G.A.R. VETERAN CALLED TO FINAL REST

Dr. Joseph V. Hinchman died at his home on west Washington street just at the midnight hour last Thursday, June 16th, at the age of 86 years, 5 months and 3 days of pneumonia, following an illness of just a week. He over-exercised for his years by sawing some wood, catching cold afterwards which developed into what is known as old age pneumonia.

His death leaves but three of the members of Jas. A. Dix Post of the G.A.R.; Jim Smith, who was 92 years old the 8th of March; Andrew Jones, who was 86 the 26th of May and Jake McCracken, who was 85 in January. Two other Civil war veterans are now residents in Blair, D. S. Flaugher, who was 89 the 5th day of April and George W. Peake, who will be 85 the 27th day of June. These two, with Mr. McCracken, were the only old comrades able to be present at the funeral service Sunday afternoon.

A guard of honor from Stanley E. Hain post of the American Legion was present, and gave military salute to each of the three old veterans as they approached the residence, as well as saluting the casket as it passed from the house. A delegation of the W.R.C. was in line also, with a delegation present from Garfield Lodge, I.O.O.F., of which Dr. Hinchman had been a member for over 50 years. He was a member of the Royal Neighbor lodge of which order he served as acting physician for many years.

The funeral service was conducted by Rev. W. H. Jackson, pastor of the Methodist church with which organization Dr. Hinchman united when a boy. The music was furnished by a male quartette composed of Don C. Van Deusen, Alfred Jensen, Dr. C. R. Mead and H. H. Borwn, with Miss Gertrude Mead as accompanist. The numbers sung were “Onward Christian Soldiers”, “Stand For thy Country” and “A Little While”.

At the cemetery a firing squad fired a salute of three rounds, and “Taps” was sounded at the close of the burial service.

Joseph V. Hinchman was born at Rushville, Ind., January 14th, 1846, and spent his early life on a farm near that place with his parents. At the early age of 16 he heard the call of his country and enlisted in Company B of the 121st Regiment, 9th Indiana Cavalry, serving in a number of important engagements of the Civil War, and had become a 2nd lieutenant when he was captured and spent the last six months of the war in the noted “Libby Prison”.

After the war he attended the Indiana Medical College, from which he was graduated and spent the balance of his long life as a practicing physician. He came to Nebraska almost 60 years ago, and passed the State Medical Board examination in August of 1891. He had lived in Blair about 29 years, practicing his profession, making friends, always doing his part as physician, friend and citizen. He served for several years a physician at the Soldier’s Home at Burkett, Neb.

He was married to Irene Crane on October 30, 1867 at Indianapolis, Ind., and to that union one daughter, Alice, was born, now Mrs. M. O. Headly, widowed, of Columbus, Ohio. The wife died on Oct. 9th, 1891. On Jan. 25th he was united in marriage to Candice Firquin Jan, at Indianapolis, Ind., and to this union two children were born, Helen, now Mrs. Chas. Anderson of McCook, Neb., and John, who died in infancy. The wife died Sept. 1, 1903.

On Oct 24th, 1904, then a resident of Blair, he was married in Omaha to Mrs. Hannah Faber of this city, who survives him. Besides Mrs. Headly and Mrs. Anderson he is survived by one brother, J. M. Hinchman of Greenfield, Ind., and two sisters, Mrs. Rebecca Goldschmidt of Kinsley, Kans and Mrs. Nancy Adams of Greenfield, Ind.; two grandchildren, Mrs. J. R. McConkey of Columbus, Ohio and Chas. Anderson, Jr. of McCook, Neb. Of these, only Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were present at the funeral service.

#2 Published in unknown newspaper in 1932

Burial in Blair

Veteran-Civil War

Burial in Blair on Sunday, June 19, of Dr. Joseph V. Hinchman, reduced to three the number of Civil War veterans who now live in Blair, although the local post, in its hey-dey, numbered 181 members. One of Blair's best known residents, Dr. Hinchman was among the oldest physicians in the state at the time of his death. He practiced until two years ago.

(Includes photo)

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

FindaGrave #41721899