James Fielding Hinkle (October 20, 1862March 26, 1951) was an American banker, politician and the sixth governor of New Mexico.

Early life

Hinkle was born in Franklin County,

Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...

on October 20, 1862. He studied at the

University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou, MU, or Missouri) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus Universit ...

. In 1885 he moved to

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...

and established a successful business career.

Politics

He served as a member of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners from 1891 to 1893 and also served as a member of the New Mexico Territorial House of Representatives from 1893 to 1896. He became a member of the New Mexico Territorial Senate in 1901 and served as a member of the Lincoln County Board of Equalization from 1901 to 1911. He served as the mayor of Roswell from 1904 to 1906. He then served in the New Mexico State Senate from 1912 to 1917. He was elected the

Governor of New Mexico , insignia = Seal of the Governor of New Mexico.svg , insigniasize = 110px , insigniacaption = Seal of the Governor , image = File:Michelle Lujan Grisham 2021.jpg , imagesize = 200px , alt = , incumbent = Michelle Lujan Grisham , incu ...

by a popular vote on November 7, 1922. During his term, a First World War veteran's property tax exemption was sanctioned. He was the Governor of New Mexico from January 1, 1923 to January 1, 1925. Hinkle was later elected as

New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands The New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands is an elected constitutional officer in the executive branch in charge of managing all state lands and mineral rights, as well as overseeing leases and royalties on state land, in the U.S. state of New M ...

in 1931 and served a single two-year term.

Later years

After leaving the office, he remained active in business. He died in

Roswell, New Mexico Roswell () is a city in, and the County seat, seat of, Chaves County, New Mexico, Chaves County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Chaves County forms the entirety of the List of micropolitan areas in New Mexico, Roswell micropolitan area. As of ...

on March 26, 1951. In 1964, he was inducted into the

Hall of Great Westerners The Hall of Great Westerners was established by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in 1958. Located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S., the Hall was created to celebrate the contributions of more than 200 men and women of the American W ...

of the

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, with more than 28,000 American West, Western and Native Americans in the United States, American Indian art works and Artifact (archaeology), ar ...

for his contribution to the cattle industry.

References

* Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. ''Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978'' (1978). Vol 4. {{DEFAULTSORT:Hinkle, James F. 1862 births 1951 deaths American cattlemen Methodists from New Mexico County commissioners in New Mexico Members of the New Mexico Territorial Legislature Democratic Party governors of New Mexico New Mexico Commissioners of Public Lands Democratic Party New Mexico state senators Mayors of places in New Mexico People from Franklin County, Missouri University of Missouri alumni People from Lincoln County, New Mexico People from Roswell, New Mexico