Hinds, Andrew

Hinds, Andrew

Male 1822 - 1899  (76 years)

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  • Name Hinds, Andrew  [1
    Born 25 Jul 1822  Eden, Lamoille, Vermont, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 20 Jan 1899  Lena, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Lena, Stephenson, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Lena Cemetery
    Person ID I32323  My Genealogy
    Last Modified 21 Jan 2022 

    Father Hinds, Eli,   b. 28 Aug 1791, Hubbardston, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Jun 1872, Johnson, Lamoille County, Vermont, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Wiley, Sally,   b. 15 Nov 1798, Vermont, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Jun 1841, Eden, Lamoille, Vermont, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 42 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Married 10 Jan 1819  Eden, Lamoille, Vermont, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    Family ID F21182  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Married 8 Apr 1849  Oneco, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Last Modified 21 Jan 2022 
    Family ID F21186  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 25 Jul 1822 - Eden, Lamoille, Vermont, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 8 Apr 1849 - Oneco, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 20 Jan 1899 - Lena, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Lena, Stephenson, Illinois, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 
    • In 1850 Andrew and Sarah Hinds are living in Oneco with their son Wiliam aged 9months and Sarah's daughter Josephine Nowlin aged 4.

      In 1860 Andrew and Sarah and children Josephine, William, Eli, Louisa, Lewis,Frank, Jenny and James are living two households from Henry Rybolt and hisfamily in Oneco.

      In 1870 Judge Andrew Hinds and his wife Sarah were in Oneco with children Eli,Lewis M, Franklyn P, Margaret, James D, Mary D, Ida May Thomas J and JosephB.

      From The History of Stephenson County, Illinois 1880
      Mr Hinds in 1880 removed from the farm to his residence in the town of Lena andin partnership with Gen, Waite, A.M. Durker and George L. Stevens engaged inbanking under the firm name of Charles Waite and Co.

      This is the Andrew Hinds spoken about in David James Hays autobiography. He washis most esteemed teacher. Judge Hinds was one of Stephenson County's foremostcitizens, and probably did more for that county than any other man. He was aconstant example of integrity, industry and faithfulness.

      His first public work in the county was teaching, and during his spare momentshe studied law. He married soon after and purchased a farm, which he operated.Success followed his efforts and he soon purchased other farms. His popularitynow brought him before the public as a candidate for office. He was repeatedlyelected to township and county office and served one term in the legislature.In every position in life he proved himself a man of integrity and soundjudgment.

      Judge Hinds was a New Englander, and came from good Vermont stock. Hisancestors were pioneers of the eastern country as he was of the West, and theyfought for the right in the American army during the war of 1812. Andrewattended a log school, where the teachings were simple, but he studied hard andwas soon able to attend the academy in Johnson, where he began teaching when atthe age of eighteen. He continued teaching for five years, studying law at thesame time. He recognized law as his calling and made rapid progress. He wasadmitted to the bar and began practising in June, 1847, continuing until Sept.,1848. His health failed him and his parents feared he would soon become avictim of consumption. Andrew had read much of the West, its climate,possibilites, etc., and he decided to go there and endeavor to win health andfortune in the new country. About this time, he received a letter from an oldfriend and schoolmate, advising him to come West and settle at Mineral Point,Wisconsin, which was a good field for the practise of his profession.

      He made the trip mostly by water, setting out by way of Lake Champlain and itscanals to Erie, Pa., then to Buffalo, N. Y., by canal, and to Chicago throughthe Great Lakes. Travel was slow and expensive, and by the time Chicago wasreached, the young man's finances were running low and he still had one hundredand fifty miles to go. While in Chicago he overheard a man talking about Monroeand Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and he immediately inquired if he lived there.The gentleman, who was Mr. Ludlow (now deceased) and who became one of thewealthiest and best known citizens of Southern Wisconsin, and ever remained afirm friend to Judge Hinds, replied that he lived in Monroe and asked the youngman if he wanted to go there, and would like to go with him. The judge eagerlyaccepted the offer. Together they went to Rockford, where Mr. Ludlow had lefthis team, and from there they drove across to Monroe. From here Mr. Hinds wentto Mineral Point and met his friend. He remained until January, when he met aStephenson County farmer, who had brought a load of dressed pork to market. Thefarmer was from Oneco Township, where a new schoolhouse had been completed, andwas looking for a teacher. The farmer learned of Mr. Hinds' years of schoolwork and immediately hunted him up, offering him the job at $20 per month andboard around. Mr. Hinds considered this his opportunity and took the job. Hisschool duties began immediately, and he taught with signal success.

      The judge never doubted but that destiny sent him to his duties in this county,for it was while boarding around that he met the girl who became his helpmeetthrough life. While boarding at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Gibler, he mettheir daughter, Sarah, and ever after life seemed brighter and nature morebeautiful. The couple were united in marriage, and they went to farming on atract of land which the groom had purchased. The judge was a hard worker, andspent his evenings in studying and keeping up his law practise. He enjoyed workof all kinds, and his farm was a pleasure. In following the plow, he studiednature, and it seemed to him as if he had been taken to fairyland when he leftrocky Vermont and arrived in beautiful Stephenson County. He was successful athis labors, both as farmer and attorney, and as his wealth increased hepurchased more land, until he had several farms, cultivated and occupied bytenants.

      He was recognized as a man of more than ordinary ability, and held varioustownship offices, and was supervisor for many years. He was elected countytreasurer in 1855, and soon after moved to Freeport. He was elected countyjudge in 1869. He represented Oneco on the county board for twenty years. Hewas elected to the state legislature and introduced the Hinds' ProhibitoryBill, the first temperance measure that was ever brought before thelegislature. Although the bill did not pass, it caused favorable comment, andfinally led to the passage of a similar bill. The judge served several terms aschairman of the county board, and chairman of Stephenson County Court House andJail Building Committee. It was at this time that the court house and jail werebuilt, and Mr. Hinds was largely instrumental in bringing the matter to asuccessful conclusion. All the legal papers and writings regarding theconstruction of these buildings are in the judge's handwriting. He was aneloquent and forcible speaker, and was in general demand at all publicgatherings until a few years ago, when he retired from the platform. He was oneof the first advocates of the free school system, and his voice was ever raisedin defense of the system. It was but a few years until the people understoodthe matter and the system was adopted.

      The judge was a man of convictions and he never feared to express them. Thefamily life of Judge Hinds was a happy and contented one. He had beensuccessful in choosing his occupations in life, and was very fortunate inselecting a wife. They were married young and began married life on a farm.Love and harmony made their work light, and each year added to their fortuneand family. Twelve children came to bless their home, eleven of whom survivedtheir parents, and lived to call them blessed. The family is a remarkable one,and all are enterprising, progressive citizens, and a credit to that part ofthe country in which they live. The wife and mother gave up the cares of lifein 1892 and went to her reward. Her death was a terrible blow to the judge andthe children, and the husband could hardly be reconciled to continuing lifealone, after twoscore years of happy wedded life. After the death of his wife,he made his home with his children.

      His funeral services were held in the Baptist church in Lena, and were attendedby a throng, who came to do honor to the memory of their departed friend. TheStephenson County Bar Association held services in the home, before going tothe church. The life of the late Judge Hinds was an ideal one, a splendidexample for a young man of to-day to follow. When he left his eastern home, ittook nerve to go to the wilderness of the far West, but he possessed thecourage to go. Upon his arrival, he had nothing to help him but his Christianteachings and honorable young manhood. But he was not afraid of work--hegloried in it, and went at it with a determination to overcome every obstacle.His labors bore fruit, and he soon became possessed of a farm. A true womanthen took her place by his side, and prosperity and a large family followed. Hewent into politics, and bettered his party by his presence. He would enter nocombination that would not stand public approval, and all through his life, hiscourse has been one of honor. He was a true man, honorable in his public andprivate life, and loyal to every trust.

      taken from an unknown paper in Stephenson county area of Illinois.
      Stephenson County, IL.
      A DEATH HARVEST
      Judge Andrew Hinds, a Pioneer Citizen of the County,
      Expired at Lena
      January 20, 1899
      He Was Taken Suddenly Ill at 5 O'Clock Yesterday Evening and Died at Midnight
      Judge Andrew Hinds, farmer, lawyer, banker, public man and philanthropist, diedat the home of his son, James D. Hinds, at Lena at 12:30 o'clock this morning,in his 77th year.
      Heart disease was the immediate cause of Judge Hinds' taking off, and althoughhe had suffered more or less from an affection of that organ for several yearspast, death came somewhat suddenly and unexpectedly. He had been able to bearound until last Monday and on last Saturday was at Freeport attending to somelaw business, the settling up of some estates for clients in the county court.Monday he was at his office as usual, but he had not been there since, andwhile it was known he was in feeble health, a fatal termination of his illnesswas not looked for, he having rallied from a number or similar attacks. He wastaken with a sinking spell at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, reviving in a halfhour and rested comfortably until his death occured.
      __________________
      Judge Hinds was one of the best known men of Stephenson County and a leadingcitizen of his immediate community, in which he had lived for many years. Hewas born in the state of Vermont, July 25, 1822, and grew to manhood there. Herecieved an excellent education and after an academic course studied law andwas admitted to the bar. He practiced his profession and taught schoolalternately for a time and then came to the west, striking first, the leadmining country at and around Mineral Point and Shullsburg, Wisconsin, where heremained for a time, but in 1849, at the instance of a member of the Van Matrefamily, Joseph by name, he came to Oneco township, this county, and began hislife here as a schoolmaster in the Mt. Pleasant district, practicing law alittle also in holiday times, gradually feeling his way to the confidence ofthe people, which was afterward given him in such a large measure.
      After a year and a half as a pedagogue Judge Hinds turned farmer. He purchaseda considerable body of raw land in Oneco township and after a few years hadmade a fine farm of it, and he added to his holdings from time to time untileventually he became one of the large land owners of the county. But he did notgive up his law practice, which in time also became large, especially in thecounty court, so that for many years before his death he attended to as muchprobate business as any member of the Stephenson County bar. In 1880 JudgeHinds left the farm and moved to Lena, where he established himself in thebanking business with the late General Charles P. Waite, the firm being stillin existence and doing a prosperous business under the management of Fred P.Waite. In all of his business and professional undertakings as a farmer, lawyerand banker Judge Hinds prospered, and he accumulated a considerable fortune,which is invested chiefly in real estate in this county and elsewhere, and inmortgages and other gilt edged securities , so that he was justly regarded asone of the rich men of the county.
      ____________________
      Almost as soon as he had settled here Judge Hinds began to take an interest inpublic affairs, and soon became one of the recognized leaders of the democraticparty. He had many qualifications for public office, his judgement wasexcellent, his knowledge of affairs broad and his probity and officialuprightness were beyond questioning, so the people of his township soom becameeager to intrust their interest to his care. He held two or three minor officesin Oneco soon after he settled there and in 1855 he had became so well knownand so generally esteemed and trusted that he was easily elected countytreasurer. He held the place four years and made an efficient officer. He wasagain called on for public service in 1869, when he was elected county judgeand he filled that office with great credit to himself and to the satisfactionof everyone who had business in the court. Afterwards he was elected to thestate legislature and made one of the best representatives that has ever beensent to Springfield from this district. He was a member of the Board ofsupervisors, something like twenty years all told, and served as chairman ofthat body several terms, and was afterwards sent to the legislature.
      _____________________
      Almost from the beginning of his life in this county Judge Hinds was in thepublic eye of his immediate community in one capacity or another and not oncedid the people regret that they had put their trust and faith in him.Invariably he served them well and honestly, deserving and receiving theirapprobation in whatever position they placed him. He was clean handed andconscientious in the discharge of all his public duties, and he will beremembered grateffully for his faithful service.
      _____________________

      Judge Hinds' private life was as up right and as far above reproach as was hisofficial conduct. He was known throughout the county, and those with whom hehad business transactions or who were simply his personal friends andacquaintances always spoke of him in the hightest terms. He was well endowedintellectually, his integrity, fairness and industry were proverbial, and oldmen who had known him for a generation and longer held his life before theirsons as a model for them to follow. He was a genial and kindly disposition,always ready with a word of advice or more material aid for those lessfortunate than himself, always doing good and inveterately active in one way oranother. His legal practice was confined to probate matters and conveyancingalmost exclusively, but he excelled in those branches and he was the adviser ofmore people and wrote perhaps more wills than any other lawyer in the county,and he will be greatly missed by his many clients and his host of personalfriends.
      Judge Hinds was connected by marriage with the most extensive family in thecounty, the VanMatres, and his last public speech was made at the family picnicheld by them last fall. He referred to the early times in eloquent phrases andspoke of the men that made the county in glowing twems. His tribute to JosephVamMatre was a fine one. He said the early settlers were rapidly passing awayand that he himself expected to go soon, but those who saw him as he stoodbefore them then, hale, sturdy and apparently in the best of health, littleexpected that the end was so near at hand. But he had lived a long life and itwas a useful one. And the memory of his hig character, his good deeds and hishonorable private and public career will live after him.

  • Sources 
    1. [S508] History and Genealogy of the Hinds Family, Hinds, Albert Henry, (Name: 1899, Portland, Maine, Thurston Print;).

    2. [S511] Genealogy of Ken Hinds, Hinds, Kenneth, (Name: http://members.cts.com/crash/h/hindskw/KennethHinds/surnames.html#hinds;).

    3. [S520] Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763–1900.