My Story

I love this picture of Aunt Jane holding me in the late winter of 1949, early 1950.  I wish I had a close up.  That sure looks like Jane but that sure doesn't look like me in my mind.

Heinrich Winkle made the big trip from Europe to Virginia in the 1700's. He later moved to Tennessee and his sons Henry and Peter made another big trip to Highland County Ohio in the same century. I am a descendant of Peter, George, Issac, George, and Gerald. They all farmed in Highland County until grandpa George Winkle became the tenant of the Bare Plantation in Sardinia, Ohio in 1918. My dad Gerald was 2 years old.

I was born the last few days of 1949. My dad had purchased his first new tractor, an Oliver 77 that year. He and my mother took over the tenant farming of the Bare Plantation and us three kids helped farm it until we left the farm after our high school graduation to attend the Ohio State University. We all received our Bachelor's Degree there.

I remember grandpa George showing me the difference between a Silver Certificate dollar bill and a Federal Reserve Note. I remember him warning us to to not trust anyone who sawed up your timber or cut up your meat from livestock, and "don't let those damn pinhooker's get you."  They were people who traveled from farm to farm and would buy up your livestock or just about anything for less than it was worth because you needed money at the time. He died when I was 8 years old in 1958.

I did learn from dad, Gerald, or Bucky as they called him that grandpa learned how to plant Reid's Yellow Dent beside Bloody Butcher and obtain a primitive F1 hybrid. They picked out the best ears and kernals to plant the next year. My family raised some of the best corn I knew of in Brown County Ohio. They later planted the first hybrids of US 18 and C-38. One of dad's cousins operated Winkle Certified Seed in nearby Mowrystown Ohio and we planted that until dad planted Moews, Jacques and Pioneer hybrids.

My family has a passion for agriculture, for people, and for education. It is deep in my roots and I saw it first hand when I was able to travel to Europe. I never found where Heinrich came from but Winkle is pronounced Vinckle and our root name is Winckel. Winkel means shop in Europe and you see it everywhere.

I have told these and many stories in my blog on www.hymark.blogspot.com for the last four years. Our family has done very well and I hope you enjoy these stories.



Ed Winkle