Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record - Published 1894 by Excelsior Publishing Co., Chicago" Pages 271 - 272

Austin Hinkley, who resides on section 11, in the town of Mitchell, is a pioneer of Wisconsin. His father was Benjamin Hinkley, and his mother's maiden name was Polly Moshier. The former was a native of Seneca County, N. Y., and the latter was also born in the Empire State. Both were descended from English stock, and belonged to early New York families, and both, when in their early youth, went with their parents to Ohio, settling on what was known as the Western Reserve. There they were married, and there passed all their married life, though they removed from Lake County to Huron County, where the husband died. Later the wife came to Wisconsin, and passed the remaining years of her life with her son and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Austin Hinkley. The latter was one of twelve children who grew to mature years, eight of whom are now living.

Austin Hinkley was born in Centerville, Lake County, Ohio, February 1, 1826. Very early in 1841, when in his fifteenth year, he came to the Territory of Wisconsin, accompanying his brother-in-law, William Tucker, and family, who settled in the town of Brookfield, then Milwaukee County, now Waukesha County. At the age of nineteen years Mr. Hinkley went to Fond du Lac County, where he worked for a time at the trade of carpenter and joiner, returning, however, the same season to his friends in Waukesha County. The following year he went to Ohio to visit his father's family, but returned to this State, living alternately here and there until his marriage.

That important event in his life occurred in his native State, July 4, 1853, the lady of his choice being Miss Eliza St. John, who was born in Rensselaerville, Albany County, N. Y., December 21, 1829. Her parents were John Wesley and Eliza E. {Carpenter} St. John, who were natives of the same State, of Welsh ancestry. Mrs. Hinkley's parents removed to Cuyahoga County, Ohio when she was an infant of six months. Many years later they removed to Ionia, Mich., where the father died, and the mother, like the mother of Mr. Hinkley, spent the last years of her life at the home of the latter. Mr. and Mrs. St. John were the parents of twelve children, seven of whom grew to mature years. The eldest, Jane, died at the age of nine years, and the youngest, Mary, at the age of four years.

Mr. and Mrs. Hinkley came to Sheboygan County in the fall of 1854, and located at what is known as Spring Farm, in the town of Mitchell, but a year later removed to Lyndon Township, and about three years later settled where they now live. They have two children, a daughter and a son. Marietta was born September 11, 1857, and is now the wife of Charles E. Radder, of the town of Mitchell. They have two children, Alma E. and Owen. The only son of Mr. and Mrs. Hinkley, Fred W., was born January 4, 1860, and wedded Miss Beulah Tupper, of the town of Lima. They have three children: Austin C., Nina M., and Fred Shelden. Mr. and Mrs. Hinkley lost their eldest child, Ormal R., at the age of seven years, and another, Lucien A.; both died of diphtheria the same week.

Mr. Hinkley and his wife are numbered among the respected citizens of the town of Mitchell. He came to Wisconsin Territory fifty-two years ago, when the greater part of what now constitutes one of the important States in the Union was a wilderness. He and his wife have together endured the hardships that are inseparable from a pioneer life, and have always endeavored to perform the duties that devolved upon them in a faithful and conscientious manner. In addition to the responsibilities of their own immediate family, they cared for their mothers in their declining years. Mrs. Hinkley's mother was for many year an invalid, and required almost constant attention, and that duty was most faithfully performed by Mr. and Mrs. Hinkley. The consciousness of having done their duty, as they saw it, through life is their reward.

Return to the Sheboygan Page

Return to Bios page