Hinchman Prophet
HINCHMAN S PROPHET was born at Evasham, Burlington County, New Jersey, Jan. 26, 1836. His parents are John and Catharine. His wife, Frank A., daughter of Judson A. and Eliza A. Beebe, was born at Waldo, Delaware County, Ohio, May 31, 1843. They have three children--Edgar, Fred and Herbert.
1875 Historical Atlas of Allen County, Ohio by H H Hardesty & Co. Publishers, Chicago.
Col. Hinchman S. Prophet, one of the prominent and representative citizens of Lima, and one of the city's leading attorneys, with offices in the Holmes Block, was born at Evesham Burlington County, New Jersey, and is a son of John and Catherine (Roberts) Prophet.
The parents of Colonel Prophet finally settled in Morrow County, Ohio, and spent the remainder of their lives there.
The father of our subject was a man of sufficient means to give his son excellent school advantages at Cardington, Ohio, and he was but 20 years old when he commenced the study of the law, which he completed under the supervision of Judge J. A. Beebe, being admitted to the bar on February 2, 1860, before the Supreme Court of Ohio. Scarcely had he had time to realize the completion of the ambitious efforts of several strenuous years, and feel that he had made a fair beginning on his career, when the Civil War was precipitated. Among the first to offer their services, he served three months in Company C, 15th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and at the close of this enlistment assisted in the organization of Company B. 43rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. Prior to 1863, when continued ill health led to his resignation, he was promoted from 2nd lieutenancy to the 1st lieutenancy, and from 1st lieutenancy to the captaincy. In the second battle of Corinth, in 1862, Captain Prophet was wounded. In his official report of the battle of Corinth, the commanding general made honorable mention of Captain Prophet, commending him for "conspicuous gallantry and efficiency in battle."
After his return home, he was commissioned colonel of the Second Regiment, Ohio Militia, by Governor David Tod. He organized and officered the regiment, but it was not called into service.
Resuming the duties which the call to arms had caused him to put aside, Colonel Prophet continued to practice law and for five years he also engaged in newspaper editing and publishing. In 1868 he was appointed postmaster of Mount Gilead, where he was then residing. In the fall of 1869, he was elected without opposition State Senator from the 17th and 18th districts and served his constituents well through his term of office; and what is remarkable he never missed a roll call nor a vote. He was a member of several important committees, among them " Common Schools and School Lands," and "Municipal Corporations."
He was also a member of a special committee that visited the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors 'Orphans Home at Xenia and on its recommendation the home was bought by the State.
In 1872 he removed to Lima, becoming a member of the firm of Prophet & Eastman, a firm which has successfully handled a large part of the important litigation of this section for the past 25 years.
In May, 1870, Colonel Prophet, without solicitation, was made a member of the Phonetic Society, established in Bath, England, by Sir Isaac Pitman, the inventor of phonetic shorthand. He was the first official court reporter in the Northwest. He was a member of the Ohio Association of Stenographers, and also of the International Association. For four year he was city solicitor; for the same length of time was Prosecuting Attorney of Allen County.
In 1882 he was elected mayor of Lima; he served one term at this time, declining a renomination. In 1898 he was again elected mayor by the largest majority ever received by any candidate for mayor of the city. He again declined a renomination. In school and other local positions, he has been generous of his time, money and advice, having served 19 years as a member of the Board of Education, being president of the board for 10 years of this period. He has served as president of the Ohio Association of Boards of Education, and is a member of the National Association of School Boards and the National Educational Association, and many other educational associations.
Colonel Prophet was married December 25, 1867, to Francies A. Beebe, who is a daughter of Judge J. A. Beebe. They have four children, Edgar S., Herbert S., Grace Alice (Plate) and Kathryn E., who is a successful teacher at Lima. They enjoy the comforts of a beautiful home at No. 414 West North street, where hospitality abounds, and education and culture are found.
Politically, Colonel Prophet is identified with the Democratic Party. He is a worthy citizen and a Christian gentleman. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Lima. Colonel Prophet is a member of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, the Grand Army of the Republic and a number of fraternal orders.
For five consecutive years Colonel Prophet has been appointed a delegate by the Governor to the National Conference of Charities and Corrections.
From History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 2, Edited & Compiled by Charles C. Miller, Ph. D.; Richmond & Arnold, Publishers, Chicago, 1906
Hinchman S. Prophet commenced the study of the law under Ross Burns at Cardington, Ohio, and completed the study with Judge J. A. Beebe, of Mount Gilead, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar in the Supreme Court of Ohio on February 2, i860. In 1872 he came to Lima, where he has since been in the constant practice of his profession.