Transcribed from the Andover News, October 30, 1914.
FRANK R. HINCHER
Frank R Hincher, of Andover, N. Y., passed away at his home on Pleasant avenue, on Wednesday, October 21, 1914, after an illness of four weeks.
Mr. Hincher met with an accident last April, and while he regarded it as not serious at that time, yet the shark of same underminded[sic] his whole system and four weeks ago a partial paralysis and other complications developed which resulted in his death.
Frank R. Hincher was born in Gates, Charlotte Township, New York, December 18, 1846 and would have been 68 years of age this December.
He came to this town in his youth with his father, Harvey Hincher, and family. His grandfather, William Hincher, had preceded them and taking up a tract of land in Elm Valley, and was one of the [early] pioneers of Allegany County.
The father of this William Hincher, or William Hincher the first, was the first settler at the mouth of the Genesee River, coming from Hincher Flats on the Chemung River in 1790. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and a supporter of Daniel Sharp during the Massachusetts Rebellion. In 1791 he purchased one-eighth of the second township, west of the Genesee at the mouth of the river, this consisted of 672 acres; he paid for same two shillings and six pence per acre. He erected a log cabin near the site of the old light-house at Charlotte, this humble dwelling made the first white man's home in that locality.
The old stone that marked the last resting place of this pioneer has recently been placed in the city museum at Rochester, N.Y., and the grave more suitably marked.
Since coming to this county Mr. Hincher had lived his entire life in this town. The earlier years of his life were spent on the old homestead at Elm Valley. He moved into town some twenty-five years ago. He was a man of integrity, quiet and retiring in manner, unpretentious by nature, honest and upright in all his dealings with men, a kind neighbor, a tender and loving husband and father.
He was a member of the Andover Masonic Lodge number 558, Having joined this fraternity some 43 years ago.
He was married to Susan Augusta Burdick October 11, 1871. To this union were born two daughters, Mrs. Edwin B Freeland, of Louisville, Ky., and Miss Carolyn Hincher, of this place, all of home survive him, also one granddaughter, Francis Freeland, together with the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. Lucretia Wood, Andover; Mrs. Orange Smith, Andover; Mrs. Prentice Burdick and Mrs. [S??] Hann, of Elm Valley; Mr. Eli Hincher, of Decatur, Michigan and Mr. A. A. Hincher, Of Elm Valley.
The funeral services were held from his late residence on Friday afternoon, October 23rd, at 2 o'clock, Rev. F. M. Baker, of the Methodist Church officiating. Several appropriate songs were rendered by a male trio from the choir of the Methodist Church. The house was crowded, many finding it necessary to take places about the doors on the outside, an evidence of the high esteem in which the people of Andover have always had for Mr. Hincher and the members of his family.
The local Masonic Lodge attended in a body, furnished the bearers and marched to the Valley Brook Cemetery where the beautiful Masonic service was used at the grave.
Among those present from out of town at the funeral service were Mr. E. B. Freeland, Louisville, Ky., Mrs. W. B. Meade, Hornell, N.Y.; Mrs. Della M. Sullivan, an Purgy Scott and wife, Of Alfred, N.Y.; Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Scott, Almond, N.Y.; Mrs. Earl Scott, of West Almond; Mr. and Mrs. Will Osborne and Mae Osborne, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bradley, Mrs. Fayette Scoville, Mrs. C. V. Kerr, Miss Nora Fuller, Mrs. J. C. Comstock, Mr. and Mrs. H. Jenks, Mr. and Mrs. Will Haven, Mr. Frank Leonard and Mr. Jesse L. Grantier, of Wellsville.