The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-08
LYON co. PIONEERS.
Golden wedding of the Hinshaws Re-
calls Early Days.

Emporia, Kan, Jan. S.-Mr. and
Mrs. Andrew Hinshaw. who live three
miles east of town, celebrated their
fftieth wedding anniversary Monday.
Their marriage was the first one in
Lyon county and the ceremony was
performed by the Rev. Solomon
Brown, who preached the first sermon
and orga niZed the first church in En-
poria.
Mrs. Hinshaw was Sarah Ann Hiatt
and came with her parents from Ham
ilton county, Indiana, in May, 1856.
The following winter Andrew Hinshaw
who was betrothed to Miss Hiatt. came
out and took a 16O-acre claim adjoin-
ing Emporia, and the wedding follow
ed shortly That winter was hard
'the coolest winter" There was ice
on the Cottonwood eighteen inches
thick on Christmas day. There We're
two Indian villages on the south SIDE
of the Cottonwood, not more than a
mile from the Hinshaw cabin.
Stephen Hinshaw, the present sher-
if of Lyon county, is the oldest child
of Andrew and Sarah Ann Hinshaw,
and was the first white child born in
Lyon county. Their other children are:
Mrs. Sabina McMillen, John Hinshaw,
Mrs Minda Marvin, Latin Hinshaw,
Mrs Ruth Palmer, Mrs. Nettie KUN
lander and Fred Hinshaw. All of these
children live in Lyon county
When the Hats left Indiana they
intended to go on to Oregon. Andrew
Hinshaw first went to Iowa and took a
claim Then he heard that the HATS
had taken land in Kansas and started
Bluffs. which was as far as his money
would take him. The rest of the dis
lance to Emporia he came on foot.
The first claim he pre-empted was
the quarter section south of Sixth ave-
nue. and east of East street. Later he
sold eighty acres of this and bought a
quarter section where he has lived ever
since Both the Santa Fe and the NJ.
K & T. railways built through his
quarter section and he contributed his
share of the right of way without su-
ing for damages. In return for this
both railways gave him a system pass
for life.
Although the management of the
Santa Fe system has changed many
times since then, Mr.. Hinshaw is still
remembered and whenever he goes to
Topeka the officials always insist on
entertaining him.
A dinner was served yesterday to
about 100 relatives at the old home on
East Sixth avenue
The Hinshaws are faithful members
of the ''slow Quakers" or Conservative
First day" morning rain or shine to
attend the services. Mrs. Hinshaw is
a minister in the meeting" while her
husband is an elder. Once Mrs. Hin
shaw was elected delegate and attend
ed a yearly meeting in Norway, and at
another time was sent to London. She
has been a delegate to the gatherings
in Nova Scotia and at almost every
state in the union.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hinshaw live in a big
three-story brick house on one of the
best kept farms in Lyon county. They
have always worked hard, and their
industry and frugality have been am
ply repaid. They live simply, as BELTS
their religious beliefs. They love to
gather their children and their chill
dren'S children around them, and no
needy person is ever overlooked. They
are a strong healthy old couple, in
terested in the people they meet and
in what is going on in the world.