The following profile, probably written by William Oakley Ginter or one of his children, was published in 1893 the Portrait and Biographical Record of Effingham, Jasper, & Richland Counties:

“William O. Ginter, an honored veteran of the late war and a dealer in flour, feed and provisions of Mason, is a well-known and influential citizen of Effingham County. A native of Kentucky, he was born in Bath County, near Owingsville, May 2, 1835. He comes of a family that was founded in America during Colonial days. His grandfather, Daniel Ginter, lived for a number of years in the Keystone State, but at an early day removed to Kentucky, where he followed farming until his death, which occurred at an advanced age. His wife survived him for a number of years and passed away at the age of three score and ten. Their son, John Ginter, became the father of our subject. He was born in Pennsylvania, but with his family removed to Kentucky and there married Polly Oakley, a native of that State and a daughter of Christopher Oakley, a Kentucky farmer, who there spent his entire life. Mr. Oakley in the early days lived in a log cabin, in which port-holes were made in order to protect himself and family from the Indians.

John Ginter was forge man in the iron works of Bath County, Ky., and to that work devoted his energies until his death, which occurred in 1844 at the age of forty-eight years. He was murdered for telling a friend that a certain man intended to kill him. By thus informing his friend he lost his own life. His wife died the following year. They had the following children: Henry, Samuel, Gideon, William O., John, Nannie, Amelia and Maria but only Samuel, William and Amelia are now living. The last-named is the wife of Mr. Brandenburg, of Kentucky.”