Clayton Winkler
From the time of his arrival in California until his demise it was the privilege of Mr. Winkler to witness of half a century of progress. The era of gold-mining which he found her has been replaced by an epoch of commercial activity and agricultural and horticultural prosperity. Fertile valleys bask in the sunshine of spring and glow with the golden flush of summer’s harvests. Cities have arisen where once the sheep and cattle roamed over ranges unmolested. On ever hand may be seen evidences of the fruition of the pioneers, who builded wisely and well for future generations.
Honored among the pioneers now gone to their last rest is the name of Clayton Winkler, a pioneer of 1849 on the coast. Born in Estelle county, Ky., January 12, 1831, he was a son of David and Sarah (Asbell) Winkler, both also natives of that state. The paternal grandfather, Jacob Winkler, was a native of Germany, and it was he who established the name in this country, locating in Kentucky. The early youth of Clayton Winkler was passed in his native state, and during his boyhood he removed with his parents to Missouri, in the vicinity of St. Joseph. There soon afterward, when he was only nine years of age, he was orphaned by the death of both parents, after which he made is home with his brother-in-law, L. A. Reynolds, in LaPorte, Ind., who gave him every advantage for an education which he bestowed upon his own children. This included district and high school advantages, to which were later added the privileges of a course in an academy at South Bend.
At the time of the breaking out of the gold fever in California Clayton Winkler was a young man of eighteen years, full of ambition and eager to take advantage of the opportunity which crossed his path. It was in the spring of that year, therefore, that he began the long journey across the plains, driving an ox-team. The party were fortunate in escaping any disasters until the Humboldt was reached, the Indians there stampeding and stealing their cattle. They were fortunate in recovering the greater part of the cattle without a fight, and on the remainder of the march they used greater precaution. The party arrived in Sacramento October 16, 1849, and without loss of time Mr. Winkler made his way to the mines of Eldorado county, continuing there until 1851. It was the year just mentioned that marked his advent in Sonoma county, and the following year he showed his satisfaction with the country by the purchase of two hundred and eighty acres of land in Green valley. General farming engaged his attention until 1854, and for the two years following he made a specialty of raising potatoes. His thirst for mining had evidently not been satiated during the first years of his residence in the state, for in the years 1862 and 1863 we find him again interested in the search for the hidden treasure, this time in Nevada. The venture proved a succession of gains and losses that about evenly balanced each other, and he finally determined to give up the undertaking altogether.
Mr. Winkler then returned to his ranch in Sonoma county and took up its cultivation and improvement with a new zest. It was following this, in 1866 that his marriage with Miss Martha Brain occurred. He was a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Powell) Brain, both natives of England, but early immigrants to Sonoma county, Cal. Among the improvements which Mr. Winkler placed upon his property were numerous substantial buildings, besides which he planted orchards until he was the owner of one of the finest orchards to be found anywhere in this section of country, his ranch lying nine miles west of Santa Rosa. Altogether he had seventy-five acres devoted to orchard, peaches and apples being his specialty, and in the raising of these fruits he was a recognized authority throughout the county. Besides the fruits of which he made a specialty he also raised a variety of other fruits and grapes for family use, and the land not used for fruit raising was devoted to hay, grain and stock.
Probably no resident of Green valley was more enthusiastic about its future than was Mr. Winkler, who was firm in the belief that it had no equal as a fruit center in the state. He lived to see his prophecy in this respect fulfilled, and to have the satisfaction of feeling that he had been a factor in bringing it about. Not only was his influence effectual along agricultural lines, but it was so strongly felt in all avenues of activity, both religious and secular. He was a member of the Methodist Church, a believer in maintaining good schools and churches, as was evidenced in his liberal contributions, without regard to denomination. As an evidence of his generosity it may be said that he donated an acre and a half of land upon which the Congregational Church of Green valley was erected. He was indefatigable in his efforts to provide good school privileges for the young, and much of the progress which was made in school matters was brought about during the many years which he served as school trustee. Politically he was a Republican, but he never was an aspirant for office, and fraternally he was a member of Lafayette Lodge No. 126, F. & A. besides his widow nine children to mourn the loss of a kind father. Named in the order of their birth they are as follows: Sarah J., Arthur S., George H. (the late surveyor of Sonoma county), Hattie L., Oliver M., Edward C., Samuel Ernest, Walter S. and Florence E.
History of Sonoma
County, California
History by Tom Gregory : Historic Record Company, 1891
Los Angeles, Ca. 1911
Transcribed by Roberta Hester Leatherwood
May 7, 2012 Pages 358-360
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