pounds, and was healthy and strong.
He could hold his own in wrestling, jumping, swimming, and was an
excellent shot with the rifle.
He spent one winter in early
manhood cutting wood for the wood-burning steamboats of the lower Mississippi
River. He and his brother, Josiah,
worked for some time in the tanyard of Jacob Rahill., where they learned the
tanners’ trade. Later he and
Josiah owned and operated a tanyard east of Delaney's Cross Roads.
He was married to Jane
Williams, the daughter of Thomas and Phebe Jones Williams, July 1, 1854.
About this time he bought a 200-acre farm near the center of Gibson
Township, where their four children were born.
The first died in infancy; then Phebe, Sarah, and Margaret were born.
Jane died in the spring of 1863, leaving him with three little girls; the
oldest one was six. After over two
years trying to care for the home and farm, he married again.
His second wife was Asenath
Morris-, daughter of Pritchard and Jennette White Morris. They were married Dec.
26, 1865. For nearly three years
they remained in the Gibson Township home; but in 1868 they bought the quarter
section in the northwest corner of Franklin Township, and moved to it. To the
second marriage were born seven children, six boys and one girl.
These were Pritchard, Aletha, Albert, Anderson, Fred, Brady, and Porter.
Pritchard was born before they moved to Franklin Township.
Anderson died at the age of nine months. In addition to their own
children, they took John and Frank Winslow, orphans of Barnabas, and later two
boys, and at another time a girl, into their home.
Mr. Winslow was a great reader,
always keeping up with progress by reading newspapers and books, of which he
accumulated a small library of the best. In
farming he practiced the rotation of crops long before this was practiced
generally by the best farmers. He used practical methods to prevent soil
erosion. He was interested in
horticulture and planted three large orchards at different times, besides other
smaller ones for home use. The
apples and peaches from these orchards were well known for their quality.
His knowledge of fruit made his advice sought after by those interested
in raising fruit. He was also interested in general farming and stock-raising,
and was always looking for better breeds of stock and varieties of grain and
grass for the farm. He was a good judge of stock., and was among the first in
the community to secure better breeders. He was always ready to secure the best
of labor-saving machinery for the farm. He secured rural delivery from the local
carrier long before the government began this service. one of the first
telephones in the County was installed in his home. He was among the first to use corn shredders and silos for
the entire corn crop. He saved and
used carefully all the manures produced, and was among the first to use
commercial fertilizers. He conducted experiments with these, to help him select
the kinds of fertilizers best suited to his land, many years before the
U.S.Experiment Stations were able to give this advice.
He was industrious and frugal,
and was able to provide a good living for his large family, besides laying
something away, for the rainy day. He
loved young people and always had his boys for companions in the fields. Besides
their mutual pleasure, it was very useful training for them. As a neighbor, he
was always ready to cooperate and help when needed. He served very acceptably
when there was sickness among the neighbors. He was generous to those in need,
but was seldom imposed on by those able to help themselves. He was interested in
the neighborhood and the community in general, and was active to see that the
best talent available was selected to serve the Township, County, State, and
Nation. He was a -Wig, and later a
Republican after that party was organized. He loved his country and helped to
uncover and defeat a subversive organization during the Civil War.
He was a good Bible student and was a birthright member of the Society of
Friends, and was a practical Christian in his living.
Upon reaching the age of 70 he
decided to shift the responsibility of running the farm, but wished to stay with
the work he enjoyed so much. He
made an arrangement with his son, Albert, to take it over, and he would stay
with the farm and home. He enjoyed
nearly ten years of this life. He
did not make a will, but during the last few days, when it came up in regular
conversation, he suggested that all the children were of age and fair-minded,
and that they could get together and settle up matters if they wished. This was
done.
He died Sept. 6, 1904, from
heart trouble complications, and was buried in the Old Blue River Cemetery,
where his parents and most of his brothers and sisters are buried. He had been
active in the Old Settlers organization of the County.
His burial was on the day set for their Annual Meeting at the County Fair
Grounds. They adjourned the meeting in the afternoon and attended the funeral in
a body. Col. S.D.Sayles delivered
the biographical address at the next Annual Meeting.
