FERDINAND WINHOLD, a very prosperous German farmer, living on section 8 of township 18, range 11, was born in Pennsylvania, near Pittsburg, in 1839. He is the son of William Winhold, born in Hesse-Darmstadt, of Hessian parents, who, after all their children were born and a good part of them married, including the son, William came to the United States in 1833. They set sail from Bremen, Hanover, and after a voyage of fifty-seven days landed in Baltimore, Maryland, later settling in Pennsylvania, near Pittsburg, where the father of William died, an old man. Later, William, who was the only child who came with his parents to America, came with his mother and own family to Illinois, settling in 1840 on a new farm in township 18, range 11. Here the mother of William spent her last years and died when an old woman. William began to make a home for his wife and children. He first bought forty acres, and added to it from time to time, improving it all the while until it was one of the finest farms in the county. He died in 1886, when nearly seventy-eight years old. He was a good citizen, a successful farmer and a stanch Republican. He held to no church, although his parents were Catholics. His wife is now deceased, dying on the old farm in 1887, when quite an old woman. She was born, reared and married in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, coming of good old stock. She was the good mother of seven children, five of whom are married and all are living in Cass County.

Ferdinand is the fifth child of the family and was reared in this county, being but eighteen months old when brought to Illinois by his parents in 1840. He now owns 230 acres of land, all well improved, which he has owned for some years, having begun farming for himself when twenty-three. He had but few opportunities for education, but made the most of what he had, and has made up for lack of education in common sense and intelligence.

He was married in this county to Bertha Philippi, born near where she now lives in 1847. She was reared and educated in this county, and is one of a large family. (For history of same see biography of parents.) Mr. and Mrs. Winhold are prominent people of their county. Mr. Winhold is a Republican, and has held local offices. He and his wife are the parents of nine children, all yet at home: Rudolph F., Julius P., William P., Lena B., Charles H., Eugene S., Paul P., Bodo H., and Hugo V. Mr. and Mrs. Winhold deserve their present prosperity, as they have been hard workers all their lives.