Julia Eleanor Winchester

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Daughter of Colonel Benjamin and Lucy (Swearingen) Stephenson, Julia was born in what is now Wellsburg, WV. Her parents moved to the Illinois Territory circa 1809 and then to Edwardsville where Julia married Palemon Howard Winchester 16 Jul 1820. A lawyer, Palemon practiced for a time in Edwardsville. The family later moved to Carlinville, IL. After Palemon's death in 1860, Julia Winchester lived with various children of theirs in St. Louis and then Columbia, MO, where she died in 1880. The home of Julia's parents, built in Edwardsville, IL, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Eleanor Julia, known as Julia, the Stephenson’s first child, was born November 24, 1803. She was born a few years too early to enjoy the wealth and social life her father’s position in Edwardsville provided. She married at seventeen years to Palemon H. Winchester, a promising, talented, young lawyer. Within the first two years of marriage, she had given birth and buried the couples first child. Several months later her father died, and at that time it was also becoming apparent that the talented Winchester had an alcohol problem.

In 1830, the Winchesters and their four daughters moved to Carlinville, a very new settlement on the edge of the rugged frontier. Palemon co-owned a general store for a period of time and was elected Macoupin County Probate Judge. Julia gave birth to four more children in Carlinville. She cared for Winchester the last four years of his life, when he was confined to his bed with a broken thigh that he suffered when he tripped over a doorstep. Winchester turned to religion while confined to bed, and apparently quit drinking. Julia, a devout Presbyterian, was a member of the first Carlinville Presbyterian Church. She was a strong woman who managed a difficult marriage, cared for her mother, and raised a successful large family.

After Winchester’s death, Julia and son James moved to Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, to join her children Benjamin S. and Elvira. Julia died April 17, 1880, and is buried in Columbia City Cemetery.

Life Events   

Nov. 24, 1803 Julia born Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, (West) Virginia 1817 Julia came to Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, with parents July 1820 Julia married Palemon H. Winchester, lawyer from Sumner County, Tennessee 1821-1827 Five children born in Edwardsville: Lucy Ann (1821-1822); Marian Shelby (1823-1854); Sarah Amanda (1827); Elvira Isabella (1828-1877); Ellen M. (1830-1865)

Fall 1830 The Winchester family moves to Carlinville, Macoupin County, Illinois 1832-1845 Four children born in Carlinville: Benjamin S. (1832-1899); Laura (1838); James A. (1842-1873); Texanna (1845-1847). April 28, 1860 Palemon dies in Carlinville, IL. 1860’s Julia and son James arrive in Columbia, Boone County, Missouri April 17, 1860 Julia dies in Columbia. Buried in Columbia City Cemetery