Winter, Ira P. 1818 - 1888

WINTER, HINMAN, LADD, SLITOR, ALEXANDER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 1/14/2023 at 17:45:51

Elkader Register, Thur., 24 May 1888.

Died, May 14, 1888, at his home near Monona, of rupture of the heart, Ira. P. Winter.

Deceased was born Oct. 30, 1818, in Waterloo, Seneca County, N.Y.; was united in marriage to Nancy Maria Hinman, Feb. 28th, 1839. His wife and the following named children survive him: Mrs. H. H. Ladd and Frank F. Winter, Monona; Mrs. R. M. Slitor, LeRoy, Minn. and Mrs. A. L. Alexander, of Petersburg, Nebraska.

Death came to him vey suddenly and without warning, and was a great shock to his family and to the entire community. He had been ailing slightly at times for the last year, but his illness was so slight that no serious trouble was anticipated. For about a week previous to his death he had not been feeling quite as well as usual, but on Monday about 11 o'clock went out to do some work about the barn and not returning to the house at dinner time his wife went to call him, and found him dead; he had been pitching over some straw in the barn yard and apparently fell forward the fork still clasped in his hands; the grim messenger coming so very sudden that his hands still remained clasped about the fork handle when found.

"Squire Winter" as he was familiarly known to all of us, came to Monona, Clayton County, Iowa, in the month of July, 1852, and in the spring of 1853 was elected a justice of the peace; some two or three years later was elected township assessor and has almost continuously held these two offices ever since, except about four years that he was in Elkader, in the capacity of deputy county treasurer; was deputy tax collector of our township for several years, president of our township school board, etc. These public trusts placed in his hands year after year for thirty-five years tell more plainly than any words of ours, the esteem in which he was held by those who knew him best. 'Squire Winter was conservative in all things, but when acting in the capacity of judge between litigants or the trial of a criminal he rose superior to any local excitement or personal prejudice and became the "just judge."

There is not a man living in Monona township whose legal advice has been so often sought and so freely given. His death will be deeply felt by the people of the entire township; he was personally known to them all.

'Squire Winter was a man of a good deal more than ordinary ability, of a fine social nature and might have held higher positions of trust than he did, had he possessed political ambition; but he was best content with a quiet peaceful home life on his farm with his family - a kind husband and father, a good neighbor - a good friend has left us. Peace to his ashes.

Funeral services at family residence, conducted by Rev. Erffmeier.