US Congressman. Born at Fields Store when it was part of Grimes County, he was educated in Fields Store, and enlisted as a Private in the Confederate Army's Fourth Texas Regiment, Hood's Brigade. He served until the end of the Civil War, fought at Eltham's Landing, Gaines' Mill, Second Manassas, Antietam, Wilderness, Chickamauga, and Gettysburg, was present at Appomattox, and attained the rank of First Lieutenant. He then worked as a cotton weigher, studied law, received his license in 1875 and became an attorney in Hempstead. From 1890 to 1900 Pinckney served as District Attorney of the Texas twenty-third judicial district, and from 1900 to 1903 he was Waller County Judge. In 1903 he was the successful Democratic candidate for the US House of Representatives in the special election that filled the vacancy caused when Thomas H. Ball resigned. Pinckney served from November 1903 until his death. He was murdered while attempting to stop a fight at the Waller County Courthouse, where the county Prohibition League was considering a petition asking for Texas Rangers to enforce a new prohibition law. Pinckney, his brother Thomas and two other men were killed, and the alleged murderer was acquitted after he claimed that he was defending a family member from Pinckney, whom he claimed was armed. John M. Pinckney was the brother of novelist Susana Shubrick Hayne Pinckney.
US Congressman. Born at Fields Store when it was part of Grimes County, he was educated in Fields Store, and enlisted as a Private in the Confederate Army's Fourth Texas Regiment, Hood's Brigade. He served until the end of the Civil War, fought at Eltham's Landing, Gaines' Mill, Second Manassas, Antietam, Wilderness, Chickamauga, and Gettysburg, was present at Appomattox, and attained the rank of First Lieutenant. He then worked as a cotton weigher, studied law, received his license in 1875 and became an attorney in Hempstead. From 1890 to 1900 Pinckney served as District Attorney of the Texas twenty-third judicial district, and from 1900 to 1903 he was Waller County Judge. In 1903 he was the successful Democratic candidate for the US House of Representatives in the special election that filled the vacancy caused when Thomas H. Ball resigned. Pinckney served from November 1903 until his death. He was murdered while attempting to stop a fight at the Waller County Courthouse, where the county Prohibition League was considering a petition asking for Texas Rangers to enforce a new prohibition law. Pinckney, his brother Thomas and two other men were killed, and the alleged murderer was acquitted after he claimed that he was defending a family member from Pinckney, whom he claimed was armed. John M. Pinckney was the brother of novelist Susana Shubrick Hayne Pinckney.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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