YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTY MINNESOTA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submitted to the Minnesota Biographies Project by:
Name: LaNaye Hennen
Email: henfarms@clarkfield.ruralink.com
Date: 29 June 2000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"A History of Yellow Medicine County" by Arthur P. Rose,published in 1914


ARTHUR W. WINTER (1865)

Arthur W. Winter, proprietor of a hardware, implement and garage business at
Granite Falls, has the distinction of being the oldest living resident--in
point of continuous residence--of Yellow Medicine county.  There is no
person in the county who lived here before he did.  For nearly fifty years
his only home has been on Yellow Medicine county soil.

Mr. Winter was born at Chatham, Ontario, Canada, March 14, 1858, the son of
John and Victoria (Walker) Winter.  When he was six months of age he was
brought by his parents to Minnesota and the family home established at
Cleveland, Le Sueur county.  In 1865 the Winters left there and in a covered
wagon made the trip to that part of Redwood county which some years later
was set off as Yellow Medicine county.  They arrived at their destination,
not far from where the Yellow Medicine river enters the Minnesota, on
September 17, 1865, and became the first settlers of the county after the
massacre.

Arthur spent his boyhood days in the old town of Yellow Medicine City, which
was founded by his father.  For a number of years he clerked in the store of
Joseph Fortier, and some time after the founding of Granite Falls he moved
to the new town and worked in Mr. Fortier's store there.  Later he took
employment in the store of Henry Bordewich.

Having spent his youthful years as a store clerk, it was only natural that
Mr. Winter should engage in the mercantile business for himself.  He and C.
J. Goodenow started a hardware and implement store at Granite Falls, which
they operated as partners twenty-two years.  During a part of this time they
also owned five other stores in neighboring towns.   Finally Mr. Winter
purchased his partner's interests, and he has since conducted the business
alone.  He has build up a mammoth business, and his store is one of the big
institutions of the capital city.

Mr. Winter has played an important part in the affairs of the city in which
he has lived so long.  He was a member of the city council ten years and was
Granite Falls' mayor six years.  He is president of the Board of Education,
an office he has filled for many years.

The marriage of Arthur Winter to Coretta Winter occurred in Indiana, her
birthplace.  They have three children, Prescott, Edwin and Goodenow.