Edward Francis Winslow was born on September 28, 1837, in Augusta, Maine. He moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, when he was nineteen years old. There he became involved in railroad construction, helping to build the St. Louis, Vandalia, & Terre Haute Railroad.

Winslow volunteered for service at the outbreak of the Civil War. He was recruited in August 1861 and mustered into Co. F, 4th Iowa Cavalry in November 1861, as a captain. The 4th Iowa saw much action during the war, including the siege of Vicksburg, the taking of Jackson, Mississippi, and the battle of Brice's Cross Roads. Winslow was promoted to the rank of colonel on July 4, 1863, and given command of the cavalry forces of the XV Corps. In December of 1964, he was brevetted brigadier-general for gallantry in action. After the hostilities ceased, Winslow was put in command of the Atlanta military district. He was discharged from the Army on August 10, 1865.

After the war, Edward F. Winslow returned to railroading. He resumed his construction work of the St. Louis, Vandalia, & Terre Haute Railroad. He then joined forces with General James Wilson to build the St. Louis and South-Eastern Railway. Winslow was appointed by President Grant to serve as an expert inspector of the Union Pacific Railroad upon its completion. He was vice-president and general manager of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids, and Northern from 1874 to 1880, and then became president of the New York, Ontario and Western. In November 1879, he became vice-president and general manager of the Manhattan Elevated Railroad in New York City. Finally, he served as president of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company and vice-president of the Atlanta and Pacific Railroad Company. Under this double responsibility his health began to fail and he was forced to retire. Edward F. Winslow died of heart failure on October 22, 1914.