WINFIELD WRIGHT WINTER, who has for several years been identified with the business interests of Middletown, was born at Winterton, Sullivan County, N. Y., January 22, 1862. He was educated in the schools of that place and Walden Academy, after which he was for several years engaged in mercantile business in Winterton. In 1896 he established his present real estate and insurance business in partnership with his brother, Clarence G., who was with him one year, and has since conducted the business alone. In 1901 he disposed of his business interests in Winterton and removed to Middletown. Mr. Winter is a member of Hoffman Lodge No. 412, F. & A. M., and Concordia Council No. 1077, R. A. M. He was joined in marriage with Flora A. Harding, of Winterton, and four children have been born to them, two of whom are living: Harry, bookkeeper for the N. Y. O. & W. R. R. at Middletown, and Jay W., manager of the creamery at Winterton.
Mr. Winter resides a portion of the year at Winterton and has held the office of postmaster of that place since 1891, when he received the appointment from John Wanamaker under the Harrison administration.
THE WISNER FAMILY—One of the early pioneers in Orange County was Johannes Weasner, a native of Switzerland, who came to Long Island about the time that a special effort was being made to settle the Wawayanda Patent—Johannes purchased land near Mount Eve, the deed being granted June 23, 1714, making him one of the first settlers of the county. His son, Hendrick Weasner settled near Goshen.
Henry, the son of Hendrick, was born in 1720, and served in the New York Colonial Assembly, 1759-1769; was a member of the first Continental Congress, 1774; a delegate to the New York Provincial Convention, 1775-1777, and a delegate to the second Continental Congress, 1775-1777. He voted for the Declaration of Independence, but was called to New York before it was engrossed on parchment and was ready for signing. He took an active part in the manufacture of gunpowder, having mills in both Ulster and Orange Counties. He was also made a senator of the first legislature of New York State in 1777, serving until 1782. He died in September, 1790, and was buried in the family burying ground near Phillipsburgh, in the present town of Wallkill. He had two sons, Henry, Jr., and Gabriel. His son, Ensign Gabriel Wisner, was killed in the battle of Minisink, 1779. Henry G. Wisner, a prominent lawyer of Goshen, was a son of Ensign Gabriel Wisner and the ancestor of the Goshen branch of the family.
John, the second son of Hendrick Weasner, was a captain in the French and Indian War, and served as a scout in 1757. He was also a captain in the Revolutionary War under Colonel Nicoll, of Goshen. His early home was at Mount Eve, but later he established his home near Wickham's Pond, having received a grant of land, direct from the crown, consisting of more than a thousand acres, a portion of which included the present farm of Jesse Durland, which was the Wisner homestead for several generations. John Wisner was the ancestor of most of the Wisner families of Warwick.
His second son, Henry Wisner 3rd (sometimes written Jr.), was born July 11, 1742, and lived on the homestead farm. In the Revolutionary War he was made captain of the "Pond Company," under Colonel Hathorn, September 22, 1775, and later was made lieutenant-colonel, February 19, 1778. He was a member of the first State Assembly under the Constitution, serving from 1777-1778 and 1788-1789. He died May 29, 1812, and his remains now rest in the Warwick Cemetery by the side of his son, Jeffrey Wisner.
Jeffrey Wisner was a man of remarkable energy and great force of character. He represented the township as supervisor during 1812-1813 and 1819-1823, and for several years served as justice of the peace. His sons, Gabriel, James, Richard and Jeffrey Amherst, have done much toward building up the interests of Warwick, and his grandson, Clinton W. Wisner, is well known throughout the town and county.
CLINTON WHEELER WISNER was born at West Pittston, Pa., July 30, 1856, and died in the Adirondacks August 21, 1904. He was the son of Jeffrey Amherst and Mary Wheeler Wisner, both members of old and prominent families of the town of Warwick, where the first twelve and last twenty years of Mr. Wisner's life were spent.
Actively engaged for a time in mercantile business, and later in the management of large interests, he developed great talent for leadership and was to be found in the forefront of every progressive movement of his time. Endowed by nature with nobility of character, with an artistic love for beauty, educated in the school of life's activities by hard study and with the polish of extensive travel his was a versatile and attractive personality.
A patriot, he ever listened to the calls of his fellows to serve them as a public-spirited Christian citizen. For many years he was the president of his well-beloved Warwick village, which owes, in large measure, the present beauty of its homes, its churches, its Red Swan Inn, as well as its increasing popularity as a resort, to Mr. Wisner's interest and efforts. His favorite pastimes were shooting, sketching and driving.