Corsica-PA

Corsica, Pennsylvania

Ancestral Home to Joseph Warren Hindman

Hindman farm of Corsica, PA. South edge of farm, looking north.

In March of 1890, Joseph Warren Hindman left the family farm outside of Corsica, Pennsylvania and moved to the wide open (and tree-less) prairies of western Nebraska. Joining him on this journey was his pregnant wife, Mary Della (Howe) and four children Charles, James, Samuel and Minnie. At the time, Minnie was the youngest, at just 4 years old. Charles, the oldest, was 10.

Why did Joseph leave? I don't have any specific family history of the reason, but there may be some clues...

Joseph Warren Hindman's father, William Mathews Hindman, originally owned the 109 acre farm northeast of Corsica. When he died in 1873, he left the farm to his sons Lewis Cass Hindman and Joseph. Perhaps a farm that size could not support two large families. Perhaps Joseph and Lewis had a falling out. Perhaps Lewis, being the oldest, held the high card in possession. Click here to see William Mathews Hindman's will.

Secondly, Joseph and Mary had lost 2 children in the mid-to-late 1880s. Daughter, Mabel, died of whooping cough at the age of 2 months in 1884. And son, Harry, died of burns at the age of 2 years. Harry died November of 1889, just 4 months before they left Pennsylvania. Could that event have been the final straw? Perhaps they wanted a new start?

Hindman Farm Location

How did I determine the location of the Hindman farm? My cousin Tony Hindman provided me with the following 1870s/1880s map of Union Township:

Below, I've create a detail of the map, showing Corsica (blue), the farm (yellow) and the reference to Lewis C and Joseph W Hindman (reddish):

And then a Google Map of the same area:

Based on the old map and Google Map, I feel pretty sure I was in the right spot. The location of the original house is suspect, but the overall farm is in the right area.

Hindman Farm Photos

View from SR 949, looking southeast. New house on the land now, but I'm thinking the original is more to the east (to the right).

Road entering property.

North edge of farm, looking north. LOTS of trees. Ground covered in ferns.

East edge of farm, looking east. Multi-photo pano.

Looking south on Monk's Road. Hindman farm would be on the right.

Mount Pleasant Independent Baptist Church

Established 1843

West edge of Corsica, PA

Howe family stone... Northwest corner of the cemetery, closest to the church.

John Howe, father of Mary Della Hindman (wife of Joseph Warren Hindman)

My great-great grandfather

Born Oct 21, 1828, Died June 19, 1908

And we share a birthday!

Caroline (Reitz) Howe, mothr of Mary Della Hindman (wife of Joseph Warren Hindman)

My great-great grandmother.

Born July 4, 1838, Died March 5, 1912.

She was 10 years younger than my g-g grandfather.

John and Caroline Howe

Wide shot, showing the Howe family marker, as well as the John and Caroline stones (front) and

Katherine Howe stone (to the left)

Emma Katherine Howe

Born April 29, 1874, Died 1963

Katherine wrote the Howe Family History... without it, there would be LOTS of empty holes in the family history.

I have always admired the effort that she put into the family history, at a time when there was no internet and success was

measured in months or years... writing letters, pouring through documents in libraries.

Katherine called the Hindman branch in Nebraska around 1960, researching the Joseph Warren Hindman family,

capturing names and birthdates for her book. And then she sent a book to everyone that helped.

Stone for Sarah (Howe) Brown and for Jeanette Howe

Sarah and Jeanette were daughters of John and Caroline Howe.

Jeanette (1865-1948), never married.

Sarah married W.C. Brown. Sarah was born June 24, 1867 and died on Christmas Day 1894, just 27 years old.

Jeanette "Nettie" Howe

Photo likely taken in the 1880s

Emery Howe, son of John and Caroline Howe, married Laura Belle McCool in 1889.

Emery died just 9 years later at the age of 34.

Belle remarried (Newton Webster) after Emery's death.

Interior of the Mount Pleasant Church.

Not sure if this is the original church, but it may be the church that John and Caroline's funerals were held in.

Pisgah Presbyterian Church

South edge of Corsica, PA

Pisgah Presbyterian Church

The original church burned down a few years back.

William Mathews Hindman

Born Aug 25, 1806, Died April 24, 1873

William was my great-great grandfather. Father to Joseph Warren Hindman

Mary Ann Hindman

Born May 13, 1816, Died Dec 29, 1860

Mary Ann was my great-great grandmother. Mother to Joseph Warren Hindman

Rachel Martha Hindman

Born Sept 21, 1857, Died July 23, 1861

Age 3

Daughter of William and Mary Ann Hindman

Between the William Hindman stone and his daughter Rachel's stone, are two small, unmarked stones.

My guess... the graves of Mabel (4 months, died 1884) and Harry (2 yrs, 1889), children

of Joseph Warren and Mary Della Hindman. Buried by with their grandparents.

Nancy Ann Hindman

Apr 8, 1847 - Mar 7, 1851... 3 yrs old

Daughter of William Mathews Hindman and first wife Rachel Clough

William C. Hindman

Mar 10, 1843 - Feb 22, 1851... 7 yrs old

Son of William Mathews Hindman and first wife Rachel Clough

Unnamed Infant Son

Apr 22, 1849 - Aug 10, 1849... 3 months old.

Son of William Mathews Hindman and first wife Rachel Clough

Rachel (Clough) Hindman

Feb 2, 1809 - Apr 22, 1849... 40 yrs old

Died in childbirth (See unnamed infant son, above)

The last 3 children of William and Rachel died at very young ages.

First wife of William Mathews Hindman

James Hindman

Jul 27, 1802 - Jan 13, 1864

James is the brother to William Mathews Hindman (sons of John Linville and Sarah Mathews Hindman)

James is my great-great uncle

Rachel E Hindman

Aug 27, 1839 - Apr 27,1841... 1 yr, 8 mons

Daughter of James and Rachael Hindman

Sarah "Sally" Hindman Sommerville

Aug 3, 1813 - Feb 17, 1870

Sister to William Mathews Hindman (dau of John Linville and Sarah Mathews Hindman)

Sarah is my great-great aunt

John Linville Hindman II

July 1, 1804 - Oct 1, 1889

Brother of William Mathews Hindman (son of John Linville Hindman)

John is my great-great uncle

Nancy Latimore Hindman

Mar 9, 1811 - Sept 9, 1888

Wife of John Linville Hindman II

John M Hindman

1877 - Feb 17, 1889... 12 yrs

Son of John Linville and Nancy Hindman