Herkimer County Historical Soc

Sarah Helen Hinckley of the Town of Russia By sue perkins

An album full of postcards belonging to Sarah Helen Hinckley has been donated to the Herkimer County Historical Society. Sarah’s name was written on the inside cover of the album along with the date 1907. I began to wonder just who this woman was.

I remembered that we did a historic house tour in the town ofRussiain1993. Ilookedinthearchitecturesurveyfileand found a photograph taken in 1973 of the Hinckley House on Cady Road, along with a genealogy chart showing who Sarah Helen Hinckley’s parents and siblings were. I next checked the Hinckley surname file, www.fultonhistory.com, andAncestry. Success! I had found just what I was looking for. Sarah Helen Hinckley was born on October 1, 1843, in Wilmurt, Herkimer County, New York, the daughter of Gardner (1808-1875) and Elizabeth Atwood Hinckley (1810- 1874). Sarahhad2 brothers: ElijahandSamuel G. andthree sisters: Caroline, Mary, and Emma J. The Hinckleys and their spouses are all buried in the Gravesville Cemetery.

Here’s a little background on Sarah’s parents. When his fa

DEANSBORO SUPERETTE Since 1967 Home of the Monster Sub!

Middle Eastern Favorites! Humous, Kibbie, Falafel, Babaghanoush , Taboulie, Grape leaves, Spinach pies.

Mon-Fri: 6am-6pm, Sat: 6am-5pm, Closed Sun

Rt 12B, Deansboro (315) 841-4377 www.deansborosuperette.com

We Are Open!

Jewett’s Cheese House A family business since 1970

NY State aged cheddar 1-20 years old!

Over 400 items of cheese & gourmet foods. (800) 638-3836 934 Earlville Road, Earlville (between Poolville and Earlville)

Open Mon-Fri: 9:30-5, Most Sundays 10:30-3, closed Sat. www.jewettscheese.com Hinckley House, Cady Road, Russia, NY

Hinckley, NY was named for Gardner Hinckley, a member of the State Assembly, 1854

ther died in 1822, William Graves became Gardner’s guardian. He bought his brother Samuel’s interest in his father’s homestead near Gravesville. There he resided until 1839, whenhe movedto Piseco, HamiltonCounty, NY. In1840, hemovedtothe“WhiteHouse”inOhioVillage;in1842,he went to Wilmurt, NY, near Hinckley Bridge. The house that he builtthere was destroyedbyfire inApr. 1853. In1854, hemovedtotheGangMillsinthetownofRussia. In1842, he began the lumbering and planning business. In 1848, he went into the lumber business with Theodore P. Ballou ofUtica, NY, and the mill business started in Gang Mills. GardnerHinckleywas asupervisorinWilmurt1849-1851 andamemberoftheStateAssembly, 1854. In1890, Gang Mills was renamed to Hinckley after Gardner Hinckley. He was a Methodist and a strong Temperance man. He was of good judgment, strong character, energetic and conscientious, according to his obituary.

In the 1850 Census, Gardner Hinckley and family were living in the town of Wilmurt. While the Hinckleys were living in Wilmurt, there was 22-year-old Mary A. Humphreyville living in the household. I wondered who Mary Humphreyville was. I discovered in Sarah Hinckley’s obituary that Mary was her private tutor. Further research revealed that Miss Humphreyville had attended the Whitestown Seminary in 1846 in Whitestown, NY. She later became a school teacher at the Girls Seminary at Aurora, NY. By 1854, the Hinckleys lived in the town of Russia, where Gardner built his home. He lived there until his death in 1875. Sarah Helen Hinckley attended Miss Kelly’s Private School inUtica, NYabout1857. She became ill with spinal trouble while she was there. Her parents took her to eminent surgeons in Boston and New York City to get treatment but it didn’t work. Sarah’s Great Aunt Mary Agnes Hinckley held her wedding to John Maurice Evans at Sarah’s bedside on October 12, 1897, at the Hinckley home. Sarah had been invalid for twenty years.

Sarah Helen died on August 17, 1918, in her home in Hinckley where she had lived most of her life. She lived there with her unmarried sister Mary E. Hinckley and her sister Caroline Hinckley Stanton’s stepson William H. Stanton. Sarah Helen’s brother Samuel Hinckley lived in Chicago, Illinois at the time of her death. Sarah Helen’s obituary states “All through her many years ofaffliction, she was ever cheerful and contented, and her Christian spirit enabled her to be of help to all who came in contact with her. She was a great leader and kept close abreast of topics of the day, and was a most delightful and entertaining companion. Her beauty was equaled only by her beautiful Christian character. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Church, which was erected through the efforts of her father assisted byhispartner,Mr. Ballou”. •

Sue Perkins is the Executive Director of the Herkimer County Historical Society

Family Owned, Family Grown Happiness Grows Here!

A family oriented U-Pick apple orchard where you and your family can create memories year after year. Our cider is produced on the premises using only our own homegrown apples. You can taste the full flavor of the fruit! Once you have picked your apples be sure to stop in and browse the country market. Enjoy farm fresh fudge, old fashion candy, homemade jam, country crafts & florals, fresh organic eggs, mums, aged NY cheese, maple syrup, local honey, fresh made cider donuts and of course our refreshing apple cider. We also have sample tastings of our jar goods on the weekends. We invite you to start a family tradition at Windy Hill Orchard.

The Seeberger Family

All U-Pick Varieties Available & Farm Store Open!