The Winland Family

On September 17, 1771, while tensions were rising between the English colonies and the Crown, Heinrich Martin Windlandt arrived in the port of Philadelphia on board the sailing ship Minerva, captained by Thomas Arnott. Heinrich was born in Brunn, Germany, about 1750, and traveled via Antwerp to reach America.

He soon became known as Henry Winland, and in 1772 he married Dorthea (Dolly) Dreiss, a fellow German immigrant. They had at least six children together.

During the Revolutionary War, Henry served as a Private in Captain Board’s Company of Rangers on the frontier from 1778-1783. He may have also served in the Pennsylvania Militia according to some sources. Henry died in Pennsylvania around 1787.

Some of Henry and Dolly’s children ventured to the newly opened Northwest Territory, settling in what would later become Monroe County, Ohio, where they built some of the first mills in the region. The family became well-established there, and many Winlands remain in the area to this day. A family farm and cemetery reportedly still mark the spot.

Sometime before 1900, another Henry Winland, (William Henry Winland, Jr.) would move from Ohio to Pleasants County, WV, and married Obediah Cox. Their children would go on to establish most of the families of that name in the area.

Descendants of Henry and Obediah include Rosa B., John T., William R., James A., Samuel C., Mary J., Evelyn, and my grandfather, Bennie Earl Winland.

Some of Ben’s early jobs around St. Marys included working at the pearl button factory, which was located over the hill from where the old St. Marys High School sat. Ben also worked as a teamster, back when that meant driving an actual team of horses!

After his marriage to Rhoda Tice in 1920, he drove truck for both Quaker State and Sterling Oil, and was an enthusiastic participant in any activity or parade put on by the American Legion. Ben died in a Veteran’s Administration hospital in Pennsylvania in 1951, leaving Rhoda with three children still at home, Bonnie, Delno and Shelba.

Ben and Rhoda raised eight children together, Homer R., Denton G., Oran D., E. Delno, Mildred Efaw, Phyllis Coplin Barley, Bonnie Thomas and Shelba Brown. Shelba is the only one of that family remaining.

The tradition of military service set by the original Henry Winland has been carried throughout the generations, with family members by birth and marriage serving in almost every branch, and probably in every conflict.

Ben Winland proudly served in the Army Medical Corps during World War I, spending his hitch tending the sick and wounded at General Hospital 28, at Fort Sheridan, near Chicago, Illinois.

At one point this facility, later called Lovell Military Hospital, housed more victims of the Spanish Influenza (1918-1920) than any other in the country. While stationed there, instead of the flu, Ben caught a nasty case of measles that put him on the other side of military medical care for over a month.

After six weeks as a patient, the notes record, “patient feels well and strong and wishes to be discharged to duty.”

Homer and Denton followed their father into the US Army. Both served during World War II, along with son-in-law John Efaw, who fought with the 34th (Red Bull) Division in Italy, and was captured and held by the Germans.

His wife, daughter Mildred, also served on the home front, being a true “Rosie the Riveter.” She spent the war working at Weirton Steel, helping to make sure that the military had what it needed to manufacture planes, ships and weapons.

Son-in-law John Coplin served with the Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater, and remained in the Reserves until 1965.

Many Winland grandchildren and great-grandchildren, men and women, have followed in the footsteps of these brave servicemen.

In addition to the armed services, family members have made their living as truck drivers, factory workers, mechanics, welders, nurses, electricians and other trades, contributing to our community in many ways.

When the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life came to Pleasants County, our family proudly stepped up. In recognition of the many members who have battled cancer, our team raised thousands of dollars for the cause over several years. This was mainly done through the Winland girls’ cooking and baking skills! We made noodles, sausage gravy, baked goods and other treats and sold them in bake sales, yard sales and at the concession stand at the relay itself.

The generous members of the public who helped out by buying from us made the Winlands’ Hope team second in the county for fundraising.

The Winland family has grown and prospered since that first immigrant set foot on the American shore, and we are proud of where we’ve been, and where we’re going.

Bennie E. Winland

Pvt., US Army Medical Corps

World War I

Story submitted by Jennifer Efaw