Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 646 - 647 

FREDERICK WINDERLIN, after traveling  through the greater portion of the West, visiting Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, and Montana and Wyoming Territories, came to the conclusion that there were few sections of the country more desirable than Southern Kansas, and accordingly took up his residence in Salem Township, of which he has now been a resident since 1871. In the fall of that year he pre-empted a tract of wild prairie, upon which a furrow had not yet been turned, and at once commenced its improvement and cultivation, with the results which the passing traveler now beholds with an admiring eye.

            The Winderlin homestead comprises 160 acres of land on section 32, and is conspicuous for its commodious and substantial buildings, the choice assortment of live stock, the orchard of fine apples and the various other fruit and shade trees which serve not only to embellish the premises, but also add greatly to the value of the property. As a representative of the thrifty German farmer, the work of Mr. Winderlin is recognized as bearing fine comparison with that of his neighbors.

            The subject of this sketch was born Aug. 2, 1842, and is consequently in the prime of life. His parents, George and Mary A. Winderlin, were also of German birth and ancestry, and emigrated to the United States with their family when their son Frederick was a little lad six years of age. They settled in Montgomery County, Ohio, whence they shortly afterward removed to Washington County, Wis., where the mother passed from earth in the summer of 1857. The father, in the meantime, had been seized with the California gold fever, and about 1849 started for the Pacific Slope, and was never afterward heard from.

            In the parental family of our subject there were but two children -- Frederick, of our sketch, and his brother Paul, who died when about twelve years old. Frederick, by the loss of his parents, was thrown upon his own resources when a youth of sixteen years, and two years later made his way to the Territories of Colorado and Montana, where he worked in the mines several years, and was also occupied as a Government teamster. Upon returning from the West be was united in marriage, on the 12th of June, 1879, to Miss Mary Boylan, who was born in Worcester County, Mass., July 21, 1858, and came West with her parents when a young lady, in 1879.

            Mrs. Winderlin is the daughter of James and Catherine (Woods) Boylan, of Salem Township, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of four children, namely: Mary A., born Dec. 31, 1880; James, March 2, 1882; Julia A., Feb. 19, 1884; Frederick J., Feb. 28, 1886. The first-named only lived a few weeks, her death taking place Jan. 15, 1881.

            Mr. and Mrs. Winderlin began life together in their modest home in Salem Township, and by their united efforts have accumulated a snug sum for a rainy day, and built up a homestead to which their descendants will in the future point with pride. The farm buildings are of first-class description, and the various modern improvements of the day have been introduced for the prosecution of agriculture in the most thorough and skillful manner. The farm is provided with costly machinery, including a fine windmill, which serves to distribute water for the use of stock and where it is otherwise most needed.

            Mr. Winderlin, the greater part of whose life has been spent in the country of his adoption, is thoroughly imbued with Republican principles, and uniformly votes for their perpetuation. The parents of his estimable wife were natives of Ireland, and to them were born a family of seven children, six of whom are living, namely: Mary E. (Mrs. W.), Patrick, Simon, Catherine, Julia and Rosanna. Mr. and Mrs. Boylan came to this country several years ago, and are now numbered among the esteemed citizens of Salem Township. Mr. B. is a farmer by occupation, and owns a comfortable homestead, where he and his excellent wife are spending their declining years, surrounded by friends and the filial care of their children. They were reared in the faith of the Catholic Church, to which they still loyally adhere, and with which our subject and his wife are also identified.

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