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James Hinchman History of Rush County Indiana JAMES HINCHMAN was a native of Monroe County, Va., born January 24, 1800. He was the fourth in a family of eleven children born to John and Sarah (Vinson) Hinchman, the former a native of Maryland, where the Hinchmans settled during the time of the Calverts. The latter was a native of Shenandoah County, VA. At the age of fourteen, John Hinchman removed to Monroe County, Va., where he married Sarah Vinson, where they continued to reside until their deaths. James Hinchman was reared amid the scenes incident to farm life, and owing to his limited educational advantages was not enabled to attend school more than a year and a half during his youth. But in after life, by self-application, he obtained a fair English education. On April 11, 1822, he chose for a life companion Nancy Nickell, daughter of George and Margaret (Nelson) Nickell, natives of Monroe County, Va., where Mrs. Hinchman was born, September 5, 1804. At the time of his marriage Mr. Hinchman received $250 from his father, and with this money he resolved to seek a home in the west. He accordingly started for Indiana on horseback, and finally purchased 160 acres of land in Section 14, Union Township, Rush County, Indiana, and returned for his young wife. They put what few cooking utensils they had into a two-horse wagon and started overland to their far-off home in the western wilderness. Arriving here November 14, 1822, they moved into a rude log cabin, which had been erected on one of his eighty-acre tracts. Soon afterward he built a more substantial house, in which he lived happily for many years. When he arrived here he had some fears as to whether or not he would succeed, but he went to work with a will and his first crop of corn averaged him ninety bushels to the acre. This assured him of success, and here solved to make Rush County his future home. The family circle was blessed with fourteen children, viz.: George N., John T., Andrew, William N., Joseph V., James R., Carey, Alvin B., Jesse G., Sarah, Robert N., Amos C., Margaret and Nancy, of whom George N., John T., Joseph V., James R., Sarah H., Margaret, Alvin B., Carey, Amos C., Nancy, Jesse G., and Robert N. are still living. Mr. Hinchman began life a poor man, and after paying the expense of his trip to this county he found he had only $10 left, which he expended in provisions for the winter. He was very successful in his chosen occupation, and a tone time owned over 1,000 acres of land in Rush County, besides 2,200 acres in Missouri and Iowa. He was liberal with his children, assisting them to get homes, and was a public-spirited man, encouraging, with time and money, railroads, canals, or any other improvement for the benefit of the public. Politically, he was a Republican, and in 1844 was elected to the Indiana Legislature, which position he held two terms. He was Probate Judge of Rush County for three years, and held the office of County Commissioner two years. He was a firm friend of the schools, and advocated the employment of the best teachers. On August 28,1883, he passed away — a time honored pioneer and citizen. He had been a member of the Christian Church since its organization in this county. His life companion still survives him, and is in remarkable good health for one of her age — eighty-three years. Lora1957@aol.com Related Genealogy Resources: Search OneGreat Family for Hinchman Surname New England Early Genealogy for Hinchman Surname Family Tree Connection for Hinchman
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