The William Thomas Pinkard Family

By W. T. Pinkard

William Thomas Pinkard came to Texas and settled in the vicinity of Elkhart. He was orphaned as a boy, reared by relatives who originally were from Dallas, Georgia.

He was married to Mildred Carolyn Camp, the daughter of Elder B. M. Camp and Mary Stegall of Pauling County, Georgia. They made the trip to Texas by boat, via New Orleans and Galveston. Three sons were born to this couple: Enoch W. Pinkard, born Dec. 20, 1875, died Sept. 26, 1898; Berl Marion Pinkard, born March 29, 1878, died May 16, 1945; Floyd J. Pinkard, born Feb. 29, 1882. Enoch W. was born in Georgia, Berl M. in New Orleans, La., and Floyd in Elkhart, Texas.

He became interested in saw milling and moved to Price's Switch on the Neches River, and managed to build a large business with a mill and commissary. The logs were from near Kickapoo, up the river, where he had large tracts of timber. These logs were cut and floated down the river, where he had a barricade at the mill. The timber, in the form of lumber, then was loaded onto the I. & G.N. in cars and shipped. A flood wiped him out by washing away all the logs impounded in the river.

Following the flood at Price's, he opened a store at Nechesville, (Neches). Along with other things, he was the Wells-Fargo agent. A disastrous fire struck his business and he again was broke.

The Pinkard family then moved to Jacksonville, crossing the Neches River by a low-water ferry. They built a home at the west end of Commerce Street. He opened a grocery store and also handled feed and grain. He secured a contract with the T. & N.O. to furnish the construction crews with food, meat and supplies, as well as explosives.

In 1914, he opened a new store on the site of the First National Bank (present) building. It was quite a novelty for its up-to-date fixtures and "plain and fancy groceries." He also had built a new home at the corner of Cherokee and Ragsdale, which still is standing.

He retired from active business in the 1920s and continued to look after his real estate. Numerous business houses in the present business district are built on property he once owned.

W. T. Pinkard died December 31, 1935. Mrs. Pinkard died August 10, 1947.

Berl M. Pinkard was married to Claudia Love, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Wesley Love, September 16, 1902. He was in the wholesale and retail grocery business, and later in automobile sales. He also sold explosives in the footsteps of his father. After a long illness he died in 1945. Mrs. Claudia Pinkard died in 1971. Two sons were born to this couple: Enoch Wesley, September 12, 1905, and William Thomas, October 2, 1907.

Their original home was built in 1905 at Cherokee and Austin. Two beautiful magnolia trees planted at that time still are thriving, although the house has been completely remodeled. Berl M. Pinkard purchased the Sylvan Jarratt homestead property in 1911, and divided it into two blocks, opening the present East Commerce Street and Austin Street, in front of the Tomato Bowl. At present these blocks are occupied by the Jacksonville Building and Loan, The Jacksonville Daily Progress, Safeway Stores and residences on the south block. The north block is occupied by Piggly-Wiggly Store, the Goodyear Store and Jay's Woodworking Shop.

Floyd Pinkard was married to Winnie Phillips, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. J. D. Phillips of Tyler, Texas. They lived at the corner of Cherokee and Ragsdale streets. He was engaged in the retail grocery business, later was representative for an oil company and following that, a salesman and manager of a meat-packing house in Tyler. He now is retired and resides in Tyler.

E. Wesley lives in Dallas and William (Bill) lives in Jacksonville with his wife, Duwaine. They have four children, Nancy (Mrs. Daniel W. Tucker, Jr.), William T., Jr., Claudia Beth, Mary Pat, who all live in Jacksonville.

The W. T. Pinkard family was quite proud of 1913 Overland.

The W. T. Pinkard home, Cherokee and N. Ragsdale streets, built about 1914, still is standing.