McDonough ILGenWeb

WINSLOW, Melvin T. (deceased). — Versatility and broad usefulness characterized the career of Melvin T. Winslow, who was a resident of Illinois from 1855 until his lamented death in Galesburg, December 23, 1904. Preferring a commercial life to a professional one, Mr. Winslow became known as a bookkeeper, banker, furniture and real-estate dealer, and holder of important Republican offices. Mr. Winslow came from a family of which much might reasonably be expected. His forebears were among the colonial settlers of New England, and had the thrift and practical traits fostered by their surroundings. He was born in Leroy, Jefferson County, N. Y., August 7, 1824, a son of Ansel Winslow and grandson of Benjamin and Rebecca (Ellis) Winslow, all natives of Rochester, Mass. His mother, formerly Lucinda Tainter, was born in Sommers, Conn., a daughter of Jonathan and Jemima (Root) Tainter.

The profession of medicine, around which centered the early ambitions of Dr. Winslow, seems to have proved an unsatisfying outlet. From the public schools he entered a medical college in the State of New York, and, after graduating, located in Clayton, in the same State, where he practiced until 1855. The desire to identify himself with a growing community then took possession of him, and he came to Quincy, Ill., where he was bookkeeper for a large department store for about a year. In 1856 he entered the banking establishment of Randolph & Company, of Macomb, remaining with that firm for five years, and for the following few years he was connected with the bank of M. L. Holland. In 1871 he obtained a charter for the Union National Bank, capitalized the same for $60,000, and was teller and bookkeeper of the institution until 1876. He then became Cashier of the savings department of the First National Bank, and in 1882 resigned his position and purchased the furniture stock of B. F. Martin & Son. In 1892 he sold out his furniture business and became interested in real estate, conducting the same until the beginning of the illness which terminated his life.

Mr. Winslow's well-known integrity and public-spiritedness created a demand for his political services, and he creditably filled the office of City Treasurer of Macomb, member of the Board of Education and member of the City Council. For years he was a member and earnest supporter of the First Baptist Church. His first marriage, which occurred in Jefferson County, N. Y., November 22, 1849, was with Sarah Blunt, of Jefferson County, who died in February, 1856, leaving three children: Myra Rosalind, of New York; Percy Ambrose, of Clayton, N. Y.; and Joseph Melvin, of Quincy, Ill. Mr. Winslow was later united in marriage to Sarah A. Wolberton, of which union three children were born: Eliza, Sarah A., and Walter. Mr. Winslow was one of the solid, substantial men of Macomb, and his name invariably was associated with conservative and reliable business methods. He both made and kept friends, and his influence was felt in many avenues of city life, all of which were dignified by his uprightness and simplicity of character.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, page 1048, extracted 26 Oct 2020 by Norma Hass.