Son of Joseph Pinkerton (1798-1885) and Violet Scott Pinkerton (1804-1896). Married Eliza Carnahan (1831-1893) on 10-31-1850 in Mercer Co., Ill.
Children are Willard S. Pinkerton (1852-xxxx), James Julien Pinkerton (1854-18550, Mary L. Pinkerton (1855-1864), Maria Antoinette Pinkerton Neff (1858-xxxx), John Ward Beecher Pinkerton (1860-1861), Alice M. Pinkerton Murdock (1862-xxxx), Abraham L. Pinkerton (1866-xxxx) and Jennie V. Pinkerton McKinnon (1875-xxxx). After Eliza's death, William married Mary Ellen Dunlap Steen (1838-xxxx) on 8-12-1896 in Mercer Co., Ill.
Siblings are James S. Pinkerton, Hannah Luzanna Pinkerton Frazier Carnahan (1831-1896), John C. Pinkerton (1833-xxxx), Jane G. Pinkerton Cabeen (1835-xxxx), Mary E. Pinkerton Cabeen, George W. Pinkerton (1839-1926), Robert M. Pinkerton (1841-1900), Alice Lusetta Pinkerton Dunlap, Thirza Ann Pinkerton Dunlap, Margaret R. Pinkerton (1847-1860) and Amanda V. Pinkerton Morey.

Courtesy of Judy Connors Lubinski:
THE HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY, ILLINOIS - 1882 - Page 683
William M. PINKERTON - Dealer in lumber and grain, son of Joseph and Violet
(SCOTT) PINKERTON, was born near Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1828. When
twenty years of age William came to Mercer county. In the winter of 1848-9 he
made his home with Judge GILMORE and taught school in that district. In the
spring of 1849 he bought land in section 16, in Greene township, and began
farming.
He was present at the organization of the township in 1854, and remained in
the township until 1877, when he removed to Mercer township and located on land
he had bought in 1856.
Mr. PINKERTON was married October 30, 1850, to Miss Eliza CARNAHAN. The
CARNAHAN family have been in the United States since 1770, when the grandfather
of Mrs. PINKERTON emigrated to the "new world" and located in Adams county,
Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in the war of the revolution. Mrs. Pinkerton's
father was born February 2, 1792, in Allegheney county, Pennsylvania.
The names of Mr. Pinkerton's children, in the order of their ages, are:
Willard S., John Ward (deceased), James and Julian (both deceased), Mary L.
(deceased), Maria M., Alice M., Abraham L. and Jennie V. Willard married a
daughter of Jeremiah BOYER, and the eldest living daughter, Maria, married John
NEFF, now a resident of Bayard, Iowa.
Mr. PINKERTON is a member of the Congregational church, with which he united
in 1875 in Aledo.
In 1862 Mr. PINKERTON enlisted in the 83rd Ill. Inf. and was with the
regiment when it made the gallant fight in defense of Fort Donelson. The last
eighteen months of his service was spent in detached service in a corps of
topographical engineers connected with the headquarters of Gen. THOMAS, at
Nashville.
During his absence Mrs. PINKERTON took charge of financial affairs at home
and conducted them skillfully and successfully.
On his return he entered more largely into stock raising, and success has
ever attended his efforts. He has one of the finest farms in Mercer county and
is noe enjoying the fruits of his toil.
In November, 1881, Mr. PINKERTON removed to Viola, where in company with his
brother Robert, he entered the grain and lumber business, having purchased the
elevator owned by other parties. The firm of Pinkerton Brothers is doing an
extensive grain and lumber business.

!OBIT: Newspaper Unknown
William Montgomery PINKERTON was born at Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, July
12, 1828; died June 7, 1903, aged 75 years.
At the age of 20 he came to Mercer county, Illinois, and for a number of
years he was employed in teaching school. In 1849 he located on a farm in Green
township.
He was married on October 30, 1850, to Miss Eliza CARNAHAN, and to them were
born 8 children.
In 1862 Mr. PINKERTON enlisted in the 83rd Illinois Infantry. He was with
his regiment when it made the gallant fight in defense of Ft. Donelson. The
last 18 months of his army life was spent in detached service in a corps of
topographical engineers connected with the headquarters of General THOMAS at
Nashville, Tennessee.
At an early age Mr. PINKERTON made a profession of his faith in Christ.
After marriage, he and his wife were members of the Free Presbyterian church,
this branch of the Presbyterian family being distinguished for its very decided
opposition to slavery.
After the war of the rebellion, when the Free Presbyterian church was
dissolved, Mr. PINKERTON and wife united with the Congregational church of
Aledo. Upon their removing to Viola in 1881 they became members of the United
Presbyterian church.
Mrs. PINKERTON died Nov. 12, 1893. On August 12, 1896, Mr. PINKERTON was
married a second time to Mrs. Mary STEEN, who survives him.
Mr. PINKERTON had been a member of the session of the Viola United
Presbyterian congregation for a number of years, and had been the clerk of the
session in the presbytery and synod and represented the presbytery in the
general assembly of 1900.
Mr. PINKERTON was a man of strong religious convictions. From boyhood he was
very decided in his opposition to slavery and to intoxicating drinks. He was
faithful in the discharge of his duties as an office-bearer in Christ's house,
in his attendance upon the services of the church and in the discharge of his
duties as a citizen.
Funeral services were held from the United Presbyterian church of Viola on
Tuesday at 11 o'clock, conducted by

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