Winters, Peter Fredrick August Winters

WINTERS

Posted By: Jessica Tisher (email)
Date: 11/2/2011 at 11:18:40

Peter Fredrick August Winters

Third Great Grandfather to Jessica Tisher

An original biographical sketch by Jessica Tisher

August Winters was born in Germany on October 10, 1851. August was the youngest son after his younger brother passed away. Without a chance to inherit his father, Peter Nikalouse’s, land, and things heating up between Germany and France, August decided to follow his eldest brother’s footsteps in America. August left Germany with his long time best friend Fred Vagst in the spring of 1870.

After a long time of traveling, they found themselves at the end of their journey, and the end of their money. Standing alone at the train-station in Iowa, it was the kindness of a stranger that saved them. This unknown man set the two young, German bachelors with farm work. August worked for Anton Buhr for nine dollars a month.

Back up on his feet, August decided to move west joined by a group consisting of the Heitritter family, William and Herman, and Mrs. Heitritter’s brother, Herman Meyers. Together they made the 240 mile or 2 week trip to Boyden, Iowa. It was here that August hired himself out to an english speaking farmer so that he could learn the language. He worked there for another few years.

After settling in Boyden, Iowa, August met his future wife, Anna Greve. She was a fellow German who was a strong Christian woman. The two were married on April 27, 1882. They bought a farm that is still in the family today. Together, the couple had 10 children: Dorothea, Alvina, Herman, William, Henry, Emma, John, Adolf, Albert and Theodore.

August was an active member in both his community and St. Johns, the church he was key in raising. He was not afraid to try new things, and is credited with holding many firsts in Boyden. Throughout his life, August was a well respected, successful man. He lived in Boyden, Iowa until 1919 when he moved in with his son in George, Iowa.

In Boyden, the Winter family faced many challenges. Living on the prarie in primitive conditions, they faced problems unfathomable to us today, all without modern conveniences. Yet according to his children, “In such times, it was a courage born of a living faith in a mericful God, that helped him face these circumstances with confidence in the future.”

August died on August 9, 1933 at the age of 82 years. His wife died August 21, 1950. He will always be remebered as a man of God who contributed to his community and was always there to help others.