The 17th general assembly convened on the 6th of Jan., 1851, for its first session, and adjourned Feb. 17; a second session was held from June 7, 1852, to June 23, following. Hon. Franklin Witt was the senator at first, but dying during his term of office was succeeded by Hon. John M. Palmer, afterward governor of the state, at that time a resident of Macoupin county. Charles D. Hodges and J. C. Winters represented this, the 22d district, in the house.

COL. J. C. WINTERS, one of the most prominent citizens of Greene county, was born in St. Clair county, Ill., July 11, 1816. He is a son of Nathan and Ruth (Lindsay) Winters, natives of Tennessee. They came to the then territory of Illinois, in the year 1815, locating in St. Clair county, where Nathan Winters engaged in farming until the breaking out of the Indian troubles, in which he was engaged in three campaigns as an officer, and four times as a private, under Andrew Jackson. He departed this life in the month of July, 1866, and Mrs. Winters, in the year 1867. The early years of Col. Winters' life were spent upon the old homestead where he learned the duties pertaining to farm life. IN the year 1846, when war was declared between Mexico and the United States, he enlisted in Co. C, 1st Ill. Inf., under Col. J. J. Hardin. He was elected 2d lieutenant, and proceeded to the front and took part in the famous battle of Buena Vista. After being discharged he returned home, and resumed his agricultural duties until the war of the Rebellion broke out, when he organized Co. G, 59th Ill. Inf., and proceeded to Missouri. He first ranked as captain, but through meritorious conduct became the popular lieutenant-colonel, and acting colonel of the regiment. He had entered for three years' service, and when his regiment veteranized, he resigned his commission on account of ill health, and retired from the exciting scenes of war to the more peaceful pursuits of agriculture. In the year 1850, while a member of the legislature, he was one of those who voted in favor of the I.C. R.R. Since his retirement from the legislature the name of Col. Winters has been frequently mentioned in connection with other responsible offices, but he has always declined, preferring to look after his farm interests, he being the possessor of 317 acres in T. 12, R. 11. Mr. Winters split rails for a living 38 years ago, and today is proud of the success which followed as a result of his unswerving energy and good management. In the year 1837 Mr. Winters was married to Cynthia Cochran, born Dec. 22, 1812. She was a daughter of George and Margaret (Fallis) Cochran, her mother born in Pennsylvania, her father near Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Ky. During the war of 1812 Mr. Cochran was in the United States service, in a light horse brigade under Col. Richard M. Johnson, and was present at the killing of Tecumseh. He died in the year 1863, and Mrs. Cochran in the year 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Winters are the parents of seven children: Frank, Samuel, Lafayette, Solon, Joshua, Josephine and Byron. The colonel and his wife are members of the M. E. church. Col. Winters is a charter member of White Hall lodge, NO. 80, A.F. and A.M., and is a demitted member of Jacksonville chapter. He also is a member of the G.A.R. In connection with the history of Col. Winters is an incident which should not be omitted, and which points unmistakably to the character of the gentleman. His father moved to Missouri in 1839, and offered his son, the colonel, a homestead if he would come there to live. He would not accept, preferring to rear his family where white labor was respected. During the Rebellion, his father, mother and two brothers were with the South in sentiment, white the colonel and two other brothers fought on the Union side. One of his brothers was a minister of the M.E. church south, and he wrote very strong scriptural letters to the colonel to have him stop murdering, as he called it.