Merritt Robert Pilkerton, born July 1832 in Georgia and Martha born 1836, they may have married in Georgia before coming to Texas about 1860. To this union two children were born, Labon Andrew Pilkerton, who was born in May 1861 and Dona A. Pilkerton who was born about 1872. Martha died before 1878, her place of burial is unknown. Merritt Robert Pilkerton was one of the earlier settlers of the Sardis Community, which is located six miles east of Hughes Springs. He was a trustee at the Sardis School and was a member of the Hickory Hill Masonic Lodge.

Merritt Robert Pilkerton married Lucinda Beard 30 August 1878 in Cass County, Texas. Jacob and Sarah E. Beard came to Texas from Arkansas about 1864, they were the parents of eight children. Sarah E. Beard, the first child, married James F. Haywood 13 November 1873 in Cass County, Texas. Lucinda Beard, the second child married Pilkerton. Nathaniel Beard, the third child was born in 1849 and died in 1932, he went by the nickname of "Uncle Bud". Alexander Beard, the fourth child, married Teresa D. and they were the parents of Nellie Jane Beard that married William Lee Duncan. Little is known about the four younger children of Jacob and Sarah E. Beard.

Labon Andrew Pilkerton married Marthy Ann Edwards 23 December 1885 in Cass County, she was born 9 March 1869 and died 27 February 1888. They had one daughter, Victoria, who was born 7 May 1887 and died on the10 July 1887, mother and daughter are buried in the Sardis Cemetery.

Labon Andrew Pilkerton married Cresceutia "Cressie" White 27 September 1891 in Cass County, she was the daughter of Moses F. And Frances O. White. To this union were born two children, Bronson and Marbia.

Brunson was born 6 September 1893 and died 30 April 1985, he is buried in the Sardis Cemetery. Brunson was a farmer in Hughes Springs and was referred to as "The Goat Man", he was medium height, slender build, with blue eyes and brown hair. It is not known whether he ever married.

The Cass County Census reports, and family group sheets can be found in the Duncan/Pilkerton File, which is located in the vertical files in the Genealogical Section of the Atlanta Public Library.

Here is an obituary for a Laban Pilkenton, he is not listed in Cemetery Readings for the Sardis Cemetery, but this states he is buried there:

Laban Pilkenton, son of Anthony and Rebecca Pilkenton, died at his residence in Titus County, Texas November 14, 1875. He was born in Wake County, North Carolina October 22, 1803. He joined the Baptist Church at Holly Springs in his eighteenth year and was elected clerk of the church, in which capacity he served until he emigrated with his father to Pike County, Georgia and attached himself to Concord Baptist Church, was ordained deacon, then licensed to the ministry, in which he spent his time; was ordained and set apart to the ministry by Juniper Baptist Church in Talbot County, Georgia, giving his time and talent wholly to the ministry till the time of his death, serving faithfully as a minister about forty years.... At his request his remains were carried to Cass County, to the residence of his eldest son, and there deposited at Sardis, in the churchyard of Hopewell Baptist Church, of which he had been pastor, by the Masonic fraternity.

Signed: M. R. Pilkenton, Hickory Hill, Cass County, Texas. December 31, 1875
{Information found in the August 1953 "Footprints" quarterly published by the Fort Worth Genealogical Society.]

Laban Andrew Pilkenton, was the son of Merritt Robert & Martha Pilkenton. Martha was born about 1836 in Georgia and Merritt Robert Pilkenton was born about 1832 in Georgia. They had arrived in Texas by 1860, Labon Andrew Pilkenton was born soon after they came to Texas and a daughter, Dona D. Pilkenton was born about 1872. Martha Pilkenton died before 1878 and Merritt married Lucinda Beard in August 1878 in Cass County, Texas. Merritt and Lucinda had a daughter Nora born in 1881.
In March 1869, Laban Andrew Pilkenton married Marthy Ann, they had one daughter Victoria born in 1887. Victoria lived only a few months and Martha Ann died several months after Victoria's death and both are buried at the Sardis Cemetery. About 1892 Labon Andrew Pilkenton married Cressie White, daughter of Moses and Frances White.

Merritt Robert Pilkenton was the son of Laban Pilkenton and Labon Andrew Pilkenton was the grandson of Laban Pilkenton as stated in the above obituary.