My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL A. PARKS, engineer of fire-pressure, Joplin water-works, was born in Effingham county, Ill., Aug. 19, 1842. His parents, S. B. and Rebecca (Young) Parks, were natives of North Carolina and Tennessee. His father was born Sept. 8, 1804. He was a farmer, and for twelve years sheriff of Effingham county, Ill., and died March 1, 1881, in Benton county, Ark. His mother was born in 1811, and is now living in Arkansas. Subject was raised principally on a farm and educated in the schools of Illinois. When about twelve years of age he commenced to learn the trade of engineer and continued thus three years. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in Company G, Eleventh Illinois Infantry Volunteers for three months, served his time out, and re-enlisted in Company L, Fifth Illinois Cavalry Volunteers, Colonel Updegraff commanding, who was succeeded by Colonel Wilson, previous to leaving camp Butler. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg, at Cotton Plant, Clarendon, and others. He was mustered out at Vicksburg, in December, 1864 and returned to Illinois where he engaged for a time in a woolen factory, and then fired for several months on the Vandalia Railroad, He came to Joplin in March, 1874, and for six years engaged in mining. He took charge of the engine of fire-pressure, Joplin water-works, June 19, 1882, and has since continued. Mr. Parks was married in Effingham county, Ill., Sept. 22, 1865, to Miss Ellen J., daughter of Pressly and Nancy (Bishop) Funkhouser, natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Parks was born in Effingham county, Ill., July 27, 1849. From this union there are seven children, Alice Bell, Nannie O., Carrie Lee, Chas. Wilson, William, Samuel Benj., and John Rex.