The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-11-23
John :. Hinckley Died Yes
terday Evening.
CAME TO MAVKAT0 IN 1852.
Was the Posses sor Of Large Tract Of
Land in the Eastern Part of
the City.
From Saturdays Daily.

John II. Hinckley died at $3.50 o'clock
last evening at the residence of Michael
Barth, 1872 Division street, where he was
making his home. His death followed
severe attack of kidney trouble that
came upon him Sunday. A peculiar in
terest attaches to Mr.. Hinckey, for he
was one of the very earliest settlers
in NIankato, and was always more or
less identified with the city, taking an
active part in affairs in the early days.
His death will cause general regret, for
he was well liked by all.
Mr. Hincliley was born June 30, 1916,
at New London, Conn. His parents were
Thomas and Mary (Scholfeld) Hinck
lev He learned the painters trade and
in lS49 removed to st. Paul, Minnesota.
In February, 1852, he came to Manka
TO with Henry Jackson and party and
was one of the original townsite com
pany. The following year he built a
shanty. where the National Citizens
bank now stands. In 1854 he pre-empted
100 acres of land on the top of Agency
hill, large part of which he plated
few years later as an addition TO Man
kato. Mr.. Hinckley served on the first
board of County commissioners of Blue
Earth county, having been appointed by
the governor to act in that capacity
with j. w. Babcock and James Hanna.
Mr. Hinckley married in 1864 Mrs.
Henry Jackson, who was born April II.
1917, at Clarence, Erie county, New
York Her maiden name was Angelina
Bivens She had been married to Henry
Jackson at Buffalo, New York, in May,
1898, locating that year at Green Bay,
Wisconsin, and on June 8, 1912, they ar
rived at st. Paul, Minnesota. There pur
hasing a small tract of land bounded
by Jackson, Robert, Bench and Third
streets. Mr.. Jackson soon built cab
and opened therein stock of goods,
suitable for the Indian trade, and built
up a prosperous business. The follow
ing year he was made justice of the
peace-the first to fill that position in
Ramsey county-and in 1916 he was
appointed the first postmaster of st.
first Minnesota legislature. Mrs. Jack
son was the first white woman to settle
in St Paul, and it is claimed that her
son, William, was the first boy born
there of American parentage.
Mr.. Jackson was one of the original
founders of Mankato in 1852, and Mrs.
Hinckley, then Jackson, removed here
in tie spring of 1858. Mr.. Jackson died
in 1851, and Mrs. Hinckley on January
/, 1894.
Mr.. Hinckley was always public spir
tied, honest and upright to a degree. In
the early days, when the old log school
house had served its time, schools were
held in different halls. There was talk
of building a building of adequate size
but there was a great deal of opposi-
ton, and those who favored the ex-
pense were divided as to where the site
should be. Many meetings were held
without result. Finally one was held in
Becller's hall, and Mr.. Hincllley offered
to donate the lots where the Union
school now stands. This was accepted
and the Legislature passed bill to al
low the district to issue bonds, and so
the Union building was erected.
Hinckleys addition, in East Manka-
to, was named after Mr.. Hinckley. He
did not leave much property, and left
no immediate family, except two sisters,
two nephews and two nieces in Con-
necticut.
The funeral services will be held at
two o'clock Monday afternoon from
John Klein & Co.'s undertaking rooms,
and the interment will be made in Glen
wood cemetery. The Territorial Old
Settlers association will attend the fun.
eral in a body.