Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-06-13
ACTIVE LIFE CLOSING.
Noted Public Services of the James,
vile Attorney Who is Dying
at Mount Clemens.

GAINESVILLE, Wis, June 1O.-[Special. i
John Winans, who is dying at Mount
Clemens, Mich, has been one Of the lead
ers of the Wisconsin Democracy for
many years, as we'll as the recognized
leader of the bar in this circuit. He
enjoys the respect and confidence of the
people who know him, not only for his
ability but because of his sterling In
tegrity. Uncompromising honesty is the
keynote Of his character. Throughout
his life it has been manifest in even the
smallest matters, and Honest John Wi
mans" is a title he earned years ago.
usually strict, his word is as good as
his bond. 1t is said that he never prom
Used thing he could not do, and never
failed to do what he promised.
Mr.. Winans comes Of a noted Eastern
family. His father and uncles built the
first railroad ever constructed in RuSSla,
and one of his uncles, at least, made an
immense fortune in the enterprise Mr..
Winans was born in Vernon, n. j., on
September -, 1881, and was educated
for the bar in his native state. He was
admitted to practice there and came to
this state in 1857, settling at GAINESVILLE,
where he has since resided. He became
prominent in politics at once and soon
rose to eminence at the bar. He was
twice mayor of GAINESVILLE, and served a
number of terms as city attorney. In
1874 he was elected to the Assembly and
he was a member of that body again in
1882, 1887 and 1891.
In every Assembly of which he was
member Mr.. Winans was one of the
leaders of the Democratic side. In 1882
and 1887 he was the Democratic nominee
for speaker, and in 1887 was nominated
by the Democratic caucus for United
States senator against Philetus Sawyer,
the Republican nominee. He had adj
vanced views on all public matters and
he was pronounced the ableSt debater in
the Legislature 1t was he who framed
the famous Potter law and he has the
honor of having been the first man to in
trOduce an anti-pass law in the WiscOn-
sin Legislature. 1t was in 1882 and his
bill prohibited legislators and judges from
using passes. His bill met the fate of
dozens of later anti-pasS bills.
As early as 1864 Mr.. Winans was NOM
mated for Congress by the Democrats in
his district, but was defeated. He was
sent IN that same year to the national
Democratic convention as a delegate. In
1SS2 he was elected to Congress, over
turning a Republican majority of 5000.
He has been mentioned several times as
possible candidate for governor, and he
was very strong candidate before the
convention that nominated George w.
Peck for governor. He was for some
years a member of the Democratic state
central committee and was always d
member Of every party council
AS lawyer Mr. Winans belongs to the
old school. He is a very dignified and
reserved gentleman, but always APP
proachable. For nearly a quarter of a
century be was recognized as the fore
most lawyer in his circuit. He has fig
ured in many noted trials. He was at
torney for the relator in the famous
Edgerton Bible case, in which the read
ing Of the Bible in the schools was for
hidden. He was also attorney for Col.
Clark in the litigation growing out of
the roster scandal Of the Peck admins
tration and he was also for the defense
in the Mack and Ashton murder trials,
both of which are noted in the annals of
the bar Of this state.
Mr. Winans' wife, who previous to her
marriage to him was Mrs. Russell Of
New York, is almost as we'll known as
her husband. She was appointed by Gov.
Peck as one Of the Worlds fair commits
sioners for this state, and she is prOmi-
nent in the wOmen's organizations. They
have one child, a daughter. Mrs. Rus
sells son, Charles Russell, is Mr.. Wi
mans law partner