Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 684 - 685 

JAMES W. HINTON, of Wichita, found farming less congenial than speculating, and accordingly changed his occupation from that of the former to the latter-named business. June 14, 1822, the record says he first saw the light, and Bedford County, Pa., was the place of his birth. William and Mary (Clark) Hinton were the father and mother of James. They were natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father died in 1837. He is said to have been a hard worker, farmer and miller in one, and industry was a virtue with him. The mother lived till 1862, and left earth life near Neosho Falls, Kan. She remained a widow after her husband's demise. The Methodist Episcopal Church found a ready response in her heart. Eight children blessed their union. Elizabeth is now the widow of a Mr. Bishop; Julia joined her fortunes with Mr. Ayers, of Iowa; Margaret cast her lot in life with Mr. Smith, of California; Sarah is another daughter; William is dead; Lorenzo D. is married.

            James, of whom we are writing particularly, was the second child of the family. Miss Fanny Self, of Missouri, is his life partner. Their marriage was duly solemnized in 1858. She is a daughter of Mr. Stewart Self, reputed to be a prominent man of Marion County, in that State.

            Our subject has traveled no little in the Western States. He set out for Ohio in the year 1845, and stopped one year in Milwaukee, Wis., then went to Chicago, prospecting for a series of days. Not satisfied there, he struck out for the Galena lead mines, where he stopped for a time. St. Paul, Minn., then made a home for him a year. That country proving too cold, he found a more genial clime in Missouri and Texas for two years, but the lumber business of St. Paul offered inducements enough to him to stand the rigor of a cold climate again, so he returned, and with Nelson, Loomis & Co., erected a good sawmill and remained there five years.

            Hannibal, Mo., seemed to need Mr. H.'s efforts in a lumber-yard, and he responded to the call. He acted for agent for a time, then bought the business and continued until 1871. He then located in Kansas, bought 400 acres of land and sold it at cost. He invested in Wichita city lots and "struck it;" four acres of such land at $l,000 a lot being a bonanza to any man. He has a nice residence and eight lots of land therewith.

            Two children blessed the marriage of our subject. One of the daughters, Lizzie, found in Frank Smith, now Postmaster of the city, the one of all most suited to her liking for a husband -- a native of the Buckeye State and a representative Western man; Myrtie, the other daughter, is unmarried at this writing. The mother died in 1874 in the city of Wichita. She was born July 20, 1835. She was identified with the Baptist persuasion, was a worthy Christian, a kind mother and a loving wife. The Democratic party, when it pronounces for prohibition, meets the political views of James W. Hinton, and the Swedenborgian Church comes nearest his views of religious duty.

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