Before I enter any more of Grandpa's journal, I thought I should provide a little history. I'm going to use the article from the History of Preble County, Ohio published in 1915.



John Winkelman



The history of the Buckeye state dates officially from 1803, in which year it was admitted to the Union. It is a record of the steady growth of a state which in the beginning was a wilderness. Each county has its share in the story of Ohio's growth and progress and every county can lay claim to some incident or transaction which goes to make up the history of the commonwealth. After all, the history of a state is but a record of the doings of its people, among whom the pioneers and their sturdy descendants occupy places of no secondary importance. The story of the plain, common people who constitute the moral bone and sinew of the state should ever attract the attention and prove of interest to all lovers of their kind. In the life story of John Winkelman, there are no striking chapters nor startling incidents, it being merely the record of a life true to its highest ideals and fraught with much that would stimulate the youth starting in the world to an industrious and prudent career.

John Winkelman was born October 1, 1845, in Brunswick, Germany, the son of Cordt and Rebecca (Wendt) Winkelman, who were the parents of seven children, all of whom are deceased except the subject of this sketch. Cordt Winkelman was born in 1812 in Germany and remained in his native land as a farmer until his death in 1892. His wife, the mother of John Winkelman, was born in Germany and died when John was about eight years old. She was about forty years old at the time of her death. John Winkelman left Germany March 12, 1865, and was seventeen days making the voyage across the Atlantic. He came at once to Preble County, Ohio, and engaged in saw-mill work in Lanier Township. He worked at this for seven years for one man and then rented land and started farming. In 1878 he purchased a steam saw-mill located in Twin Township a mile and a half north of West Alexandria and operated it until 1914. He has handled vast quantities of lumber in Preble County. He furnished lots of lumber for bridges, and it was said that what he furnished was the best furnished in the county. He now owns sixty-two acres of land in Twin Township and, in connection with his son-in-law, A. E. Loxley, is farming twenty-four acres of land, upon which they raise tobacco. It may be said that Mr. Winkelman and his son-in-law produced the largest crop per acre of tobacco that was raised in Preble County in 1914. They attribute their success to rotating crops and fertilizing both with barn-yard manure and commercial fertilizer, keeping the soil built up. John Winkelman is a prominent stockholder and director in the Farmers and Citizens Bank of West Alexandria. What education Mr. Winkelman received, he received in the schools of his native land.

John Winkelman was married in 1872 to Sarah J. Hoops, who was born October 20, 1853, in Kentucky, the daughter of William and Anna (Tabelman) Hoops, natives of Germany, who came to Preble County from Kentucky when she was only three or four years old. To Mr. and Mrs. John Winkelman six children have been born; William C. and Caroline, deceased; Leonard, a farmer of Twin Township; Esther, the wife of Elmer Loxley, who lives with her parents; John, who is a school teacher of West Alexandria; and George E., a farmer of Twin Township. Leonard married Ida Clemmer and has one daughter, Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Loxley have one little son, John Paul. John married Hazel Ozias and has a son and a daughter, Mildred and Richard. George married Mary McGregor and has two sons, Charles and Wilbur.

Mr. Winkelman for years has been prominent in the affairs of Twin Township and served as township trustee for a period of twelve years and served nearly as long on the school board. Politically, he is identified with the Democratic party. Religiously, Mr. Winkelman is a member of the Lutheran Church and is an elder of that denomination and, therefore, active in the affairs of this faith. Throughout his life, John Winkelman has been a hard working, industrious citizen and is honored by the people of his community for his industrious habits.



One comment I want to add: I have a copy of the passenger list for the ship America which sailed from Bremen, Germany to New York and arrived March 27, 1865. Listed in the passenger list is Johann Winkelman, aged 19, M, Farmer, from Thedinghausen, Germany.



That's all I'm adding for today. My next entry will be a couple of articles about George Winkelman.

The last post didn't look too good. Guess I'm going to have to find another format. Oh well, that's what happens when you're a beginner.

Today I'm going to start entering Grandpa Winkelman's journal. This journal starts in 1943 and ends in 1945. I'm probably going to enter just a few pages at a time until it's all in here, so this may take a while. I'm going to do a little editing as I go along. For instance he spelled Eugene Crauder's name as Crouder. I'm not going to change any wording unless I can't decipher what he's written. To explain to those who don't know what line of work Grandpa was in, he was the manager of the West Alexandria Ohio water works. He also had his own plumbing business, along with his oldest son Charles. So, here is the first installment of Grandpa Winkelman's journal.

1943

Jan 1-Temp 33-38; 42,400 gal:     Attended Mary's wedding to Eugene Crauder, junior choir sang before ceremony.   Freda Mae Habekost played the organ, first wedding for the new organ.  I rang the church bell, the old year out and the new year in, during which time Rev. Bradow performed the ceremony. Attended services at 10 o'clock.  Pumped as usual in the afternoon.  Art Creagor was buried today.

Jan 2-Temp 32-54; 48,800 gal:  Sun is really shining today.   Followed the usual routine.

Jan 3-Temp 34-43; 43,200 gal :  More rain again. Children were all home except Donald and Virgil celebrating Mary's marriage to Eugene Crauder.  Jesse Hasten visited station today.  Good attendance at church today.

Jan 4-Temp 26 all day; 51,200 gal:   Sarah 21 today. Made my usual rounds today. Tried to clean Roselius' drain A.M, also after dark. Seems to be stopped up at or near main sewer.

Jan 5-Temp 12-26; 50,400 gal: Couldn't get anyone to dig this kind of weather. Went after tank pump
 at the Shaffers property west of town.

Jan 6-Temp-16-29; 49,600 gal: Same as yesterday helped Chas. a little at Dr. Hearst on heater (water),
 Visited at Mary's folks last night with Mary J and Gene.   Now it's snowing again.

Jan 7-Temp 26-36; 48,000 gal: Still more snow and I feel a little bit down and out.

Jan 8-Temp 20-28; 47,200 gal: Not much to say today.   Ordered a disc for 2" Lambert meter from Neptune Motor Co Louisville Ky.

Jan 9-Temp 14-28; 49,600 gal: Took pump out for Miss Hurt to pump water out of her cellar. Gran. Dafler in trying to shut off the water at Probst (Josiah Miller) place he got to side of valve causing meter to fall out had to dig down to valve to cut water off (21 hrs.)  And it's snowing and blowing again.

Jan 10-Temp 28-33; 52,000 gal: Sunday, and a lot of snow made plenty of work at the church. Gene Crauder left this morning to go back to Camp Swift Texas.  Headache all P.M. yet finished pumping a few minutes after 5 o'clock Expect to take Mary to Dayton so she can go back to work tomorrow.

Jan 11-Temp 24-38;52,600 gal: Cldy turned clear with some wind. With Charles assistance I finally cleared Connie Roselius' drain which was clogged with roots were lateral, entered main sewer.  At Stanley Johnson's property Herschal Waggoner tenant, drain was also stopped, Walter Marker cleared it without much trouble.  Quite a lot of snow melted today.

Jan 12-Temp 14-20; 45,600 gal: Cool today, or rather, cold, otherwise good.  Made 50# tips for Sight Feed the A.M.  John B Glander and his uncle Geo. B. Glander were here this afternoon.

Jan 13-Temp 4-25; 52,000 gal:   Received a letter from Donald last night, first in over two months, he is a sergeant in Northern Africa.  Weather was cold to partly cloudy, other wise fine.

Jan 14-Temp 26-33;52,400 gal:  Snow again almost all day, made more 50# tips for Sight Feed.

Jan 15-Temp 28-38;48,000 gal:  Softer weather, soldered wash boiler for Russell Suman.  Received a cable from Donald that he had arrived in Africa with his Christmas and New Years greetings, received his letters before his cable.

Jan 16-Temp 42-46; 60,800 gal:  Took cheer leader and five other girls to the basketball game at Verona.

2nd team OK--1st??  Weather mild but getting cooler. I hope it doesn't snow tonight.  Getting late so will do my floor mopping.

Jan 17-Temp 28-29; 46,400 gal: Sunday Holy Communion at church morning and evening. Sarah, Eugene & Wesley were at home for dinner. Some sleet today but no snow.

Jan 18-Temp 27-33; 52,800 gal:  Icy this morning, some one lost control of car and broke off fire hydrant at corner of Oak and Main St near Mrs Mary Fudge property. Mrs Mary Fudge said about 3:30 AM.  I worked some down at church basement.  It is now foggy and ice is most all gone.

Jan 19-Temp 2-12-2; 52,800 gal:  Cold, a little snow. Strong wind.  I worked some at church, put up water line to coal bin.  Started to clean water heater at station this afternoon, try and finish it tomorrow.

Jan 20-Temp 1-6-19; 51,200 gal:  Colder but not so much wind.  At church a little, tried to find some one to dig at Kenneth Moury, no success so far. Still cleaning water heater (electric hammer is just the thing).

Received another letter from Donald.  Doesn't say very much.  F. Roaches meter frozen up. No, it was his hydrant.

Jan 21-Temp 19-34; 59,200 gal:    Alex Fudge began to dig for sewer tap at Kenneth Moury place east of Lumber yard. Still working on heater.  Chas. Jordan, Supt of Lewisburg Water Works visited with us this afternoon.

Jan 22-Temp 16-44;56,000 gal:   Alex Fudge still digging, didn't find sewer yet.  Another fine day, hope it continues.  Found a small purse last night, it had 90 ct in it.

Jan 23-Temp 33-44; 56,000 gal:   Clear, foggy then cloudy.  Alex Fudge still digging, found sewer 10'-1" from alley level to top of sewer.  Put in lateral to property line, had a little cave in, bottom of ditch is coarse gravel which however was not fault or cause of cave in. Didn't get to pump till late today finished at 7:05 PM. Then cleaned up floor. John B. Glander was here. David Benson, Harry and Gary also. Place 1" elbow-10' of 6" sewer. I return to Moury place.

Jan 24-Temp 34-64; 48,000 gal:     Fine day. Army plane over station today making smoke screen.  Good attendance at church this morning.

Mon Jan 25-Temp 27-20; 52,000 gal:  Received sheets for wayside pulpit at church.  Some men worked at church today.  Alex Fudge still on job at K Moury place.  Board met this afternoon with Suman and Vogue present, just routine business.  I run 8' of 4" sewer for Moury place.

Tues Jan 26-Temp 15-18; 52,000 gal:   Finished our part on K. Moury sewer 4' of 4" L.A. Block connecting sewer for Mrs Rebecca Roselius.  Cold wind today.

Wed Jan 27-Temp 12-32; 56,000 gal:    W.A.H.S. basketball squad lost by 1 basket to Lanier, however the second team won by 1 point.  Colder today than yesterday but wind was quiet, received another letter from Donald and Mary J was home today, took her to Dr Nisbet for her throat.  Worked at church till 11+

Thur Jan 28-Temp 20-33; 50,400 gal:   Cloudy all day, routine work today.  Worked a little at church.

Fri Jan 29-Temp 26-33; 49,600 gal:    H. Reigel put in sewer for K Moury up to house. L.A. Block finished connecting Mrs Roselius drain.  Chas. J Carr salesman for Garlock Packing Co was here, gave him a small order.

Sat Jan 30-Temp 30-37; 55,200 gal:     Snow this morning turned to rain this P.M.  Received disc for 2" meter from Neptune Meter Co Lousville Ky. Repaired chair  for house. Ben Locke was here did some soldering for him. Was in Eaton this A.M. got Geo. Jr a suit also paid off my obligation at the City Loan.

Got copy of Mary & Eugene's marriage license.  Was at basketball game last night. W Alex lost to Gratis.

Sun Jan 31-Temp 26-39; 55,200 gal:    Icy this morning, raining this P.M.   Our children except Sarah and her family and the boys in service were home today celebrating my birthday which is tomorrow.

Dr Nisbet is 55 today, me tomorrow.

That's Grandpa's journal for the month of January, 1943. I'll try to enter a full month at each posting.

August 17, 2009

I'm not sure exactly what's going to happen with this blog, but I've had friends tell me I should start one. I had no idea what to do with it, or what subject to pursue until I went to my family reunion yesterday. My cousin Shirley gave me a journal that our grandfather kept and it suddenly came to me that maybe writing about my family would be as good a place to start as any. So here goes.
My grandparents were George and Mary Winkelman. They lived in or near West Alexandria, Ohio most of their lives. Being the parents of 12 children, you would assume there would be a lot to write about. Obviously, I can't possibly know everything, so I'm inviting all members of the family to share their thoughts and memories.
Since I have Grandpa's journal, I think I'm going to start there. I also have a scrapbook that belonged to my Great-Grandfather McGregor. What I plan to do over time is include any journals, newspaper articles, letters, geneology, and anything else that seems to be appropriate. This part of the blog will be for memories, and I will add places to put the other additions.