Biography - Alfred Hinton
HON. ALFRED HINTON was born in Frederick county, Maryland, on the 15th of
February, 1800, being the second child of James and Catharine Hinton, who
had a family of twelve children. The ancestors of Mr. Hinton, in consequence
of religious persecution, came to America at an early date, and settled in
the colony of Maryland. Four of the brothers of James Hinton were soldiers
in the American army during the Revolution. In 1806, James Hinton removed
with his family to Wellsburg, Virginia, and four years after, moved to
Delaware county, Ohio. In 1816 he became a resident of Ghent, Gallatin
county, Kentucky, where his death occurred, in 1819. Mrs. Hinton outlived
all her children, except the subject of this sketch, and died at the
advanced age of eighty years.
Judge Hinton, quite early in life, commenced learning the trade of carpenter,
and, in the fall of 1818, came to Edwardsville, Illinois. He lived there
about two years, and, in September, 1821, became a citizen of Greene county.
In 1822, he entered a tract of land on Apple Creek Prairie, about three
miles west of where Whitehall now stands. In March of the same year he
married Miss Lucretia Pruitt, daughter of William and Sarah Pruitt, and
immediately after his marriage he built a cabin and commenced the
improvement of his land. Mr. and Mrs. Hinton had eleven children, of whom
only five are living - all daughters, and they are married and settled in
life. Their son, Emanuel J. Hinton, after his marriage, settled on a farm
three miles south of Carrollton, and, in August, 1858, was murdered within a
few rods of his house. Court being then in session, the murderers were
promptly arrested, tried, convicted, and hung.
In 1835, Mr. Hinton was elected justice of the peace, and, by re-election,
held that office about twelve years. In the fall of 1842 or 1843 he was
elected a member of the legislature from Greene county. In the spring of
1843, for the purpose of educating his children, he settled in Carrollton,
and soon after was appointed postmaster, which office he retained about nine
years. In the fall of 1846 he was again elected to the legislature, and in
1851 and 1852 he superintended the building of the present court house, at
Carrollton. In 1865 he was elected Judge of the Court of Greene county, and
filled that office four years. Since the expiration of his term of office,
he has been justice of the peace most of the time.
In 1832, Judge Hinton and wife became members of the Christian Church, at
Carrollton, and for many years he has been an elder in the church. In
politics, the Judge is a Democrat. His first vote for president was cast for
John Quincy Adams, in the memorable contest of 1824.
On the 18th of February, 1869, the beloved partner of his bosom breathed her
last, and in March, 1870, Judge Hinton was married to Mrs. Amy Holliday, of
Kane, since which time he has been a resident of that town.
Extracted 05 Jan 2017 by Norma Hass from Atlas Map of Greene County Illinois, 1873, page 34.
