There are some men who seem born for success and advance steadily in
any vocation to which they devote their attention. They are blessed with
clear judgment and are incited to effort by an ambition which is
satisfied with nothing short of the full accomplishment of worthy
objects. H. O. Pinkerton, who is identified with the clothing and men’s
outfitting business at Gillespie, belongs to the class thus briefly
outlined. Born at Indianapolis, Indiana, September 25, 1875, he is a son
of Thomas and Lucy (Russell) Pinkerton, the former of whom was born at
Coshocton, Ohio, and the latter in Montgomery county, Illinois. The
father came to Nokomis, Montgomery county, Illinois, when he was a young
man and engaged as a barber in that place where he resided for a number
of years. There he was married to Miss Lucy Russell and in 1884 or 1885
he removed with his family to Kingman, Kansas, where he continued about
ten years. He then went to El Reno, Oklahoma, and was a citizen of that
place at the time of his death, about 1901. The mother was married in
1909 to A. S. Hollingsworth and is now living with her husband in
Pasadena, California.
H. O. Pinkerton secured his education in
the common schools of Nokomis and at the age of fifteen he began his
business experience as a clerk in the store of J. W. Russell, of
Nokomis, an uncle on his mother’s side. Mr. Russell is one of the old
merchants of the town and has been in business there since 1870. For
eight years Mr. Pinkerton continued with his uncle, during which time he
gained a practical knowledge of mercantile affairs. He was then placed
in charge of a branch store of his uncle, at Hillsboro, but after a
little over a year gave up his position in order to become traveling
salesman for a Chicago furnishing goods house. He represented this
concern to the satisfaction of his employers, in northern Illinois and
the state of Iowa, for a period of four years, making an extensive
acquaintance among some of the most flourishing business men throughout
the region in which he traveled. In 1904, having decided to begin
business on his own account, he retired from the road and opened a
clothing and gents’ furnishing establishment at Gillespie, since which
time he has been prominently identified with the business interests of
the community and is recognized as one of its reliable and progressive
citizens.
In October, 1903, Mr. Pinkerton was married to Miss
Isa Miller, a daughter of Judge Amos Miller, of Hillsboro, and a
granddaughter of Judge J. E. Rice, who for many years presided upon the
district bench at Carlinville. One child, Amos Miller, has been born to
this union.
Mr. and Mrs. Pinkerton are valued members of the
Lutheran church and are well known socially in this city. Mr. Pinkerton
gives his support to the democratic party and served for three years as
a member of the school board, being also a member of the building
committee at the time the new schoolhouse was erected. He is actively
connected with the Knights of Pythias of Gillespie and also with the
Commercial Club, being vice-president of that body, and he can claim a
large and increasing circle of acquaintances who admire him for his
upright character and friendly disposition. He has been from his youth
active and capable in business and prosperity has come to him as the
direct result of his untiring industry and sound business judgment.
Extracted 14 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 325-326.
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