George M. Hinkle

George March Hinkle (1801–1861) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement.

Born in Jefferson County, Kentucky to Michael Hinkle and Nancy Higgins on November 13, 1801, George joined the early Latter Day Saint church in 1832. He sat on the church's High Council in Far West, Missouri and led the settlement of De Witt, Missouri. He was commissioned a colonel in the Missouri militia and was the commander of the militia in predominantly Mormon Caldwell County. During the 1838 Mormon War at the siege of Far West, Hinkle negotiated a peace with Colonel Lucas of the Missouri Militia which included the surrender of church leaders to the custody of Colonel Lucas. This "custody" transmogrified into imprisonment in Liberty Jail. Hinkle believed he was following instructions and saving the Latter Day Saints from being massacred, but John P. Greene, "an authorized representatives of the Mormons," portrayed Hinkle's actions as "deceit and stratagem" and "treachery." Hinkle was excommunicated on March 17, 1839 along with John Corrill and W. W. Phelps, who had also met with Colonel Lucas.

Still a believer, Hinkle founded a Latter Day Saint denomination known as the Church of Jesus Christ, the Bride, the Lamb's Wife in 1840. In September, 1843, John C. Bennett attended a conference of Hinkle's church. After this conference Bennett wrote about the Mormon "Doctrine of Marrying for Eternity," which Hinckle appears to have conveyed to Bennett.

George was married first to Sarah Ann Stark (or Adams). She died in 1844 or 1845. He subsequently married widow Mary Loman Hartman, and she outlived him.

Hinkle lived in Iowa where he again was commissioned a colonel in the militia. He died in 1861 and is buried in Hamilton Cemetery, Decatur, Iowa.

References

• Richard P. Howard, The Church through the Years, Independence, MO: Herald House, 1992, p. 305.
• Lavina Fielding Anderson, Lucy's Book, Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books, 2001, p. 826.
• John P. Greene, Facts Relative to the Expulsion of the Mormons or Latter-day Saints from the State of Missouri under the 'Exterminating Order, Cincinnati, OH: R. P. Brooks, 1839, p. 25.
• John C. Bennett, letter to the editor, Hawk-Eye and Iowa Patriot, October 28, 1843.
• Henckel/Hinkle Family Photo Album: George March Hinkle -- Elder of the Mormon Church -- Hero or Traitor.
• Biography of George Hinkle, The Joseph Smith Papers (accessed January 9, 2012)