William P. PARKER

                   OCCUPATION:
    Farmer
RELIGION:
    Cumberland Presbyterian
NOTES:
    James moved to Missouri in 1842.


Born Hampshire Co., VA., 9 Nov 1836. At the age of 6 came with his father to Lafayette Co., MO., in 1842. His mother died in 1843 when he was age 7.
His father and mother farmed 215 acres near Oak Grove Church. James H. Parker inherited money from his mother's estate (Copsey Estate) which he used to buy land. (This land may have been both in Lafayette and Johnson Co's MO.)
James Higgins Parker at the age of 18 bought his farm in Johnson Co., Simpson Twp.,
On a small part of this land the Oak Grove Church and Cemetary was formed in 1854.

On 19 Nov 1874 the Oak Grove Church accidently burned.  James Higgins Parker was appointed chairman in charge of the funds for the new building at a cost of $1,124.00.

Second m. to widow Susan Higgins on 31 Dec 1917. Widow of Judge John Parker  Higgins  #901 in this data base.  (same family of Higgins)

James H. at 80, says to his son, Wm W. -" I'm going to be gone for a few days."  W.W. asked  "Why?" Father replied "to get married''". Reply was "Who in the hell would have you"?
Begining of yr of six for births.

Five generations down to our son Bill were born in years ending in #6. All 30 years apart Except Jim and his dad and they are 40 yrs apart.

Item 8 of James Higgins will bequeaths to his grandson, James H. Parker, the following negroes, Charity, Kitty and Daniel.

Member of Democratic Party and represented Johnson County in the state legislature.
In the early part of the War between the states, James H. took a wagon to Lexington, Lafayette Co, MO for supplies. Had a small basket of peaches which he sold to the army troops for $.05 each per peach. A few days later had to make a second trip, rembering his good luck on the sale of peaches he this time took a much larger basket full. Troops guarding the city stopped him as before. This time,  however,  they just took the peaches, wagon and team of mules and thanked him for this gift to the war effert.

Was an Enlisted Confederate Soldier, Commissary Dept., from the state of Texas under Col Bowlden (Bowen) (sp??). Returned to Johnson Co., MO., in 1865.
Civil War Service Records, (This may or may not be the same James H. Parker). Name = James H. Parker, Company; “G”, Unit, 15 Texas Cavalry, Rank at Induction, Private, Rank at Discharge, Private, Allegiance, Confederate. (Source Citation: Box: 227, Extraction: 28; Record: 1356.
Early after the War between the States started and after having a barn burned and being a slave owner, he moved this family to Texas. As the war was coming to a close, at the near end of the war he bought sheep with conferate $ in Texas, shipped them St. Louis by railroad and sold them for Union $'s. Paid back taxes on his MO land and was able to reclaim most of it.
It is reported that he owned 82 slaves at the close of the war. As required by law they were set free. Most slaves at the time had only one given name. The law required that they take a family name. Many but not all took the name Parker. (See Records for servents Caroline, Aadam & Eve Strong)
In 1893 moved to and lived in his home on East Grover St, Warrensburg for several years.
Will written 19 Sep 1843 and names grandson James Higgins Parker (3). Book C?, page 407.

This James Higgins Parker is the first of 4 men (Father to Son) named James Higgins Parker.

2005, Old Courthouse, Warrensburg, Johnson Co., Mo., Marriage Licenses, James H. Parker of Hoffman area, and Nellie Foster,of Borland. I think both the very small Post Offices of Hoffman and Borland were in Lafayette Co., Mo., but may have been in Johnson Co., Mo.


1880 Census; Caroline Strong; Simpson Twp., Johnson Co., MO., Age 60, born abt 1820, KY., Father born KY., Mother born KY., Occupation: Servant, Widowed, Race, Black, Gender: Female, Household Name: James H. Parker, Age 43. Adam Strong, Age 19. and Eve Strong, Age 19.

This is the Adam & Eve burried in the James H. Parker family plt at Oak Grove Cem.

There was much uproar about this Black couple be burried in the Cem., at the time. It is believed they were the first. James H. Parker stated the Parkers gave the land for the Cem., he would bury who ever he wanted, and so he did.