Note: There were three Lawrence Winnes in Humboldt’s history. The one who served on the library board in 1908 and led the baseball team was Lawrence Winne Sr. I am calling his grandfather Deacon Lawrence Winne. Lawrence Winne Sr.’s father was Salem K. Winne and one of Lawrence Winne Sr.’s sons was Lawrence Winne, Jr. {1}

Deacon Lawrence Winne came to Humboldt late in life. Born in Upstate New York in 1837, he moved to Minnesota in 1863 and later California seeking relief from asthma. He moved to Humboldt in 1885. He and Matilda had one son, Salem K. Winne. One of ten children, he learned the shoemaker’s trade and accumulated handsome property. He was chosen  Congregational Church deacon in May 1889 and died in September 1889. The year before, he set up a trust fund that secured the pastor’s salary. The North stained glass window was given in his honor.

Lawrence Winne Sr. was born in 1875. He studied under Judge D.F. Coyle and graduated from Humboldt College in 1905, with what was called a Bachelor of Laws degree. There are photos of a baseball team called Winne’s Colts in 1907 and 1908. A team of different men led by Lawrence Winne was shown in 1909. Perhaps this was a semi-pro team. The DeGroote Humboldt 1963 history states, “In 1911 Humboldt supported a semi-pro baseball team under the name ‘Winne’s Colts’ composed of college men from Grinnell and Iowa State College.” {2}

Lawrence Winne Sr. was married to Esther White, daughter of Charles and Esther HEss White. Charles and his brother, Ted White, had the White Brothers men’s clothing store. Lawrence Sr.’s sons were Charles Winne, born in 1919 and Lawrence Winne Jr., born in 1921. The 1925 Telephone book has them living in the Olive White house next to Ted White’s home. Lawrence Winne Sr.’s office was located at 616-½ Sumner Avenue, above the clothing store. This was where Salem K. Winne’s office was located before his untimely death. Lawrence Sr. and his brothers, Salem G., and Ed sold real estate and insurance.

Lawrence Winne Sr. served on the library board in 1908 {3}. In 1908 and 1909 he, Ted White, and B.E. Stong were leaders of a group that organized and led to the highly successful Chautauqua campground in Taft Park. It was a delightful and cultural vacation that lasted ten days {4}. Lawrence Winne Sr. was also one of the founders of the Humboldt Rotary Club in 1925. They moved to Altadena, California, where he died in 1937.

Source : Pat Baker

{1} We Gather Together, the Humboldt Congregational United Church of Christ 1871-1996; Baker, Pat, Goodfellow Printing Co. Iowa City, Iowa, 1996 pp 47-48.

{2} Ibid p. 48

{3} Humboldt Independent March 7, 1907

{4} History of the City of Humboldt; DeGroote, Olive H; 1963; pp. 272-273

{5} We Gather Together, the Humboldt Congregational United Church of Christ 1871-1996; Baker, Pat, Goodfellow Printing Co. Iowa City, Iowa, 1996 pp. 47-48.