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Submitted: 1/29/20 • Approved: 1/29/20 • Last Updated: 2/1/20 • R261121-G0-S3
Feb 12, 1858-July 20, 1914
Husband of Mary Etta (Brown) Parker
William Henry PARKER was born on February 12, 1858, near Hillsboro, Ohio; died on July 20, 1914, Lipscomb, Texas.
William H. PARKER went to Texas in 1876 when he was only 18 years of age. After working on ranches for several years and taking part in trail drives, he decided to go back to school. Accordingly, he entered Trinity University. Although he didn't graduate, he studied for the ministry, studied mathematics and surveying. In the latter 1880's, he filed on land about 16 miles northwest of Lipscomb and later lived there. In 1890, he returned to Ohio and on May 27, 1890, he married Mary Etta BROWN, a young school teacher and neighbor girl. They left for Texas immediately and settled in Lipscomb (population in 1890: 632). In 1891, the PARKERs had built a new house after buying all of Block 7 in the center of town. This house still stands and it is one of the oldest landmarks in Lipscomb. It remained in the family until 1967, when it was sold to Gene BARBER of Pampa, for a weekend retreat. In 1894, PARKER was appointed Brand Inspector of Lipscomb County. Once when he heard an outfit was about to make a shipment of cattle from Higgins without proper Inspection, he rode the distance from Lipscomb to Higgins in two hours. This was accomplished by changing horses at the old Hiram BLACK place. He also made the run into Oklahoma when the town of Woodward was opened up. He trained a native horse, and was teased by many men on their thoroughbred horses, but he passed all but one on the run, and was the second man into town.
About 1896, Mr. and Mrs. PARKER moved out to the ranch and resided on Section 994 for several years. Two rooms of the old house had been moved from Timms City. At that time, it was 20 miles north to the first house, 10 miles east, 7 miles south, and 1-1/1 miles west to Omar PARKER's place. It would sometimes be almost a month before they could get mail, and Mrs. PARKER thought she had come to the "jumping off" place. About 1901, the PARKERs moved back to the house in Lipscomb to put the children in school. Four children were born to their union. Two of them lived to see many changes in the panhandle. And two died early and probably would have lived if proper medical attention could have been obtained. However, doctors were pretty scarce in those days.
Prior to his death 1914, William H. PARKER had been County Surveyor. His funeral was one of the largest and most widely attended up to that time. He was murdered on his own place, July 20, 1914, by J. N. BURTON, a former renter. His son, Vernon, was a witness. BURTON hid from the authorities for four days.
Lipscomb History Compilation
Contributed on 1/29/20 by paperdoll1913
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Record #: 261121