CHARLES HINMAN, farmer, on sec. 14, Hinton Tp., is a son of Curtis and Almira (De Witt) Hinman, who were natives of the Empire State, and went thence to Pennsylvania, coming afterward to Michigan; they first settled in Oakland Co., but soon after moved to Clinton Co., where they died. Mr. Hinman was born in Oakland Co. Mich., Oct. 23, 1838. He attended school and worked on his father's farm until the age of 22 years, then leased the farm of his granfather for two years. The element of war was then abroad in the land, and the patriotic blood that courses in the veins of every man who loves his country beat high to act or die for the integrity of the Union. Mr. Hinman enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, i the 23d Michigan Vol. Inf., and was in the service till the close of the war, receiving honorable discharge June 27, 1865, at Washington, D. C. Among the engagements where he was under fire, were the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania C. H., Cold Harbor, and the seige of Petersburg. He was captured at the battle of the Wilderness but was at once paroled. In that engagement, while storming the defenses of the enemy, he met with an accident that disabled him for several weeks. After the war he went to his home in Ionia o. and resumed the pursuit of agriculture. After a residence of 12 years he sold his farm and went to Clare Co. He purchased 160 acres of land, which he sold four years later, came to Millbrooks, Mecosta co., and bought the hotel property known as the Rowland House, which he soon afterward exchanged for another hotellocated at Sylvester, Mich. He managed this one year, and exchanged it for 40 acres of land on sec. 26, Hinton Tp. About the same time he rented a farm near Sylvester which he managed two years, and in the spring of 1880 purchased 40 acres of land, where he now lives. He has placed it under good cultivation, and erected convenient commodious buildings
In political sentiment Mr. Hinman belongs to the Democratic party, and is a member of the Order of Masonry. He has been Highway Commissioner two years, and School Director three years. He was married in Clinton Co., Mich., June 24, 1860, to Eliza, eldest daughter of Wm. C. and Eliza (Bullard) Ratcliffe, who were of English nativity and came to America in 1841, settling in the State of New York, where the mother died; the father came to Michigan to live with his children, and died in Ionia Co. Mrs. Hinman was born in England, Nove. 5, 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Hinman have had six children, three survive: Stella E., born Oct 7, 1866; Guy C., July 2, 1872; Alma A. Sept. 20, 1874. In this, as in many other families in Mecosta Co., the diptheria made cruel ravages. Ella G., born July 23, 1861, died Oct. 20, 1881. She was married and left a son four years old. Fred I., born March 18, 1863, died Oct. 19, 1881, one day preceeding the demise of his sister; Rae A., born Jan. 22, 1869, died Dec. 22, 1881.
|
