CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: F. H. W. PARKER - Smith County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net 28 August 2001 ***************************************************************** TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson F. H. W. PARKER. E. H. W. Parker was born Feb., 9, 1842, in the State of Georgia and settled in Rusk county, Texas in December 1851. Enlisted in company A, 17th Texas Cavalry, at Jamestown, Texas, and served three and a half years in the Trans-Mississippi department with distinguished gallantry until the surrender in May 1865. He escaped when his com­mand surrendered at Arkansas Post on January 11, 1863, but enough of his command es­caped to make up eight companies in its reorganization, known as the 17th Texas Consolidated regiment. He parti­cipated in the following battles: Arkansas Post, Ark., Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Marksville and Yellow Bayou, and was in the campaigns of his command until the surrender in May 1865. In July 1863, young Parker was made ensign of his regiment and gallantly carried the flag to the close of the war. He now has in his possession the same flag and proposes to hand it down to his children when he is called to the final roll call on high. Rev. Parker is a prominent Bap­tist minister and has served many important charges with piety and great ability. In January 25, 1866,, he was mar­ried to Miss M. A. Little, whose father died at Little Rock, Ark.,in 1862. He has three children. Wm. H. Parker of the Cotton Belt is a son.