John Henry Pinkard facts for kids

John Henry Pinkard (born in 1865 – died January 8, 1934) was a successful businessman, banker, and a type of doctor who used herbs in Roanoke, Virginia. He was also known as a spiritualist, meaning he believed he could communicate with spirits, and a clairvoyant, someone who claimed to know things without being told. Some people, however, questioned his medical practices.

Early Life and Career

John Henry Pinkard was born in Franklin County, Virginia, around the end of the American Civil War. His family was not wealthy, and he had to leave school at age eleven to help earn money. By the time he was fifteen, he was already supervising a work crew for the Norfolk and Western Railroad.

Pinkard lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for a while, where he ran a candy shop. He also spent time in Philadelphia before moving back to Roanoke, where he lived for the last 27 years of his life. He was a tall man who often wore a black coat and carried a fancy gold-headed cane. He even had a chauffeur who drove him around in a Packard car. Pinkard was married three times but did not have any children.

He first married Mary Alexander in 1903, but she passed away two years later. He then married Hattie Saunders in 1905, but they later divorced. In 1914, he married his third wife, Mary Joyce.

Banking and Real Estate Ventures

John Henry Pinkard was involved in banking, especially for Black families during a time when it was hard for them to get loans from many banks due to segregation. Segregation was a system where Black and white people were kept separate, often unfairly. Pinkard's banks helped Black families get small loans and save money.

One of his banks was called the "Acorn Small Loan Company." He also ran his "Acorn" Drug store right next door. Pinkard was also the president of the Afro-American Bank in Roanoke. Besides banking, he owned a lot of land in Florida.

Herbal Medicine and Reputation

Even though there is no proof he went to medical school, Pinkard called himself "Doctor." People in the area knew him as a "yarb doctor," which was a common way to say "herb doctor." He was also known for his spiritualist and clairvoyant abilities.

Pinkard was known for being able to figure out what was wrong with his patients without asking many questions or doing an examination. He had a strong reputation among thousands of his patients, both Black and white.

By 1919, it was said that he had patients in at least fifteen states. He sold many different potions and remedies from his drugstore and shipped them across the country. Some of his products included "Pinkard's Hydrastic Compound" (made from a plant called goldenseal), "Pinkard's Great Liniment," and "Pinkard's Sanguinaria Compound" (made from bloodroot). Many of his remedies were based on old traditions, including practices from enslaved people, rural Virginia, and Native American herb knowledge.

Pinkard Court Development

In the 1920s, John Henry Pinkard created a housing area called "Pinkard Court" in Roanoke. This area was specifically for Black families during the time of segregation. He bought 25 acres of land for this project. He also built the Pinkard Court Filling Station and a place for tourists to stay.

There was even a school built in Pinkard Court. It was a round building for Black students. After segregation ended, this school was changed into a special needs school for the county.

Pinkard built his own home near the entrance to Pinkard Court. After he passed away, his house was sold. Some people believed the house was haunted by patients who had not recovered under his care. While there's no proof, local stories said he buried dead patients in his basement. Pinkard had a fence made from old ceramic jugs that used to hold his potions. When the wind blew across the tops of these jugs, it made spooky wailing sounds that scared children and even some adults. The Pinkard house was torn down in 1999.

Later Life and Legacy

John Henry Pinkard passed away in 1934. He is buried in an unmarked grave in Byrdview Cemetery in Franklin County, Virginia. He was a lifelong member of the Bethel AME church in Rocky Mount, Virginia.

Images for kids