Stephen Pinckney Hart of Grayson County, is a native of South Carolina, and has lived in Texas since 1852. He is a descendant of two old southern families, his ancestors dating back as residents of South Carolina to the time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary. Darrell Hart, his father, was born, reared and married in Edgefield district, that State and moved, when a man of family, to Chambers county, Alabama, where he lived always afterward, pursuing his calling as a farmer. He served his country in the creek Indian War and, going to Alabama when that was a comparatively new country, he was conspiciously active and useful citizen on the frontier. He was a successful farmer, and a great fancier of fine stock. He lived a quiet, industrious life and died in 1858 in the 88th year of his age. He was a life-long and consistent member of the Baptist church.
Stephen Pinckney Hart's mother bore the maiden name of Jane Pitts, and was also a native of Edgefield district. She was a woman of many sterling qualities, and reared a large family, which she trained to habits of usefulness and sobriety. She died in 1860 having lived to a good old age.
To Darrell and Jane Hart were born nine children who reached maturity, namely, Martha, who was subsequently married to Daniel Taylor; Thomas darrell, James Madison, William Edwards, Stephen Pinckney, Benjamin Franklin, milledge Hamilton, Roert Johns and John Henry. Of these eight sons all but one were in the late war, serving in the confederate army. William Edward, the one who was not in the army, was in the Texas legislature, and was thereby exempted from military service.
Stephen Pinckney, the subject of this sketch and in point of residence the oldest of the representative of the name in Texas, was born in Edgefield district, South Caroline on Oct. 6, 1867. He was seven years old when his father moved to Chambers county, Alabama, and in that State and county he was reared, married and lived until 1852, when he moved to Texas, settling in Harrison county, where he was engaged in planting for about 15 years, when he moved to Jefferson and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He moved to Grayson county in 1874, where he bought 550 acres of land in the southwest part of the county. He has succeeded in making this one of the most desirable places int he county, having it well stocked, well watered and well improved. Mr. Hart is an industrious and intelligent farmer, and devotes his time exclusively to agricultural pursuits, working, studying and always devising new means for the improvement of the condition of agriculture.
On September 16, 1851, one year before his moving to Texas, Mr. Hart married Mary Jane, daughter of Noah Calloway of Chambers county, Alabama. To this union have been born a large and now ineresting family of children. Their names int he order of their ages are - Noah Calloway, William Darrell, Stephen Pinckney, John Elias, Lula H., Lizzie, Thomas Burdge, James Madison, Minnie, Milledge, Joseph and Mabel. These are being reared to lives of industry and usefulness.
Mr. Hart has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since he was 21 years of age, and has belonged ot the Missionary Baptist church for many years, being a generous contributor to all charitable purposes.
