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Rock County, Wisconsin

Biographies

"Darius Daniels Winkley"

DARIUS DANIELS WINKLEY. The family name of WINKLEY (or, as it is sometimes spelled,
WINCKLEY) is one of the oldest and most respected in New England. Its American founder, Samuel WINCKLEY, Esq., emigrated from Lancashire, England, and it appears that his first place of residence was Kittery, Maine. There he first settled in 1680, and there in 1684 he married Sarah TRICKEY, whose father, Thomas, dwelt upon land granted him by the town council as early as 1656. After his marriage Samuel WINKLEY removed, about 1684, to Portsmouth, N.H., where he became engaged in trade and commerce, and where he died in 1736, aged about seventy years. From this ancestor the gentleman whose name is mentioned above traces an unbroken line of descent. The family arms; An eagle displayed counter charged, argent and gules; motto, Spec.
Of the seven children born to the sturdy English emigrant, the second, Francis WINKLEY,
was the great-great-grandfather of Darius D. He was born in 1689, and died in 1776. He made his home in Kittery, Maine, and was a boat builder. He married Mary, a daughter of Rev. John EMERSON, of Portsmouth, N.H., and by her became the father of seven children. The fourth of these, Francis WINKLEY, was born in 1733, and died Oct. 9, 1818. He married Martha, daughter of Mark HUNKING, of Barrington, N.H. She was born in 1734, and died Jan. 16, 1807. They were the parents of six children, the fifth of whom, also named Francis (and known as Francis in genealogical tree), was the grandfather of Darius D. WINKLEY. Francis WINKLEY was born in 1774, and died in April, 1855. He married Sarah DREW, who was born in 1778, and died March 26, 1846. She bore her husband nine children. Of these the fourth, Darius, was the father of the subject of this memoir. He was three times married, first to Ursula HALL, second to Maria DANIELS, and lastly to Sarah CATE. Darius Daniels was the child of the second marriage, and his mother died at his birth.
Our subject was born at Barrington, N.H., Aug. 15, 1847. His early education advantages were
those afforded by the district schools of that period, but, limited as they were, he improved them as far as his limited opportunities would permit. When a young man of seventeen years he determined to seek his fortune in a broader field. His uncle, Cyrus WINKLEY, had acquired a patent to land in what is now the township of Clinton, Rock Co., Wis., and thither young Darius turned his steps. He had little in his pocket, but he was endowed with that pluck, energy, fortitude and integrity, which have stood him in good stead all his life. For several years he worked as a farm laborer, but through the combination of the traits above indicated he is today one of Rock County's most prosperous farmers, owning 236 acres of fertile, well-improved land, which he manages after the best methods, and in the cultivation of which he employs the most approved machinery.
In 1876 Mr. WINKLEY was married to Miss Nellie GRISWOLD, daughter of Cyrus and Fannie
Adelia (EGGLESON) GRISWOLD. Her father, Cyrus GRISWOLD, was not only one of Clinton's prosperous farmers, but a man of affairs as well, having been a member of the board of supervisors for many years before his death, which occurred in March, 1900, after he had spent a useful and honored life extending over fourscore and five years. The union of Mr. and Mrs. WINKLEY has been blessed with three children, Elsie M., Cyrus A. and George R.
Mr. WINKLEY is a Republican political, yet his sterling character commands the respect of men
of all political creeds, while his unflinching, unwavering integrity, his enlightened public spirit, his generous disposition, and his kindly ways, endear him to all classes of the community.
 
Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin" (c)1901, pp. 767-768.
 
Courtesy of Carol

This page last updated August 9, 2002
 
©2002 WIBiographies-Rock County
 
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