BIOGRAPHY: Lewis C. Hinman; Stockbrdige, Madison co., NY

submitted by W. D. Samuelsen
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Biographical Review
The Leading Citizens of Madison County, New York
pub. 1894, Boston, Biographical Review Publishing Company

LEWIS C. HINMAN, a representative farmer and stock-raiser of, Stockbridge,
is actively engaged in his profitable occupation on his homestead in District
No. 9, where his energetic labors and excellent management have met with due
reward. He was born December 30, 1823, in what is now the town of Stockbridge,
Madison County, but was then included in the town of Augusta, Oneida County.
He is of English ancestry, being a descendant of one George Hinman who
emigrated from England to the United States in the early part of the year
1700. George Hinman was a man of considerable wealth, and purchased a large
tract of land in Connecticut, where he settled, afterward becoming one of the
influential citizens of the place and serving for some time as
Surveyor-General of the State.

Phineas Hinman, the grandfather of our subject, was born in England, and
emigrated to this country. During the French and Indian War he was pressed
into service by the English government, and served in that army, but during
the Revolutionary War enlisted in the Continental Army, and served the entire
seven years. He was a gallant officer, and did brave duty at the -battle of
Bunker Hill, and was present at the surrender of General Burgoyne. At the
close of the war he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and
purchased a farm in Connecticut, where he afterward lived, dying at the
advanced age of ninety years. He married Ruth Colt, who died in Connecticut,
when seventy years old. They reared a family, none of whom survive. Both were
people held in high esteem, and were Presbyterians in belief.

The parents of our subject, Grove and Cerena (Palmer) Hinman, were both
natives of the town of Norfolk, Litchfield County, Conn., and resided in that
town until after their marriage. In 1812 they came to New York, and located in
Oneida County, making the long and tiresome journey overland with teams of
oxen and horses. The country was then mostly in the hands of the natives; and
Mr. Hinman leased a tract of timbered land from the Indians, and erected a log
house, which he and his family occupied for some time, being among the first
white settlers in that vicinity. He had much natural ability as a mechanic,
and turned his attention to the business of a carpenter and joiner, making
considerable money in that occupation. Later he purchased some land, and began
the improvement of a farm, buying more land occasionally, until his
possessions aggregated two hundred and thirty-five acres, and he became one of
the leading farmers of the place. He was an influential citizen of the
community, doing well his part in developing the resources of his adopted
town, and served ably as Supervisor and Assessor, besides filling other
important offices. He and his wife were both prominent members of the
Universalist church. Both spent their last years on the homestead, he dying in
1859 at the age of eighty-two years, and Mrs. Hinman in 1840, when sixty years
old. To them were born a family of sixteen children, fourteen of whom grew to
maturity and three are still living, namely: Amedias, living in Stockbridge;
Lewis C., our subject; and Worthy P., also living in Stockbridge. The subject
of this brief narrative grew to manhood in his native town, obtaining a good
common-school education in its public schools and assisting in the labors of
the farm, thus early becoming intimately acquainted with the details attendant
upon a life devoted to agriculture. He remained beneath the parental roof-tree
until 1848, when he settled in a home of his own, and took upon himself other
duties. During that year he married Jeanette Moyer, a native of Stockbridge;
but their happy married life was of short duration, her death occurring in
1850. She left one son, Marcelon, who died at the age of twenty-seven years.
Mr. Hinman was married the second time in 1851, taking for his wife Mrs.
Cordelia Churchill. She was a widow, and had one child, Catherine, wife of
William Woods, of Stockbridge. Of the second marriage of our subject four
children have been born, namely: Trueman, living on the home farm; Arthur,
living on a part of the old homestead; Henderson, a mechanic, residing in
Canastota; and Violetta E., wife of Joseph Farquhar, of Kansas City.
Mr. Hinman's first purchase of land consisted of a tract of sixty-two acres in
the town of Stockbridge, which he cultivated success-fully; and, as he
accumulated money, he bought adjacent property, and now has a valuable farm of
two hundred and eighty acres, - all under a good state of cultivation. He does
an excellent business as a general farmer and stock-raiser, paying much
attention to his dairy, which consists of from twenty-five to thirty-five head
of choice cattle; and each year he receives a good profit from his hops, which
are an important crop in this section of the country. His homestead is a
pleasant place, forming an attractive feature of the landscape, with its
substantial residence and the convenient buildings required by the
enterprising agriculturist. Mr. Hinman is a most pleasant man, affable and
cordial in manner, and much esteemed throughout the community. In politics he
is a stanch Democrat, and has served as Highway Commissioner and Assessor, and
also as Railway Commissioner for twenty years. Mrs. Hinman is an active and
consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, contributing liberally to
its support.