My Genealogy Hound

S. H. Parker is on extensive farmer and stock man of Randolph County, Ark., and was born in Tennessee. April 13, 1845, being a son of C. G. and Mary (Burrow) Parker, whose native State was Tennessee. After farming in that State until 1849, he came to Arkansas and settled on Current River, where he remained two years, and in 1852 came to the farm on which our subject is now residing. Here he improved the same, and was engaged in farming and stock raising and trading until his death in 1874, being followed by his widow three years later. Their marriage took place in 1822, and they reared a family of ten children, the following being now alive: Harriett C, wife of W. C. Thompson; Mary E., wife of Ben Holland; Charles G.; Josephine, wife of Wilbur Abbott, and S. H. The latter received no advantages for schooling in his youthful days, owing to the scarcity of schools and his father’s early immigration to this State. He left the home farm to join the Confederate army in 1864, and served with Price on his raid through Missouri, taking an active part in the battles of Ironton and Pilot Knob, also Independence, Little Blue and numerous skirmishes. He surrendered at Jacksonport, Ark., in June, 1865, returned home and commenced farming for himself on eighty acres of land given him by his father. He now owns 260 acres and has 100 acres under cultivation on which are good buildings, fences, etc. He does not depend alone on corn and cotton for his income, but makes a specialty of raising horses, mules, cattle, hogs and sheep. In 1868 he wedded Emily Wilson, of this county, and by her is the father of three children living: Joseph T., born November 19, 1872; John C., born December 23, 1874, and James A., born September 6, 1877. Two children died in infancy, and the mother’s demise occurred January 8, 1880, her death being deeply mourned by her family and a large circle of friends. Mrs. Amanda Halbrook, of Kentucky, became Mr. Parker’s second wife, January 16, 1881, and to them were born three children, Orlie, born January 8, 1882, and Celestia H., born October 17, 1887, being the only ones living. Mrs. Parker was the widow of Freeman Halbrook, of Kentucky, by whom she bore a family of five children: Prentice, living in Kansas; Nannie, wife of Richard Abbott, of this county; Richard, of Colorado, and Emma, at home; the other child died. Mrs. Parker’s parents, Edmund and Nancy A. (Neely) Mitchener, were Kentuckians, and reared a family of eleven children, of whom the following are living: William, of Missouri; Martha, wife of Robert Kidd; John, a resident of Missouri; Amanda, and Georgia, wife of John Harper. Mrs. Parker is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Mr. Parker is a Democrat.