Biography of William J. Parks, Franklin Co, AR

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        Date: 16 Aug 1998
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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed
Publishing Co., 1889.

William J. Parks, a leading stock farmer of Franklin County, was born
in Greene County, Ala., December 3, 1829, and is a son of James R. and
Charity [p.1269] (Lewis) Parks, natives of South Carolina. James R.
Parks, who was born in 1789, was a wheel-wright by trade, and after
his marriage located in Georgia, whence after a few years he removed
to Alabama, where he was an extensive farmer and large slave-holder;
he was a stanch Democrat politically, a member of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, and died in Carroll Parish, La., in 1843, where
he had located some years before. Mrs. Charity Parks was born in
Chester District, S. C., in 1790, and was the mother of five children,
three of whom now live, viz.: Elizabeth S. Edwards, a widow; William
P. and Wyman A. Those deceased are Susan and Robert. After the death
of her husband Mrs. Parks went to Louisiana, and in 1860 went to
Little River County, Ark., where she died the same year, deeply
mourned by those who knew her but to love her. In 1849 William J.
Parks married Miss D. Amanda House, who was born in Alabama January 9,
1830, and is a daughter of Rev. W. J. House, of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, who was a prominent preacher, farmer and
stock raiser, and represented the county in the Legislature several
terms. Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Parks, of whom
eight are now living, viz.: Mary E., James D., attorney of Charleston:
Susannah, Louisa, widow of F. M. Carden; Henry W., Melissa, A. Olivia
and Anna. The mother died in October, 1884. In 1860 William P. Parks
and family located on the farm where he has since lived, with the
exception of two years spent in the war. In 1862 he organized a
company of men for the Confederate army, and served under Gen. Fagan,
but ill health compelled him to abandon service, and he returned to
his home; he subsequently recruited and served until the close of the
war, surrendering in Texas. In the spring of 1866 he returned to his
home in Franklin County, where he owns 325 acres, and cultivates 100
acres. He is an enterprising and industrious man, and takes an active
interest in all political and educational matters. He served as
justice of the peace several terms. In politics he is a Democrat, and
in religion he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He also
belongs to the Du Val Chapter of the A. F. & A. M., at Charleston.