John Winter (abt. 1842 - 1922)

Born about Jul 1842 in Alsace, France

Husband of Mary Staedle — married before 1867 in Erie County, New York, United States [uncertain]

Died 8 Dec 1922 at about age 80 in Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States

Biography

CPL John Winter served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Aug 11, 1863
Mustered out: Aug 17, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Company I 16th New York Cavalry

CPL John Winter served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Aug 17, 1865
Mustered out: Sep 21, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Company E 3rd New York Provisional Cavalry

John was born in July 1842 ^[1] His obituary in the Buffalo Currier dated 10 Dec 1922 lists his place of birth as Alsace-Lorraine (which formed as a province in 1873.) which changed hands between France and Germany several times. The best that I can determine the territory was called Alsace in 1842. ^[2] He immigrated to this country with his parents in 1843. It is here that his brother Nicholas was born about 1845 in Buffalo. ^[3] It is Nicholas’ obituary that gives us the names of his parents, Nicholas Winter (Nicholas Vinter) and Mary Winter.

Several genealogies list his birthdate as 11 Sep 1843; however, that John Winter enlisted in 1862 and died of Yellow Fever in New Orleans, Louisiana.

“John was educated in St. Michael’s school in Washington street. He loved the water and at an early age “shipped” as a sailor on a lake sailing vessel. He served under Capt. William Burns and Capt. Flett, besides other equally well-known figures about the Buffalo harbor.” ^[4]

At age 21 he enlisted in the 16th New York Cavalry in Buffalo, New York on the 11 Aug 1863. He was mustered into Company I on the 2 Sep 1863 to serve three years.

The 16th Cavalry spent most of their time patrolling the Virginia countryside until the night when the President was shot. On that memorable night of April 14, 1865, when John Wilkes Booth fired the shot which killed President Lincoln, and, leaping to the stage of Ford's theatre, escaped, John was one of 27 men from the 16th New York Cavalry including their Captain Edward P. Doherty. Along with the Cavalry unit were two detectives from the Secret Service. They were sent in pursuit and took the assassin after he was shot by Corbett, from the burning barn at Garrett’s farm in Fredericksburg, after he had refused to surrender.

The 27 volunteers from the 16th New York Cavalry became known as Lincoln’s Avengers. John was one of three Buffalonians among them.

On the 29 May 1865 in Washington, D.C. he gave his deposition on the capture of John Wilkes Booth. ^[5]

On Aug 4, 1865 A. G. Riddle wrote to the Secretary of War on behalf of John, Henry Putnam and Lewis Savage to ensure that they received a fair share of the reward money for the capture of Booth and Herold. ^[6] It will take another year before the men would receive their due.

On the 17 Aug 1865 he was transferred to the 3rd Provisional New York Cavalry, Company E. as the 16th Cavalry merged with them to become one unit. He would be mustered out with his Company on 21 Sep 1865 at Camp Barry in Washington D.C. He would soon return to Buffalo.

In 1866 he received $1,653.84 reward money for his part in the capture of Booth and Herold. ^[7]

In 1866 or 67 he would marry Mary Staedle.

After his marriage he resumed his sailing, continuing it for about four years. Then he became engaged in other pursuits and finally passed the examination of stationary engineer, in which capacity he worked for a number of firms in the Buffalo area.

He died 8 Dec 1922 in Buffalo, New York and is buried in Cheektowaga, New York. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSXD-C2H : 22 January 2022), John Winter, 1900.
2. ↑ John Winter’s Obituary
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSXD-C2H : 22 January 2022), John Winter, 1900.
4. ↑ FamilySearch.org profile: John Winter; free-use site, login required to view profile and source documents; profile created through membership collaboration; date accessed: 22 May 2022]
5. ↑ Deposition of John Winter
6. ↑ A.G. Riddle to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton concerning the applications of Henry Putnam, John Winter, and Lewis Savage, privates of 16th N.Y. C.
7. ↑ RG 217, Misc. Treasury Accounts, Entry 347 - Account No. 156952 - Check paid to Corporal John Winter-$1653.84 for the capture of Booth and Herold, in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln
8. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #89776542

• 39th Congress, 1st Session, Executive Document No. 90 - Awards for the Capture of Booth, and Others, Letter from the Secretary of War in Answer to a resolution of the House of the 10th instant calling for the findings of the commission for the capture of J.W. Booth and D.E. Herold - April 19, 1866
• RG 94, Entry 967 -National Archives, page 41
• "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSMK-L2X : 25 August 2021), John Winter, 1861-1865.
• "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FS8R-H4C : 25 August 2021), John Winter, 1861-1865.
• "United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD5-CYKG : 20 February 2021), John Winter, 1890.
• "United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NHZT-SQQ : 24 March 2016), John Winter, 1907.
• "United States Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NHZT-JX3 : 24 March 2016), John Winter, 1907.
• United States Congressional serial set, Volume 1263
• Rosters Of The New York Cavalry Regiments During The Civil War—16th New York Cavalry
• Rosters Of The New York Cavalry Regiments During The Civil War—3rd New York Provisional Cavalry
• "New York Marriages, 1686-1980", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6S5-6QJ : 21 January 2020), Joannis Winter in entry for Joannem Nicolaum Winter, 1894.
• "New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K63P-D9H : 3 March 2021), John Winter in household of Nicolaus Winter, E.D. Southern, Ward 5, Buffalo City, Erie, New York, United States; citing p. , line #4, family #428, county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 825,678.
• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC7C-8WJ : 18 February 2021), John Winter in entry for Elizabeth Smith, 1860.
• "New York State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVNN-2Y1V : 8 March 2021), John Winter in household of Nicholass Winter, Ward 13, Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States; citing Census, p. 45, citing multiple county Clerks; Warren and Lewis County Board of Supervisors; multiple counties in New York; Utica and East Hampton Public Libraries, New York.
• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8NS-WLS : 29 May 2021), John Winter, 1870.
• "New York State Census, 1875," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNV1-YTN : 18 February 2021), John Winters in household of August Storey, Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States; citing p. 5, line 1, State Library, Albany; FHL microfilm 825,689.
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ8S-L6D : 14 January 2022), John Winter, Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.
• "New York State Census, 1892", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQSX-8S9 : 21 October 2021), John Winter, 1892.
• "New York State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV12-SND : 8 March 2021), John Winter, Buffalo, Ward 15, E.D. 02, Erie, New York; citing p. 52, line 45, various county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 825,699.
• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M5C2-NMH : accessed 22 May 2022), John Winter, Buffalo Ward 13, Erie, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 123, sheet 11A, family 265, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 944; FHL microfilm 1,374,957.
• "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJ2R-BNP : 2 February 2021), John Winter, 1920.