Phillip Windish Biography
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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