Gilderoy C. Winslow, county surveyor of Hancock county and who for fifteen years was one of the best-known school teachers of this county is a native son of Hancock county. He was born on a farm in Jackson township on February 2, 1877, son of Henry and Sarah (Clayton) Winslow, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Iowa, long prominent residents of Center township, this county, where they are still living.

Henry Winslow was two years old when his parents came from north Carolina to Indiana and he has made his home in this state ever since. The family first settled in Henry county, but presently came over into Hancock county and settled in Jackson township, where a permanent home was established, and there Henry Winslow was reared. He became a farmer and has remained so all his days. In 1863 he enlisted for service in the Union army during the Civil War and served for two years as a member of Company B., Twenty-second Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Upon the completion of his military service he returned to Hancock county and began farming in Center township, continuing thus actively engaged until his retirement. Mrs. Winslow was but a child when her parents came to Indiana from Iowa and she was reared and educated in Hancock county. Mr. Winslow is a Democrat and for years has taken an interested part in local political affairs. He is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest. To him and his wife seven children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch is the third in order of birth, and all of whom are living save one.

Gilderoy C. Winslow was reared on the paternal farm in Jackson township and received his early education in the district schools in the neighborhood of his home. As a young man he began teaching school and was thus engaged for fifteen years, teaching in the schools of Center township, during which time he turned his attention to civil engineering. He was graduated from the engineering course of the International Correspondence School and for about nine years served as deputy county surveyor of Hancock county, in this capacity helping to lay out many of the roads in this county. In November, 1912, Mr. Winslow was elected surveyor of Hancock county, as the nominee of the Democratic party, and in 1914 was re-elected to that important office.

On October 6, 1895, Gilderoy C. Winslow was united in marriage to May VanMeter, who was born in Jackson township, this county, December 19, 1878, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Ralph, who was graduated from the Greenfield high school and is now attending Indiana University. Mr. and Mrs. Winslow take a proper interest in the general social activities of their home town. Mr. Winslow is a member of the Greenfield lodge of the Improved Order of Red Men and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Pages 907-908.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI September 27, 2001.

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