Note: birthplace noted as "Garrett" co.; there is a Garrard County, KY, which is commonly pronounced as Garrett.
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"HISTORY OF GREENE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES, STATE OF INDIANA, FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT; TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, NOTES, ETC." CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1884.

SULLIVAN CO., INDIANA; TURMAN TWP. PAGE 804

WILLIAM O. PINKSTON came from Kentucky to Indiana, then two years old, with his parents, John and Elizabeth Pinkson, the family coming on pack-horses through the woods. John Pinkston was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, an able, pious and God-fearing man, who, it is said, organized the first society, now the Providence Church, the first membership being himself and wife and William Burnett and wife. At the time of his settlement here, Rev. Mr. Pinkston had a family of four children, our subject, born in Garrett County, Ky., April 10, 1827, being one. William O. received but little education at the rude subscription schools, and upon reaching manhood, selected farming as his occupation through life. November 17, 1847, he married Miss Irene, daughter of Silas and Lucinda (Gunn) Osborn, and to this union nine children were born, as follows: Ellen S., born September 22, 1848; William C., January 7, 1850; Mary J., December 3, 1852; Elizabeth A., November 24, 1854; Lucinda, November 20, 1856; Martha, March 22, 1860; John H., April 27, 1862; Nelson, December 12, 1866; and Emeline, February 12, 1868. Mr. Pinkston, by careful management, industry and economy, now has an excellent farm of 112 acres, which he has obtained wholly since his marriage. Early in 1865, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and forty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the expiration of the war. He is one of the leading Republicans of the township, is a man of high honor, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Silas Osborn moved from Kentucky to Washington County, Ind., in 1817, and to Sullivan County in 1819. He was Justice of the Peace, Probate Judge, and represented the county two terms in the Legislature. He was a minister, and it is said preached the first sermon in the county seat -- Sullivan. He moved to Iowa in 1849.