Career
Hinckley was born in Bastard Township, Leeds County, Upper Canada. In 1867, Hinckley was living on his farm in Coalville, Utah Territory, when Brigham Young asked him to build a fortified way station at Cove Creek. Hinckley left for the area within days.
The fort was restored in the early 1990s.
Hinckley practiced plural marriage. Hinckley was the father of 21 children.
The last born, a daughter of Margaret Harley who was born when Ira was 61, did not meet her father until she was almost two years old because he was afraid that he might be arrested for cohabitation if he visited her house. Hinckley ultimately was arrested and fined $200.