William Hinkle, elder child of Baltis and Annie (Downing) Hinkle was 
born in Madison County, Alabama on April 4, 1821. There were four other
siblings, John, Alexander, Catherine, and Baltis. His father was a 
carpenter and died when William was about six years old. His mother 
took her children and returned to her family's home until she married 
a Tyrance Emerson who fathered five additional children.
Frances Carolina (Tinkle) Hinkle, daughter of John and Sarah(Browning) 
Tinkle was born on March 5, 1825 in Limestone County, Alabama. She and 
William married on February 13, 1845.
Of German and Irish descent, the Hinkle's were described as "prominent 
and leading Farmers" in HISTORY OF TEXAS - Biographical sketches of 
Many of the Leading Families of Central Texas, (Lewis Publishing 
Company, Chicago, 1896). They had owned land in Arkansas, and Dallas 
County, Texas, before locating to the richly productive area of 
Hamilton County in the Fall of 1883. Six children were born to this 
Union; Sarah Ann, who married Valentine Brown; John William, who 
married Sarah Elizabeth Gilliland; Jesse Baltis, who married Mollie 
Butcher; Mary Catherine, who married Isaac Darby; Martha Alpha 
Elizabeth, who married James Monroe Knight; and Eliza Ellen, who 
married Calvin Eoff.
William Hinkle was a Missionary Baptist Deacon and took an active part 
in the church. HISTORY OF TEXAS, cited above, honors him as a 
"representative and highly esteemed citizen of Hamilton County, Texas."
While visiting his daughter Mary Catherine, William died on February 14,
1901 and is buried in El Campo, Wharton County, Texas. Frances 
returned to Hamilton County for a short time, but died on August 22, 
1903 and is also buried in El Campo.