The collection consists mostly of William Hinman’s legal, financial, and tax records (receipts) relating to his real estate business, 1844-1909. Most of these records are for land in Ingham County, although a few are for land in Livingston or Wayne counties, Michigan. Some of the land and legal records relate to family property, such as his father-in-law’s estate papers, 1857. Some records document land owned by his wife and daughters. A few records of William C. Hinman, related to property and delinquent taxes, 1844, 1902, complete the collection.
The collection is divided into the papers of William Hinman and then William C. Hinman.
Biography:
William Hinman was born and educated in Mt. Morris, New York, the son of Theodore Hinman of Conn. William was the youngest of nine children. He moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1838, eventually working as a clerk in Ypsilanti, Brighton, and Howell, Michigan. In 1847 William moved to Lansing, where he became a clerk for Bush and Thomas, merchants and real estate men. The firm then had the largest amount of stock outside of Detroit. He sold all the lumber and materials used to build Benton House and the old state capital. On May 18, 1849, William became the manager of Benton House, the then leading hotel of the city. After ten years of managing Benton House, he purchased it. William then sold the hotel to Mr. Packard who renamed it Everett House. Afterwards, William entered the dry goods business on Washington Ave. He built a brick block adjoining Hudson House, called Hinman or Union Block. In 1871, he sold the dry goods business and engaged in farming and real estate. In 1891 William owned 30 acres of land in Lansing and a prosperous 120-acre farm in LeRoy Township, latter Webberville, Michigan.
On February 21, 1849, William married Miss Sarah E. Bush (August 5, 1830-1886) in the old Benton House. Sarah was the eldest of five children born to the Hon. Charles P. and Minerva Bush. She was born in Montgomery County, New York, and was well educated. Together William and Sarah had five children: William C., Jennie, Addie L., Sarah E. (who died young), and Eliza B.
William C. Hinman was born in Lansing, Michigan, on December 15, 1849, the eldest of the Hinman children. In 1869 he began work as a freight brakeman on the old Peninsular Railroad, later the Chicago and Grand Trunk Railroad. Two years later William C. became a freight conductor between Lansing and South Bend (Indiana). Afterwards, he worked as a freight conductor on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad. After five months William C. was promoted to conductor. On October 11, 1880 his right foot was crushed under the wheels of a train. After being hospitalized for eight weeks in Mishawaka (Indiana), William C. had his leg amputated six inches below the hip. His occupation then became agent of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad for five years. Afterwards, William C. worked in the Lansing Lumber Company. In April 1888 he was elected to the position of City Clerk of Lansing. William C. married Miss Mary E. Downs in June 1885. Together they had two daughters, Addie and Sarah. In 1902 William owned a farm in LeRoy, Michigan. (This information is from Ingham and Livingston counties portrait and biographical album, 1891.)
