Sheboygan city and county residents were saddened by the news of the passing away of Michael Winter, on Monday, October 13, 1889, at the age of 64 years, being thus called to the Great Beyond while still actively engaged in a flourishing lumber business, leaving a large but well provided family, along with a host of friends in both city and county, to mourn his untimely death, which was preceded by a brief illness of lung trouble.

Michael Winter II was one of the earliest settlers in Sheboygan County, having emigrated from the Province of Pommerania, Germany, with his parents and their family, in the year 1839, having been born in that province on August 8, 1825.

Michael Winter II married Bertha Benter (+1919) in 1849, in Sheboygan County and settled in Town Sherman in that year. There he purchased a farm and built and operated a general store. Twelve years later, he was elected sheriff of Sheboygan County and moved with his own family to the city of Sheboygan, where he remained until the time of his death.

When Michael Winter's term of office as sheriff of Sheboygan County ended, he soon founded the M. Winter Lumber Company in the City of Sheboygan, and conducted it successfully until he died. The business was carried on by his sons, Arthur, William and Jesse, for many years, and they branched out extensively into the manufacture of office furniture, etc., but following the death of Arthur Winter the business was discontinued. Michael Winter III, son of Jesse Winter, resides now in Green Bay, Wis.

Michael Winter, after his term of office as sheriff, in which he gained a wide acquaintance and formed many friendly relations with men throughout the county, was honored at various times with his election to other public offices. In 1867, he was elected to the State legislature, and for two terms he served with honor as mayor of the City of Sheboygan.

Michael Winter's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Winter I, came to America from the Province of Pommerania, Germany, in 1839, together with their children, and the father worked on the Erie canal for a time, and after living in Milwaukee for about three years, the son, William II, settled down in Sherman Township, Sheboygan County, This was in 1842, and the William Winter family is therefore entitled to a place of honor among the first families from Germany to settle down in our county and to contribute to its development. The parents passed away at Milwaukee the year following their immigration from Germany, and their last resting place is in a churchyard not far distant from their son William's pioneer home.

Michael Winter II and his wife were blessed with a family of nine children, whose names and dates of birth here follow in chronological order, together with the dates of decease of those who have passed away: William Michael Winter, October 13, 1851, September 16th, 1916; Alwine Winter-Bodenstein, July 30, 1852, December 15, 1879; Augusta Wilhelmina Francisca Winter-Koepsell, August 9, 1855; Louisa Mathilda Winter-Jung, April 5, 1858; Arthur Frederick Winter, July 26, 1861, September 3, 1916; Theresa Winter, November 14, 1863, March 14, 1871; Emma Winter (died in infancy); Amanda Winter, March 30, 1866, April 14, 1866; Jesse Winter, 1871, April 17, 1924. Only two of this generation, Mesdames Jacob Jung, II and Augusta, widow of John J. Koepsell, survive, and both still live in the City of Sheboygan.

To enumerate here the descendants of the third generation of this immigrated family would tax the space required beyond limit, and therefore it must suffice to say that the Winter family is not in immediate danger of dying out.

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