John Boyd Hinchman, city attorney of Greenfield, former mayor of that city and one of the best-known lawyers of Hancock county, is a native son of this county, having been born in Greenfield, where he now resides, May 13, 1876, son and only child of John M. and Emma R. (Boyd) Hinchman, both natives of this county and prominent residents of Greenfield, who are still living there, hale and hearty at a ripe old age.

John M. Hinchman was born in Center township, this county, in the immediate neighborhood of Greenfield, son of John Hinchman and wife, Virginians, who had settled here at an early day and had become well-known and influential residents of this community. John M. Hinchman was trained to a commercial life in his youth and has been engaged in business in Greenfield all his active life, being now the oldest merchant in continuous service in the city. His wife also is a member of one of the old families of the county and have both been active in good works for many years, enjoying the esteem and respect of the entire community. John M. Hinchman is an ardent Republican and in his earlier years took a prominent part in the political activities of the county. He is a Mason and for years has taken a warm interest in the affairs of that ancient order in Greenfield.

John B. Hinchman was reared at Greenfield, receiving his elementary education in the public schools of that city, and was graduated from the Greenfield high school in 1895, following which he spent a year in the Indiana University at Bloomington. He later took a course in the Indiana Dental College and for three years practiced that profession in his home town. He then was elected mayor of Greenfield and for four years served very acceptably as chief executive of the city, during which time he gave his attention seriously to the study of the law and at the conclusion of his term of mayor abandoned his dental office and actively engaged in the practice of law, in which he has been engaged ever since. Upon leaving the mayor's office Mr. Hinchman was appointed deputy prosecuting attorney for this judicial district under Prosecutor Edward T. Quigley and after two years of this connection he and Mr. Quigley formed a partnership for the practice of law, which was successfully continued until in June, 1915. He then was appointed city attorney, for a term of four years, and is now serving the city in that important capacity. Mr. Hinchman for years has been one of the leaders of the Democratic party in Hancock county and for some time was chairman of the Greenfield city central committee of that party, in which position he rendered valuable service in behalf of the party.

On December 6, 1899, John B. Hinchman was united in marriage to Bess Burge, who was born at Mt. Carmel, Indiana, December 13, 1877, daughter of Robert and Alice Burge, the former of who is a well-known photographer in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Hinchman have a very pleasant home at 114 Fifth Street and long have been regarded as among the leaders in the social and cultural life of the city, being held in high esteem by their many friends through the count. They are attendants at the Presbyterian church and take a proper interest in all worthy movements having to do with the advancement of the general welfare. Mr. Hinchman is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the blue lodge of that order at Eden, this county; a member of the chapter of the Royal Arch Masons, at the same place; a member of Greenfield Commandery No. 39, Knights Templar; a member of the Indianapolis consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, of the valley of Indianapolis, and of Murat Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of the oasis of Indianapolis, desert of Indiana. He is a charter member of the Eagles lodge at Greenfield; a member o Eureka lodge, Knights of Pythias, in the same city, and of the Greenfield lodges of the Red Men and of the Haymakers. Mr. Hinchman is also a member of the college fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, a relation established during his university days at Bloomington, and continues to take an active part in the deliberations of that popular fraternity.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Pages 905-907.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI September 27, 2001.

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