Winters in the Miami Indian Tribe .
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This page is dedicated to the Winters in the Miami Indian tribe. This was brought to my attention by Luther R. Winters III, or, "Monte" as he is called. He had come to a dead end, and...well, I'll let him tell you his story and some of the fascinating possibilities of some of us having a Miami Indian heritage without even knowing it. Here is his story:

I thought you might be interested in my early research into the possibility of my family name being of Miami Indian origin.

I have been moving down a path that would make the father of Dallas Winters of Indiana the son of a Miami Indian. I'm forced down this path by the absence of Dallas in the census data for the states surrounding his birthplace and by a rumor in the family that there was an Indian in our Winters line. In any case, I have recently purchased a book, "The Miami Indians of Indiana" by Stewart Rafert, and have found within a picture of the "1880's Miami Indian Band." To my surprise no less than four of the thirteen people (nine are Indians) in the picture are Winters - Robert, James, Frank and William. All look to be under 30 years of age in the photo making birth dates after 1850 and anyone of which could be a father to Dallas.

I also have come into some information that suggests that a Joseph Winters married a Louise Miller, both of the Miami tribe. This union's offspring were the first persons buried in the Indian Cemetery of Union Baptist Church, Grant County, IN. The Winters in this cemetery are:

Amanda Catherine, dau of Joseph & Louiza Winters, d: May 10, 1865 aged 5 mths Elizabeth Margaret, dau of L. & J. Winters, d: July 3, 1873 aged 3 years Joseph, son of Joseph and Louiza Winters, d: 27 Dec. 1877 aged 4 mths 20 days Sarah, d: Sept. 1878 aged 70 years [Note that this information was listed by the DAR and in the book "Lest We Forget" by Cora Straughn.]

The list suggests that a Winters was in the tribe as early as 1808. The Miller name probably comes from a known trader who was involved with the Miami much earlier. He probably married into the tribe. The Winters name may have been selected by the Baptist minister or by the Chief. In any case, the cemetery contains only Indians so it is clear that there were Winters among the Miami.

I have no problem accepting the possibility of my Winters name originating within the Miami. I do have a problem proving it. Have you associated the Winters name with the Miami before? As it turns out the Miami were forced by custom to marry outside their family group so, in the 1800's lots of other ethnic groups were married into.

As a reminder, here is my tree -

1 Unknown Winters b: abt 1845 PA or IN, d: abt 1925 IN, OH, MI
          2 Alice May Winters b: abt 1867 d: abt 1950 +Olie Shannaberger b: abt 1860 d: abt 1950
               3 Hazel Shannaberger b: abt 1890 d: abt 1960 +Lester Sanborn b: abt 1885 d: abt 1945
                    4 Jeannette Sanborn b: 1905-1915
                        +Bennett
                    4 Jacqueline Sanborn b: 1905-1920
                         +Schauer m: Gross Point Woods, Detroit, MI
          2  Dallas Ray Winters (aka Ray D.)
                 b: Nov. 1867 Logansport, Carrol Cty, IN.
                 d: 30 Jan 1934 Toledo, Lucas Cty, OH.
              +Sara Estella Garrett
                 b: March 1878 OH
                m: 1893
                 d: abt 1958 OH
                    3  Ace N. Winters (Asa)
                          b: June 1894 OH
                          d: 22 Dec 1929 Toledo, OH
                      +Frances (UK)
                              4  Robert Winters     b: 1909-1929
                              4  Marjorie June Winters     b: 1909-1920
                    3  Luther Raymond Winters
                           b: 15 June 1898 Marion, Grant Co, IN.
                           d: 5 March 1976 St Cloud, FL.
                       +Daisy Marie Webb
                           b: 11 April 1900 Bairdstown, Wood Cty, OH
                           m: 29 June 1920
                           d: 12 Sept 1981 St Cloud, FL
                                  (4,5,6,7)
                    3 Thelma E. Winters
                           b: 12 July 1900 OH
                           d: 26 April 1994 Toledo, OH
                          m: Jacobs
                    3 Goldie Alverda Winters
                          b: 23 Sept 1907
                       +W. Lindsay Cochrane
                          b: 2 March 1899
                          d: 10 Sept. 1983 MI
                             (4, 5, 6,7)

 

 
 
 

As you can see, I am now on a quest. I must say that the Miami were not great record keepers so proof will be hard to come by.

As always any suggestions would be appreciated.

Therein lies Monte's dilemma. If, after reading this, you have any ideas or know of a great place for him to look, or can connect to his Winters, please drop him a line. As he said, any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Since these people's customs were to marry outside their tribe, and they took any last name they took a liking to, can you see the possibilities of an Miami Indian heritage some of us may have..? Not only in Winters, but in other surnames also? I find it pretty fascinating. Makes me wonder if one or two of my hard to find ancestors may be found in Miami heritage...

Miami Resources

Winters in the 1882, 1891 & 1895 Annuity Pay Rolls