LEONARD A. WINSTEAD, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of Spanish Fort, Texas, was born in Hopkins county, Kentucky, August 11, 1867. He received his early education in the common schools of his native state, and after the removal of the family to Texas, which was in 1886, he attended Springtown College and Fort Worth University. In his youth he decided to adopt the medical profession and all his studies were directed with that end in view. For two years he read medicine in the office of Drs. Cosby & Smith, of Azle, Tarrant county, and in 1895 he took a course in the medical department of the Fort Worth University. Then he began the practice of his profession at Jeanette, Jack county, Texas, where he continued one year successfully, but at the end of that time moved to Petersburg, Indian Territory, at which place he practiced four years. However, feeling the need of further preparation for his life work, he returned to Jeannette and matriculated in the medical department of Baylor University, of which he is a graduate with the class of 1902. After this he established himself in practice at Spanish Fort. He had visited Spanish Fort in 1901 and was so pleased with the future outlook of the town that he decided to make it his home. Here, associated with Dr. Hart, he has a well-equipped, up-to-date office and enjoys a good business.
Dr. Winstead is a son of Dabney and Valeria (Johnston) Winstead, both natives of Kentucky. Dabney Winstead was a farmer and stock-raiser in Kentucky. During the war of the rebellion he was in the Confederate army, a member of General Forrest’s Cavalry, and after the war he returned to his Kentucky farm, where he remained until 1886, when he moved with his family to Texas and located in Parker county, where he still resides, giving his attention to farming and fruit-raising, and where is well known as a prosperous and highly respected citizens. For a number of years he has filled the office of justice of the peace. Politically he is a Democrat. He is the third in a family of five, having two older brothers, William and Manly, and two sisters, Jane and Elizabeth. Dr. Winstead’s mother was second born in a family of five, as follows: Cave, Valeria, Sarah, Cordelia and Stephen. Her father, Washington Johnston, was a farmer, first of Tennessee and afterward of Kentucky. Dabney and Valeria Winstead have ten children, namely: Charles, Lee, Leonard A., George, Rena, William, Cave, Valeria, Elizabeth and Edwin.
In 1897, at Jacksboro, Texas, Dr. Winstead married Miss Anna Ham, a native of Jack county, born in 1877, daughter of A. L. Ham and wife, nee Wilson, the former a native of Texas, the latter of Alabama. Mr. Ham is a well-known stockman. The doctor and Mrs. Winstead have three interesting children: Kathleen, Leonard and Vivian. Fraternally the doctor is identified with the Masonic order of Spanish Fort. Both his wife and mother are members of the Christian church.
Source: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas, Vol. II (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), pp. 329-333.