Person:Milton Hinchman (1)

Notes

From "Family of Milton Hinchman and Elizabeth Cary", by LK McGinnis:

Milton Hinchman was born c1812 in Kentucky and moved soon afterwards with his parents to Logan Co, VA (now WV). He married c1834 to Elizabeth Cary, the eldest daughter of Benjamin Cary of Logan Co, VA (now WV). Elizabeth Cary was born c1818 in Orange Co, NY, the only daughter of Maria (Ketcham) Cary. According to a family biography, Benjamin and Maria Cary with their infant daughter travelled south from Orange Co, NY along with some of Maria's Ketcham relations. Maria and her baby became ill while travelling causing the family to stop-over in the area of Wheeling, VA (WV), c1819. Maria (Ketcham) Cary died about this time and Benjamin Cary married secondly c1819 to Hannah McNeely, probably after he arrived at his new home at the mouth of Rum Creek, Logan Co, VA (WV).

Milton and Elizabeth (Cary) Hinchman had at least 5 children born in Virginia before they moved north to Berrien Co, Michigan in 1847. The reason for their move north is not known for certain. The biography of their son Burwell Hinchman {Hist. Of Berrien Co., MI, p 988-989] states that the family moved north to avoid slavery. However, the area in which the Hinchman's and Cary's lived in Virginia had very few slaves and it is more likely they moved to Michigan in search of good farm land for reasonable prices. Logan County Virginia (WV) was a region of steep mountains and deep narrow valleys with very little open land for farming. By the 1840s, there was no vacant lands for sale and property prices were climbing. While the young state of Michigan was rapidy growing with a steady stream of incoming settlers looking for rich farm lands and new oportunities for the future.

The Hinchman family appeared in the US census records from 1850 thru 1880 living in Chikaming, Berrien Co., MI. Five addition children were born to Milton and Elizabeth after arriving in Michigan. Milton Hinchman died 23 Sep 1886 in Chikaming. His death record stated that he was married therfore, it is assumed the Elizabeth died after her husband. Their site of burial has not yet been identified but, it is assumed that they rest somewhere in or near Chikaming.