Pirkey, Solomon H. (1813–1863)

Solomon H. Pirkey, lawyer, state senator, and state representative, was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, on November 4, 1813, to Jacob Big Pirkey and Nancy (Thompson) Pirkey. He grew up in Rockingham County and as an adult was active in the politics of the community. In 1838 his McGaheysville home served as one of six polling places for the county. On July 13, 1846, Pirkey married Artimissa (also spelled Artamissa, Artii, and Arte Melissa) L. Grandstaff in Shenandoah, Virginia. This couple had four sons and two daughters. Pirkey brought his family briefly to Tennessee around 1847 or 1848 before immigrating to Texas, where they settled in Bowie County. In 1855 and 1857 Pirkey was elected senator for Bowie and Red River counties to the Sixth and Seventh Texas legislatures, where he served on several committees including those for Judiciary and Public Lands. In 1859 he won election as a House representative for Bowie County to the Eighth Texas Legislature. Pirkey died in Old Boston, Texas, in Bowie County on December 6, 1863.