HON. GEORGE COLEMAN HINKLE. Of the many substantial citizens of Stone County, Arkansas, there is not one who stands higher in public esteem than G. C. Hinkle, or one who enjoys a more substantial share of recognition. He was born in what is now Stone Ethen Izard County, Arkansas, March 2, 1855.
His parents being John and Polly Ann Linn Hinkle, who were born in Alabama and Tennessee, respectively, the former’s birth concurring in 1822. His parents were Walter and Annie (Downing) Hinkle, South Carolinians by birth, who were married in Tennessee, and later removed to Madison County, Ala., in which State the father died in 1827. His widow then returned to Wayne County, Tennessee, and there John Hinkle was reared. He was a cabinet maker and wood workman, and was about thirty years of age at the time of his death. His widow died in Wayne County, Tennessee, about 1850. John Hinkle was educated in the common schools of Wayne County and made his home with his grand-father, Jonathan J. Downing, until his marriage with Miss Linn in 1850, very soon after which he came to Arkansas, and located in Bickell’s Cove, and later on the farm on which he is now residing, on which little improvements had then been made, and which he purchased for $15. This place he has greatly improved and now has 240 acres of as fine land as there is in the county. Prior to the Civil War he held the office of justice of the peace, and at its commencement he was a member of the International Improvement Committee. Upon the organization of Stone County he was appointed by Gov. Baxter as assessor, was reelected to the position twice and served in all five years. His wife, who died June 21, 1893, bore him ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity: William A.; Andrew K., who is a carpenter in Dallas County, Tex.; George C., who is a merchant of this county; Mary C., wife of James Elliott, a farmer of this county, Flora J. is the wife of N. J. Whitfield, a farmer of Potter County, Tex.; Lettie Adaline is the wife of A. J. Folks, of this county; J. J. is a Physician of Izard County, and Lucy Frances is the wife of Isaac Elliott of this county. Mr. Hinkle is a deacon in the Missionary Baptist Church, is a Democrat in politics, and socially is a member of the A. F. & A. M.
George Coleman Hinkle, the immediate subject of this sketch, received his education in the common schools of Stone County, and at the Academy of La Crosse in Izard County and the Little Rock Commercial College, graduating from the latter institution in March, 1881, prior to which he had taught school for some time, and thus earned money to pay his way through college. After finishing his education he continued to teach for some time in this and Baxter Counties, continuing until 1886, when he was elected county clerk, an office he held until 1892. In December, 1872, he engaged in the mercantile business at Mt. View, where he has since been in business, and he is justly considered one of the substantial men of the county. He was married to Sarah A. Williamson, a daughter of William Williamson, who was born in Carter County, Missouri, and by her has two sons: Ralph and Dolph. Mr. Hinkle is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and like his worthy sire before him is a Democrat politically.