Parker Co., TX - History: Lent Williams Parker ********************************************** Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Angela C.Buffington ************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** Letter: Lent Williams Parker, 1909: Garner, Parker County, Texas This letter was written by my great grandfather Lent Williams Parker. Lent Williams Parker was born June 6, 1885 in Millsap, Parker Co, Tx to Joshua Bowman Parker b 1860 Mo and Sarah Violet Williams b Franklin Co, Tn. Joshua B. Parker was a farmer, and Sarah “Sallie” Williams was the first teacher in the Red Mud Schoolhouse near Garner, Tx. The story goes that Sarah’s father Lent Williams wanted her to marry a cousin, in protest she ran away from Franklin Co, Tn and followed the path of her sister taken years before to Palo Pinto and Parker Co, Tx. Sallie’s sister was Margaret Williams Newberry, wife of James P. Newberry the son of Newberry Community founders. This letter from Lent W. Parker to Owen Debusk was written less than two months prior to Lent Parker’s marriage to Hattie Z. Baker of Garner, Tx. Owen Debusk did marry Hattie’s sister Ruth Ester Baker and Owen’s brother Will Debusk married another sister Mattie Clinton Baker. The Baker sisters were the daughters of James Monroe Baker b 1858 Ms and Sarah Jane Holder b 1855 Perry Co, Tn. The “chapel” mentioned in the letter is undoubtedly Holder’s Chapel, near Garner, Tx. Holder’s Chapel was named after Isaac Holder, the father of Sarah Jane Holder. Buried in Holder Chapel Cemetery, Parker Co, Tx are: Sarah Jane Holder, Owen and Ruth DeBusk, Matt Parker (brother of Lent W. Parker). Lent and Hattie Parker are buried in Snyder Cemetery, Scurry Co, Tx. J B Parker and S V Parker are buried in the Newberry Cemetery, Parker Co, Tx. James M. Baker is buried in Garrison/Holder Cemetery near Garner, Tx as are his brother John T. Baker, and Isaac Holder and his wife Sarah E. Wiley. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: This letter was transcribed to maintain original spelling and grammar despite objections by my word processor. Garner Texas Oct. 31, 1909 Mr. Owen Debusk, thought i would wrigth you a few lines to let you know i am still in the land of the living how are you this morning i am all ok kid you aught to have been here this week for I have went to garner every night except one, you ask me if i had got my cotton picked yet know i ant quite done yet, i like about 900 yet; Kid you had better hurry up and come back home, for Mr Nute N ewberry, Is going to try to beet your time while you are gone. Kid cant tell any body that I told you about it; he went home with her Thursday night and was asking me all about you & Ruth, he ask me if i thought he could meet your time i told him i did ent know wheather he could or not, that he would haft to try for his self, of coarse i could have told him better if i had wanted to, i know there is nothing doing for him there. Well you ask me if i had got married yet know I don’t think i have, in fact i know i haven’t. And don’t know when i will; but hope it wont be long; Kid Nute is going over on the creek to day and we are going to stur tavin this eavening. We are going to have a time and don’t you forget it. Scottie and George Kidwell left for Oklahoma last Wednesday & haven’t heard from them yet i guess Scottie will be back to day or to morrow’ i seen Ruth last night she looks as good as ever. told her howdy for you and told her you said for her to answer your letter and she said she had already answered it. i seen your folks over at the chapel friday night they are all ok so with these slight remarks and best wishes i will close, hoping to hear from you soon and a long letter as I am as ever ----- your friend L. W. Parker ---