Phillip Windish
As published in
"The City of Kenosha and Kenosha County Wisconsin: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement"
by Frank H. Lyman Vol. 2, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1916.
Phillip Windish, who is now engaged in farming, was the first child born in Paris Township, who remained there, his natal day being December 18, 1851. He is a son of Adam and Mary (Myers) Windish, natives of Germany, although in early life they came to the new world and were married in Racine County. After crossing the Atlantic Adam Windish made his way to Milwaukee and later removed to Paris Township, Kenosha County. Subsequently he was employed by Ambrose Spencer, and later he began farming on this own account by cultivating a tract of rented land for two or three years. During that period he carefully saved his earnings until he was able to purchase eighty acres in Paris Township. He improved the farm and continued the work of further development and cultivation until a few years prior to his death, when he retired and spent his remaining days in Racine. Although he started out in life a poor boy, he became quite successful, carefully and wisely managing his business interests, so that his financial resources increased year by year. In his family were four children: Phillip; Jacob, who is now conducting a ranch in California; Emma, the wife of Matt Siiphon, a carpenter living in Racine, Wisconsin; and Mary, the wife of Windell Alf, living in Los Angles, California. In his political views Mr. Windish was a Democrat, and in religious faith Mrs. Windish was a Catholic.
Reared upon the Wisconsin frontier, Phillip Windish obtained his education in one of the old-time log schoolhouses of pioneer days. He also assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm, and after he had reached his majority he took up farming on his own account, renting land from his father. Finally he purchased his farm, upon which he made a partial payment and discharged his indebtedness as he could at a later period. Today he has one hundred twenty acres of rich and valuable land from which he derives a substantial annual income, owing to the care and labor bestowed upon the fields. He has erected all of the buildings upon the place and now has a valuable property. His attention is given to the cultivation of various cereals well adapted to soil and climatic conditions here, and he also raises considerable stock, both branches of his business proving profitable.
In August 1891 Mr. Windish was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Sinen of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, and they had three children: Mary, who is now a teacher in the schools of Paris Township; Elmer, and Rose, at home. The wife and mother died March 27, 1915, passing away in the faith of St. John's church.
Mr. Windish gives his political endorsement to the democratic party and has served ten years on the school board and as a member of the town board, but is not a politician in the sense of office seeking, as he feels that his time may well be given to his business affairs and his activity and enterprise in farm work has made him one of the leading agriculturists of the community.
Typed by: Michelle Laycock
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