Milton PINKSTON

The following bio was taken from pages 343-345 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Gloria Riley

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

The first Pinkston to come to Rusk County was Milton Pinkston. He was born about 1807 in Georgia, maybe in Wilkes County. By 1830 he and his family were residing in Autauga County, Alabama, and remained there until sometime after 1840. During that time four children were born, a daughter and three boys. As early as 1849 Milton migrated to Rusk County to settle in an area near Price. He brought with him Harriet, his wife, and their three boys: James T., born January 27, 1829; John M. about 1834; and Henry J., about 1842. In May of 1849, Harriet, who was born in South Carolina, died of cancer at the age of forty-four. Her estate was divided equally among the three boys and their father. As was common in those days, the boys had to “become of age” before they could receive their inheritance, which consisted of several slaves. According to family legend, Harriet was “laid to rest in an unmarked grave near Benjie McCord’s Place.” In 1852 Milton Pinkston married Delphia Ann Fannin. He was about forty-five and she was about twenty. Since he was “old enough to be her father,” I understand that the marriage did not have everybody’s blessings. Milton and Delphia Ann had three boys and one girl. Micajah “Cage,” circa 1853, and Thomas Newton “Nute” circa 1858, were born in Rusk County. I believe that Milton and Delphia Ann moved to Granbury, Hood County, Texas, about this period of time. It was there that Nathan M. “Nate,” circa 1862, and Sarah Jane Victoria, circa 1866, were born. When Victoria was about six years old, Milton was hunting one day when he accidentally shot himself. Two days or three days later, he died of an infected wound. Delphia Ann’s second marriage was to Samuel Turner, June 22, 1870. They had three children: Martin and Lizzie, twins, and Gertie. On October 17, 1928, Delphia Ann died and was buried in Liberty cemetery near Cross Plains, Texas. John M. Pinkston, second son of Milton, moved to Rusk, Cherokee County, Texas, and married Elizabeth Mary Pierce on April 29, 1858. I know of their having only one son. John may have died about 1863 while fighting for the Confederacy with the 13th Texas Cavalry. When Milton Pinkston moved from East Texas, Henry was still a minor; therefore, James was made Henry’s guardian. Henry, too, fought for the Confederacy but with the Redwine Company. James T. Pinkston, Milton’s oldest son, married Elvira Eliza Moore on March 22, 1855 in Rusk County. Besides farming, Mr. Pinkston served as postmaster at the Reagan Post Office in 1858. When the Civil War began, he answered “the call to arms” and enlisted at San Augustine, Texas on March 30, 1862, as a private, Company I, 19th Regiment, Texas Infantry, Confederate States of America. Elvira Eliza Moore Pinkston was the daughter of Ransom Irvine and Nancy Gosea, “Gosa” Moore. She was born on March 39, 1827 in North Carolina, but a short time later she and her family moved to Tennessee. The Moore family had become residents of Rusk County by 1850. After the war Jim Pinkston returned to Rusk County and there he and Elvira raised their two children, Salina and Lemuel J. Salina, who was born April 12, 1858 and died February 22, 1923, married Lewis N. Moores and they had no children. Both James and Elvira are buried at Round Pond Cemetery. The graves are most unusual in that a sheet of cement, which covers the gravesite, is inset with seashells. He died September 1, 1895 and she died May 31, 1900. Lemuel J. Pinkston, who was called Pap by his grandchildren and Lem by his friends, was born on August 11, 1861. He not only farmed the land but “ran a mill and gin for the accommodation of the public.” The Sharp Shooter Bullet, a newspaper published on Thursdays at Overton, described him as “one of Rusk County’s best and most substantial farmers. Everything around him denotes thrift and energy.” Pap and Mammy, who was Union Ledford, were married on June 21, 1882. Union was the daughter of Jason and Sarah Ann Thomason Ledford and was born in Alabama, probably Talledega County on August 25, 1862. Jason Ledford was born March 3, 1812 in North Carolina, and Sarah Ann Thomason was born June 19, 1820 in Georgia and Alabama. When the Ledfords came to Texas, they brought Elizabeth Thomason, Sarah’s sister, with them. Elizabeth lived to a “ripe old age,” 1818-1915. Mr. Ledford died on October 10, 1900 and is buried in the Old Salem Cemetery between Wright City and Troup. Sarah Ann died August 15, 1906, and she and her sister are buried alongside Jason. Lem and Union had a large family of eight children: Ernest Lemuel—1883; James Ledford—1885; Lottie—1887; Lillian Salina—1890; Clattice Clara—1892; Winnifred E.—1894; Donald Glen—1897; and Douglas Dewaine—1900. All of these children were born near the Carlisle Community and attended the local school. Sometime later the family moved to London, Texas. With some of his children by his side, Lem died on October 24, 1929. On the night of July 29, 1931, Union prepared as usual for bed but never to awaken. Both are buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. When Union Pinkston died, she willed the Bowles Creek Farm near Wright City to her son, Dewaine. It is my understanding that this land is the site of Blue Hole; and the name of the farm is linked to the Cherokee Indian Chief Bowles. He ruled the Cherokees who camped in the cool shade near the spring. Years later the children of the area would use that same spring as their favorite swimming hole. Today the property is still owned by a Pinkston, Dewaine’s only child, Elizabeth. Lemuel J. Pinkston had the following grandchildren: Geneva, Sidney and Hazel whose father was Ernest Pinkston. Lemuel Martin, Cecil Lee, Albert James, Tommie Louise, and Donnie Ray whose father was James Ledford Pinkston. Neal and Laudys L. were the children of Lottie; Thelma was Lillian’s child; Winifred Arline was Clattice’s child; Mary Louise was Donald’s child and Elizabeth was the daughter of Dewaine. Nearly all of the Pinkston’s have moved from the county, but the family still considers Rusk County to be the place of their family roots. Written by Elizabeth Pinkston Feigl