BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 641-642.

CHRISTOPHER HINKLE

Christopher Hinkle, well-known as one of the aged surviving pioneers of Belmont
county, was born in Jefferson county, but was brought by his parents within the
limits of this county one month later. He was born January 16, 1804, a son of
Christopher and Sarah (Keyser) Hinkle. His father, a miller by trade, and a
native of Pennsylvania, came to Ohio in 1802, a poor man. By industrious
application to his trade he accumulated enough to buy fifty-four acres of land,
in which "there was not a stick amiss," which he cleared into a farm, on which
he reared a family of nine children. Six of these are now living, five of them
being over eighty years old and one seventy-two. The father was a soldier of
the war of 1812. He died at the age of eighty-four years and his wife at the
age of seventy. Their son, whose name first appears above, was reared in the
pioneer days of the county, receiving his education in the log school-house of
winters, and working on the farm in summer. At nineteen years of age he began
to serve an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, at which he worked as a
journeyman for ten years. In 1829 he was married to Margaret, daughter of John
and Martha (Giffin) Allen, both of Scotch descent. She was born in 1809, and is
still living. He then began housekeeping on the farm of his wife's father, but
two years later bought the wood-land tract which he has since made into his
present farm, and there reared his family in a little log cabin. To pay for
this land he sold 160 acres which he had bought before marriage, by working at
his trade, and he continued to add to his new home until he accumulated 359
acres of fine land, which he now has well improved and supplied with good
buildings. His life has been one of enduring industry, but though now in his
eighty-sixth year, he is still in the healthful possession of strength and
faculties to enjoy the fruits of his well-spent life. By his marriage he had
nine children: Martha, deceased; John A., Sarah A., Isabel, William, James,
Margaret, deceased; Andrew and Mary J. He and wife are venerable members of
the United Presbyterian church.