WINSTED
The village of Winsted was founded on July 30, 1857 when Eli Lewis purchased the land north of Main Avenue from Baptiste Campbell, a half Sioux Indian. Eli and his brother, Isaac, moved to Winsted and proceeded to clear the land and build up the town. The County Commissioners gave the name of Winsted to the town on April 5, 1858, after a vote was taken in the township.
The
settlers in Winsted built a stockade for protection against the Indians
when trouble broke out. The few Winsted families would gather in the stockade
whenever they heard of an outbreak in the vicinity. There are no known
reports about trouble with the Indians in the Winsted area.