JOHN T. HINCHLIFF
John
T. Hinchliff, who has been actively and successfully
identified with agricultural interests in Wayne county for
more than a third of a century, owns and operates an excellent
farm of three hundred acres on sections 15 and 16, Richman
township, adjoining the town of Humeston. His birth occurred
in Oswego county, New York, on the 19th of April,
1851, his parents being James and Betsy (Smith) Hinchliff,
both of whom were natives of England. The father was born
in Lancaster on the 18th of March, 1825, while the
mother’s birth occurred in Yorkshire on the 30th of
November, 1821. James
Hinchliff, who crossed the Atlantic to the United States when
a young man of twenty-four years, was married in New York
about 1850 and subsequently removed to Illinois, taking up his
abode in Knox county, that state, in 1851. He followed general
agricultural pursuits for twenty-two years and on the
expiration of that period turned his attention to the hardware
and lumber business. His
demise occurred at Rio, Knox county, Illinois, on the 19th
of August, 1901. His
wife, who bore the maiden name of Betsy Smith, emigrated to
America about 1849 and settled at New York Mills. She passed away in
Knox county, Illinois, September 11, 1893. Unto Mr. and Mrs.
Hinchliff were born the following children: John T., of this
review; J. E., whose birth occurred on the 17th of
July, 1853, and who passed away at Galesburg, Illinois, March
28, 1909; Amos, born September 5, 1855, who is a resident of
Rio, Illinois; Winfield S., born January 30, 1858, living at
New Plymouth, Idaho; and Elmer Ellsworth, born May 6, 1861,
who died December 19, 1862, at the age of one and a half
years. With the
exception of the first named all of the above children were
born in Illinois.
John
T. Hinchliff, who was but six months old when taken by his
parents to Knox county, Illinois, there grew to manhood. In 1876 he came to
Wayne county, Iowa, purchased a farm in Richman township and
began its operation. Agricultural
pursuits have claimed his attention continuously since and he
now owns a farm comprising three hundred acres of valuable
land on sections 15 and 16.
The property is lacking in none of the conveniences and
improvements of a model farm of the twentieth century, and the
well tilled fields annually yield golden harvests in return
for the care and labor which is bestowed upon them. Mr. Hinchliff owns
an attractive and commodious home and is widely recognized as
one of the prosperous and esteemed citizens of his community.
On
the 17th of August, 1876, Mr. Hinchliff was united
in marriage to Miss Altha S. Thompson, who was born in Mercer
county, Illinois, on the 17th of August, 1857, and
there grew to womanhood.
Her parents were Edgar and Mary I. (Chance) Thompson,
the former born in Tazewell county, Illinois, on the 10th
of March, 1825, and the latter on the 31st of
August, 1828. Edgar
Thompson died in 1897 but is survived by his widow, who makes
her home at Brush, Colorado.
Their children were as follows: Mrs. Mary I.
Crosby, born November 30, 1846, who is deceased; Sylvester,
who was born on the 16th of December, 1850, and
resides at Rio, Illinois; Mrs. Altha Hinchliff; Jeptha Cora,
whose birth occurred on the 2d of February, 1860, and who is a
resident of Rio, Illinois; Edward Dora, who was born on the 7th
of December, 1862, and died in infancy; Mrs. Esther Luella
Johnson, who was born on the 23d of March, 1864, and passed
away in 1902; and Mrs. Lois Almira Epperson, whose birth
occurred on the 3d of November, 1866, and who resides at
Brush, Colorado. All
of the above named were born in Mercer county, Illinois, and
were reared in Mercer and Knox counties, of that state.
Mr.
and Mrs. Hinchliff have six children, all natives of Richman
township, Wayne county, Iowa.
Orin C., whose birth occurred on the 21st of
August, 1877, is a graduate of the Humeston high school and
now assists his father in the operation of the old home farm. At the time of the
Spanish-American war he enlisted for service in Company H,
Fiftieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Dr. James Hinchliff, whose natal day was
December 7, 1879, was graduated from the Humeston high school
with the class of 1898 and from the Keokuk College of
Physicians and Surgeons with the class of 1904. He was married to
Ethel Crawford of Humeston, Iowa, December 13, 1906, and they
have one daughter, Dorothy.
He is now successfully engaged in the practice of
medicine at Minburn, Iowa.
Mrs. Edna May Morford, who was born on the 25th
of May, 1883, has obtained her education in the Humeston high
school and Drake University at Des Moines, is now a resident
of Richman township. She
is the wife of W. C. Morford and they are the parents of one
daughter, Mildred. Mary
Mabel, whose birth occurred on the 31st of October,
1885, was graduated from the Humeston high school with the
class of 1904 and for the past eight years has taught in the
public schools of Humeston.
Frederick and Florence, twins, were born on the 6th
of June, 1890, and were graduated from the Humeston high
school as members of the same class in 1909. Frederick is now
engaged in business at Quincy, Illinois.
Mr. Hinchliff gives his political allegiance to the democracy and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to positions of trust. He has been a member of the board of education for sixteen years and has also served as township clerk, assessor, trustee and justice of the peace, discharging his duties in these various connections in an efficient and commendable manner. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Fidelity Lodge, No. 228, A. F. & A. M., of Humeston, of which he has been master for four years. He is likewise a member of the Eastern Star at Humeston, of which his wife is past worthy matron. Mrs. Hinchliff also belongs to the Congregational church at Humeston. They are widely known and highly esteemed and their upright, honorable lives have been a powerful influence for good in the community.