Dale County AlArchives Biographies.....Parker, H. Z. October 26 1828 - living in 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 18, 2004, 8:40 pm Author: Brant & Fuller (1893) H. Z. PARKER, one of the prominent farmers of Dale county, was born in Georgia, October 26, 1828. He is a son of Lemuel and Elizabeth (Carpenter) Parker, the former of whom was born in Beaufort county, N. C., where he had the advantages of the most liberal education until he was nine years old. He afterward engaged in farming and school-teaching, becoming one of the leading school-teachers of his part of the country until 1839, when he removed to Alabama, where he carried on farming, but gave his attention principally to teaching school. He lived in Russell county until 1851, when he removed with his family to Dale county, where he lived until he died in 1855. The mother of H. Z. Parker was also a native of North Carolina, where she was married at the age of twenty-one years. She was the mother of one daughter and seven sons, five of whom still survive. Her death occurred in 1872. Both were members of the Primitive Baptist church, and they lived consistently with its teachings. In 1851 H. Z. Parker removed with his parents to Dale county, settling near Ozark, where he bought a farm of 200 acres, which he cleared of its surplus timber and underbrush, and to the size of which he has since materially added. His farming career was interrupted by the Civil war, in which he became engaged, enlisting in company E, Fifty-third Alabama mounted infantry, being mustered in at Montgomery, in September, 1862. Having served in that regiment throughout the war, and having been engaged in many heavy battles and skirmishes, he was discharged April 1, 1865. He was very fortunate, having been neither wounded nor captured during the entire war. After the war was over he returned to his farm, and, in connection with other business, he has continued farming ever since. In 1868 he opened a mercantile establishment at Ozark, which he continued until 1891, when he closed it out and since then has given his entire attention to farming. During his business career he erected a handsome brick store, in which is now located the Commercial hotel. He bought cotton for many years and was one of Ozark's thorough-going business men. In 1854 he was married to Miss Helen Harris, a native of Georgia, who came to Alabama with her parents in 1853, they settling near Ozark. She was married in her twenty-first year and was the mother of eight children, five of whom reached the age of maturity, and two of whom now survive: Thomas J., who married Miss Mullen and who resides near Ozark, and John, who married Miss Windom, who also resides near Ozark. Mrs. Parker died in 1869, and Mr. Parker married, the second time, Miss Sarah Caroll, daughter of James Carroll, who came to Dale county, Ala., in 1836, and was one of the early landmarks of the county. His death occurred in 1887. The wife of Mr. Parker was born in Dale county, where she was educated, and where she was married in her twenty-fourth year. She is now the mother of eight children; Carter, single, is a farmer near Ozark; Amos married Miss Mann, and also is a farmer, residing near Ozark; Pennie E.; Helen; Zachariah; Della; Susan A.; and Lula. Mrs. Parker has been a consistent member of the Primitive Baptist church since early womanhood. Mr. Parker has acquired his wealth by his own industry and well directed efforts. He now owns about 3,000 acres of land, beside considerable city property. He has always been a law-abiding citizen and has done much to aid society in the way of building up churches and sustaining the public schools. He was one of the first to interest himself in the construction of a railroad through Dale county, and owns stock in the company. He also favored the introduction of water into the city of Ozark, and in fact is always in favor of whatever is for the benefit of the community. Additional Comments: from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 833-834 Published by Brant & Fuller (1893) Madison, WI This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 4.4 Kb