1808 - 1875

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• Birth	2 Oct 1808	Russia, Herkimer County, New York
  Gender	Male
  Died	15 Mar 1875
  Person ID	I12073	Brainard (Brainerd) / Foster / Fish
  Last Modified	11 Jul 2004 00:00:00
  Father	Elijah HINCKLEY, b. 25 Mar 1765, Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut
  Mother	Sally VINCENT, b. 8 Mar 1770, Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island
  Family ID	F5701	Group Sheet
  Married	Sep 1829
  Notes	BIRTH-MARRIAGE-DEATH: History of Russia Union Church, Russia, Herkimer co, NY; online via RootsWeb
  Family ID	F5717	Group Sheet

• Notes

  Gardner, born Oct. 2, 1808, in Russia; died Mar. 15, 1875. Married Sept.1829, Elizabeth Atwood, born Aug. 7, 1810; died Sept. 12, 1874, thedaughter of Esek and Margaret (Sackrider) Atwood. Gardner Hinckley hadWilliam Graves as his guardian after the death of his father. He boughthis brothers interest in his father's homestead. There he resided until1839, when he moved to Piseco, Hamilton County, NY., then in 1840 to the"White House" in Ohio Village; in 1842 to Wilmurt, NY., near HinckleyBridge. The house that he built there in 1842 was destroyed by fire inApr. 1853. In 1854 he moved to the village, named Hinckley for him in1890. In 1842 he began the lumbering and planing business. In 1848 hewent into the lumber business with Theodore P. Ballou of Utica, NY, andthe mill business started in Gang Mills (Hinckley) NY. Gardner Hinckleywas supervisor in Wilmurt several years and member of the StateAssembley, 1853-4. He was a Methodist and strong temp[erance Man. He wasof good judgment, strong character, energetic and conscientious. Gardnerand Elizabeth (Atwood) Hinckley had children: Elijah G., born Dec. 12, 1830; died Dec. 29, 1830. Samuel C., born Aug. 5, 1832; died May 27, 1921. Caroline D., born Oct. 20, 1834; died Nov. 25, 1912. Mary E., born Nov. 8, 1840; died Mar. 15, 1929. Sarah Helen, born Oct. 1, 1843; died Aug. 17, 1918. Emma J., born Oct. 15, 1846; died Feb. 28, 1848. Gardner Hinckley inherited a delicate constitution. He lived at home onthe farm until the death of his father, when being in his fourteenthyear, he chose William Graves, of Gravesville, for his guardian, andspent some of his time with him, going to school. At the age of sixteenhe bought his brother's share in the home farm and went in business forhimself. His opportunities for education in his boyhood were limited,but he had a love of reading and study which continued all through hislife, and in his busiest years he spent many hours with his books. InSeptember, 1829, he married Elizabeth Atwood, born August 7, 1810,daughter of Esek and Margaret Sackrider Atwood. Esek Atwood was born notfar from Burlington, Vt. He was well educated and was for many years ateacher. His first wife, mother of Elizabeth Hinckley, was born ofQuaker parentage in upper Canada. In 1843 Esquire Atwood moved to thetown of Wilmurt and lived there many years and held various townoffices. He was supervisor, justice many times, etc. He died at thehome of his son Thomas, in New Rochelle, N.Y., about 1862. Gardner andElizabeth Hinckley had six children, two of whom died in infancy. Thesurvivors are Samuel Gardner, Caroline Dyer (Mrs. John W. Stanton), MaryElizabeth and Sarah Helen, all living in Hinckley, N.Y. Samuel G.married Sarah Fern, of Montgomery county. They have five children living,Emma Josephine, Elijah Gardner, Edward Fern, Samuel, and Theodore Ballou. About 1837 Gardner Hinckley left the farm and became agent andbusiness manager for A. K. Morehouse, who owned large tracts of forestland in the counties of Herkimer and Hamilton, and from 1838 to 1840 helived for about a year at Piseco Lake, in Hamilton county. For the pureair, pure water and charming scenery of the Adirondack region he had anenthusiastic fondness, and he was confident that the time would come whenits asthetic and sanitary advantages would be appreciated. In 1840 hemoved to Wilmurt and built a saw-mill and planing -mill on the WestCanada Creek near "Hinckley" bridge. Much of the lumber made there wascarted to Utica or to Herkimer, over thirty miles. He lived in Wilmurtuntil 1854, when he moved to the place now called Hinckley. He wassupervisor of Wilmurt for several terms and he held other town offices.He was a member of the State Legislature in 1853-1854. About 1848, inpartnership with Theodore P. Ballou, of Utica, he built a gang saw-mill,planing-mill, etc., running by water power, on the West Canada Creek, inwhat is now the vilage of Hinckley (so named in 1891 in his memory), andhe continued in the lumber business until his death. This mill, whichwas known through all the region as the Gang Mill, had at the time whenit was built the largest capacity of any water power mill in that part ofthe State, being able to saw about five million feet of spruce lumber ina year without running nights. At that time - 1848 - there was norailroad nearer than Utica, eighteen miles distant. Mr. Hinckley was aMethodist and a temperance man, inheriting the conscientousness of hisancestors. He was a Democrat until the formation of the Republicanparty, and from that time a Republican. He was a man of medium stature,agreeable address, genial temperament, strict integrity, and amiabledisposition, kind and generous in every relation of life. He wasunaffected and sincere in manner, and dignified, but not austere. He wasdeliberate in judgment, although his mental processes were rapid, and heexpressed his thoughts with clearness and force. During the fifty yearsthat he was in active business he never had a law-suit that came totrial. He was greatly beloved by his friends and respected by all in hissocial and business relations. His council was often sought andcheerfully given. He was the sympathizing friend of young people, inwhose happiness, education and advancement he was cordially interested.While his own will was strong and his ideals high, he was tolerant in hisjudgment of those who were easily tempted, and tender and helpful towardthe erring and unfortunate. He died March 15, 1875. Mrs. Hinckley diedSeptember 12, 1874.