At the age of 13, Jim's father died from complications incurred during his service in the Civil War and it is assumed that a lot of responsibility was placed upon young Jim, being the oldest of four children.

At some point in his early adult life, Jim changed his surname to HINSHAW. It has not been determined as to the reason for this change, but he continued being know as HINSHAW throughout his life.

James C. P. HINSHAW enlisted into the service in September of 1899, in Co. C of the 38th Infantry US Volunteers where he was with the outfit when it embarked for the Philippine Islands, landing at Manila about December 26, 1899, and entered upon what they called the Southern Campaign to stamp out the Philippine Insurrection.

Jim was discharged in June of 1901, and re-enlisted in November of 1901. In 1933, Jim stated that he contracted some diseases in the Philippine Islands and was apparently stung or bitten by some poisonous insect during his first enlistment which caused him to be hospitalized during his second term of service. It was at General Hospital at Governors Island, New York, that Jim was discharged as a casualty from the 42nd Co. US Coast Artillery in August of 1903, from which he had served as a Corporal in the capacity of Cook. After his final discharge, Jim was employment by the government until his retirement.

In an affidavit dated 1933, Jim stated, that the injuries and diseases contracted during his service has left him totally and permanently disabled.

It was during his term in the service that Jim met Birdie Lilian HERNE. They were married in December of 1902, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The couple resided in Portsmouth, Virginia, from 1905 until their divorce in January of 1921, except for about four years in Philadelphia. There were no children born to this union.

On July 23, 1921, in Knox Co., Tennessee, Jim married Blanche BOOHER. No children were born to this union.

Blanche BOOHER HINSHAW died Christmas Day of 1944, at St. Mary's Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee, at the age of 70. Funeral services were held at the Washington Pike Presbyterian Church where she had been a member since childhood. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Blanche was survived by her husband, James HINSHAW; three sisters, Mrs. C. S. BYERLY and Mrs. Ida ELLIS of Knoxville, and Mrs. C. C. WATKINS of Wadesboro, North Carolina; a brother, Howard BOOHER of Belle, California, and a number of nieces and nephews. Honorary pallbearers were the members of the Corryton Chapter No. 337, Past Matrons' Association of the Order of the Eastern Star and Jack Bernard Camp Auxiliary U.S.W.V.

James Chesley Patterson (HINCHEY) HINSHAW was found dead at his home on November 22, 1946, where he had apparently died several days earlier of natural causes. He was a Spanish-American veteran and a member of the New Market Masonic Lodge No. 246. During his life, "Jim" enjoyed music and played a variety of stringed instruments with which he entertained family and friends.

James C. P. HINSHAW was laid to rest next to his wife at the Washington Pike Presbyterian Church Cemetery. He was survived by his sisters Mrs. James K. (Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie") VANCE of New Market; Mrs. Samuel W. (Sarah Louisa "Lula") MILLER of Anthony, Kansas; and a brother, John William "Will" HINCHEY of New Market.