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Karl Mark Winter
Winter Livestock
Late in the year of 1887 Henry Winter left his Iowa home in search of land. He brought his springboard wagon to rest by Pawnee Creek in Finney County, Kansas where he built a sod home on what was soon to be known as the Winter Ranch. He filed his claim January 18, 1888 and immediately sent for his wife Kate and three children to join him at their new home.
April 21, 1889 a fourth child, Karl Mark Winter was born to Henry and Kate. As a youngster Karl saw the great herds of cattle trailed in from the south. Some were driven across the eastern corner of the Winter Ranch to water at the Pawnee Creek. It was a great source of entertainment for young Winter and his brothers to ride alongside the drovers and marvel at the herds. One of those was said to be 10,000 head of cattle on their way up the Chisholm Trail.
Karl farmed and ranched alongside his father until the age of 21, when he took over the ranch. In Karl’s capable hands the ranch increased in size many times over. The brown-eyed neighbor girl who won young Karl Winter’s heart was Gladys Brown, whose parents had come from Cherokee County, Kansas
After marrying in 1914, Gladys and Karl ranched on his home place. They were the parents of three sons: Ralph, Ross and Ray. In 1936, Karl and his family moved to Dodge City because of Gladys’ failing health. That year, Karl purchased the livestock auction facilities in Dodge City from J.C. Renner and leased the adjoining Santa Fe stockyards used in the heyday of the cattle drives. Gladys’ illness brought about her death in 1939. In 1942 Karl married Grace Bayless. Together they made a home for his sons and their daughter, Phyllis.
Winter Livestock Commission Company was the name of Karl’s new enterprise and some 29,886 head were sold in the first year of operation. In the years to come Karl sold half interest to Ted McKinley and together they kept the business growing at a steady pace. Winter Livestock Inc. acquired the La Junta, Colorado sale facility in 1940 in an effort to further serve the farmer, rancher and cattleman. Later Ted McKinley sold his share of the partnership back to Karl.
After World War II Karl was known in the community as a trusted mentor. He partnered on cattle and other business endeavors that traditional banking means would not support. The family has been blessed with many stories from community leaders and citizens that it was Karl’s belief in them and his willingness to give them a loan that got them started.
In 1956 Karl and Ross Winter built Winter Feed Yard in Dodge City Kansas in effort to meet the growing needs of the cattle industry.
Karl passed in 1982 leaving his legacy in the capable hands of his sons Ray and Ross. Today the family is still ranching the same land in Finney County and has remained dedicated to the cattle industry through the commitment of 3rd, 4th and 5th generation family members.
Karl had a reputation of fairness to both the buyers and sellers. “When you’ve dealt with a man’s grandfather, his father and now him, it makes for a lot of trust.” It’s that kind of trust that the Winter Family will continue into the future.