Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday in the genealogy online blogging community means posting a picture with no accompanying words. That isn't going to be possible for me. I just feel the need to share all of the details too! :)

Today being St. Patrick's Day and also Women's History Month I decided to share a photo of my great great grandmother Mary Ann (Anna) McKim Winans. In this photo of the family you see in the back row, from left to right, Maurice Scott Winans, Arthur Lloyd Winans (my great grandfather), and Elmer Winans. In the front row, from left to right, are Earl Ora Winans, Josie Ethel Winans Childress, Mary Ann (Anna) McKim Winans, and Lawrence Winans.

Anna was born August 22, 1855 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Her parents were David McKim and Mary Matilda Phillips. After the death of her mother in 1866, her father brought her and all but one of her siblings to Crawford County, Iowa in October of 1869. Anna would have been about 14 years of age. David McKim settled near his twin brothers, Esau and Ethan Allen McKim and ran a meat market. Anna met Josiah Winans who was born in Illinois on November 4, 1853. His family had been one of the first settlers in the Crawford County area. Anna and Josiah were married November 27, 1873 in Crawford County, Iowa. They had 6 children, Josie Ethel being the youngest born in 1885. In the winter of 1892/1893 family relations in the Winans family were strained, with the youngest brother, Clark Jr. being quite oppositional in nature. In January of 1893 Josiah Winans was killed in his own pasture by his brother Clark. Whether it was accidental or not remains to be judged by The Almighty. In civil trial he was acquited and allowed to go free. According to witnesses and Josiah's own words, Clark threw a log from a wood pile at him and it came straight down on his head injuring him in such a way that he was not long in passing. He made it to his home where his wife, Anna, attempted to help him and he told her what had happened. After his death there was an investigation and lawsuit. Anna's brother-in-law helped her with the farming as her sons were still young and unable to run the farm by themselves. She had several years of hardship but was blessed to have George Winans and her own family near her and they helped tremendously to keep Anna and her children together and on their farm. She must have been an exceptionally strong woman! Anna was baptised into the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints August 10, 1910 in Deloit, Crawford County, Iowa.