Joseph B. Hines
Joseph B. Hines, a native of Ray county, Missouri, was born September 27, 1828. After finishing his education at
the Richmond Academy, he began teaching school in which profession he continued until 1850. He was united in marriage
to Miss Jemima E. Hutchinson, of Lafayette county, Missouri, in November, 1847. Two children, Mary I. and John,
were born to Mrs. Hines. With them and their mother, Mr. Hines started to California in the height of the gold
excitement of 1850. On their toilsome, tedious march across the plains, Mrs. Hines and both the children were seized
with that dread disease, cholera, and the husband and father, powerless to aid them, and almost frantic with grief,
watched them all die before him. Burying their remains, near Fort Laramie, Mr. Hines Pursued his journey westward.
He spent three years mining on the Pacific slope. In California, November 25, 1851, he was again married to Eleanor
Sharp, by whom he has six children living: John S., William T., Joseph P., Olivia F., Gustavus A., and Viola S.
Mr. Hines returned from the west in the spring of 1853, and engaged in farming, where he now resides, a beautiful
place, well improved, four miles northwest of Richmond. At the breaking out of the civil war, he enlisted in company
B. Major Cummins' regiment, C.S.A., where he served about three months as forage master. At the expiration of that
time reorganization was held at Springfield, and Mr. Hines entered the service, as commissary of the regiment,
which position he held until after the battle of Pea Ridge, in March, 1862, when he went to Carrollton, Arkansas,
as recruiting officer for General Raines. Here he was given the alternative of imprisonment at Alton, or "protection
papers." He chose the latter, and at once returned home. Shortly afterwards, he left again, going to Iowa,
where he taught school for about a year. At the close of the term he came back home, and has ever since been a
resident of Ray county, engaged in farming and teaching. For the last few years he has devoted a great deal of
attention to the nursery business, having now, on his farm, a fine young nursery of ten thousand good trees, of
the best varieties. Mr. H. has taught school, at intervals, ever since he was eighteen years old. He has just closed
a term with great satisfaction to all the patrons. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, and also became
a member and took an active interest in the inauguration and organization of the order of Patrons of Husbandry.
Mr. Hines has indeed, had a varied and eventful career, and passed through many rough ordeals, but he appears to
have come out of them all unscathed, and is to-day successful in business, and highly respected by all who know
him.
Ray County History 1881, pages 588 - 589 |
