Hillsborough County FlArchives Biographies.....Parkhill, Charles B. June 23, 1859 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Rayburn http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006128 October 19, 2015, 1:09 am Source: Vol. II pg.95-96 The Lewis Publishing Co. 1923 Author: History of Florida, Past and Present CHARLES BRECKENRIDGE PARKHILL, of Tampa, was born in Leon County, Florida, June 23, 1859. His father, Dr. G. W. PARKHILL, a prominent surgeon and physician, was educated for his profession at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City and was in successful practice for many years prior to the war. With heroic patriotism he entered the Confederate service at the outbreak of the great civil strife, and as captain of a company of the Second Florida Infantry, yielded his life on the field of Gaines’ Mill, in the seven days’ battles before Richmond. Doctor Parkhill was a man of distinction and influence, whose untimely death was greatly deplored, not only by his immediate family and personal friends, but by the state at large, owing to his great promise of future usefulness. While he was a physician of recognized skill and was successful as a practitioner, yet he was not withdrawn by his profession for public affairs. A man of liberal education and broad views, he nationally took an active interest in political affairs during the stirring times when he lived. He was an influential representative in the Florida Legislature from Leon County, was a member of the Florida Secession Convention, and conscientiously believed in the wisdom of a separate government for the slave and free states. His father, JOHN PARKHILL, born in Ireland, was a planter and merchant of Virginia. He married a Miss Copeland of that state, and removed to Leon County, Florida, in 1828. The mother of CHARLES B. PARKHILL was Miss ELIZABETH BELLAMY, a native of the land of flowers and a representative of one of the most distinguished families of the South. Her grandfather, JOHN BELLAMY, was one of the pioneers of Florida. He came here from North Carolina, while the territory was still a Spanish possession, and became an extensive land owner and cotton planter. He drew the plans of the City of Jacksonville, and was among the first settlers. He built the road from St. Augustine to Tallahassee, which was the first work of a public improvement in Florida after the acquisition of the territory from Spain. CHARLES B. PARKHILL is a gentleman of liberal education and high literary and professional attainments. As an orator before juries and courts he is a logical reasoner, of retentive memory and ready professional sagacity. His work in the political campaigns evinces careful and logical study, deep research into the history of political organizations, and effective methods of presentation, while his fund of anecdotes and enthusiasm is inexhaustible. Socially he is the peer of any man as a successful barrister, whose broad experience and successful career has placed him at the head of his profession. He was educated in the public schools of Jefferson County, Florida, at Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, Virginia, and at the University of Virginia, finishing his professional work at the last named institution in 1882. He was admitted to the bar the same year and began practice in Pensacola. He was elected to the State Senate from Escambia County in 1888. He served two terms as county attorney of Escambia County. In 1897 he became county solicitor for the Criminal Court of Records of Escambia County, serving in that capacity until 1903, when he became judge of the Circuit Court of the first Judicial Circuit, which embraced six counties west of the Chattahoochee River. He resigned this position in 1905 to become an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, serving in that capacity until 1912, when he resigned to resume the practice of law in the City of Tampa. In 1913 he was appointed city attorney of Tampa, and held that position until 1917. At the outbreak of the World war he volunteered for service and received a commission as major, judge advocate in the United States Army, serving in this country and with the American Expeditionary forces in France. In June, 1920, he was honorably discharged from the service and returned to Tampa to accept the office of state Macon College, Ashland, Virginia, and at the University of Virginia, finishing his professional work at the last named institution in 1882. He was admitted to the bar the same year and began practice in Pensacola. He was elected to the State Senate from Escambia County in 1888. He served two terms as county attorney of Escambia County. In 1897 he became county solicitor for the Criminal Court of Records of Escambia County, serving in that capacity until 1903, when he became judge of the Circuit Court of the first Judicial Circuit, which embraced six counties west of the Chattahoochee River. He resigned this position in 1905 to become an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, serving in that capacity until 1912, when he resigned to resume the practice of law in the City of Tampa. In 1913 he was appointed city attorney of Tampa, and held that position until 1917. At the outbreak of the World war he volunteered for service and received a commission as major, judge advocate in the United States Army, serving in this country and with the American Expeditionary forces in France. In June, 1920, he was honorably discharged from the service and returned to Tampa to accept the office of state’s attorney of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, to which office he was elected while yet in the army. In 1901 Judge Parkhill as Captain of Company K, First Regiment, Florida State Troops, was called into service after the great fire at Jacksonville, and took his company to the scene to protect life and property. The city was placed under martial law, and Captain Parkhill was named the provost marshal. In the discharge of his duties in this position he was required to sit as the trial judge. The citizens of the fire-scourged city were loud in praise of his services. Judge Parkhill is an active worker in the order of Knights of Pythias, and was elected and served as grand Chancellor of the State of Florida when but thirty years old. In 1884 he married GENEVIEVE, daughter of Governor E. A. PERRY, of Florida. She died in 1885, leaving a daughter, GENEVIEVE, who married JAMES M. LYKES of Tampa. In 1891 Judge Parkhill married HELEN, daughter of Judge JOSEPH B. WALL, of Tampa. To them were born eight children, seven of whom survive: BARBARA, the wife of BEAMAN BECKWITH, of Tampa; ELIZABETH, wife of S. L. LOWRY, Jr., of Tampa; JOSEPH F., CHARLES B., Junior, HELEN W., EMALA and JOHN RANDOLPH. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/hillsborough/bios/parkhill197bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/flfiles/ File size: 7.2 Kb