Willis Edward Parker (1874 - 1911)

Born 1874 in Benton, Franklin, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Marie Isabella (Reinstedler) Ridings — married 31 Dec 1902 in St. Louis, Missouri

Descendants

Died 6 Jul 1911 at about age 37 in Kensett, White, Arkansas, United States

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Research Notes

I'd like to thank Connie Beat Sims for her extensive work on the Parker Family tree and allowing me to share it here. I'd also like to thank the descendants of Willis Parker for sharing their family information with Connie.

Conflicts

- Birth year - Grave Marker states 1873

Biography

The early years

Willis was born in 1874^[1]. He was the son of Harvey Parker and Louisa Thompson.

He was one of 9 children:

• George Greenberry Parker (1853-1916)
• John R Parker (1857-1895)
• Mary E Parker (1860-?)
• Robert Payne Parker (1864-1909)
• Lucinda Ann Parker (1866-1951)
• Charles J Parker (1869-?)
• Ira Monroe Parker (1871-1946)
• Mattie M Parker (1873-1959)
• Willis Edward Parker (1874-1911)

When his father entered the Asylum, with his mother deceased, he would be adopted by Edmund D Wilcox in 1880.

Family life

He would marry Marie Isabella Reinstedler on the 31st of Dec 1902 in St. Louis, Missouri.^[2]

They would have 2 children:

• Edith Katherine May Parker (1903-1981)
• Chester Edward Parker (1905-1993)

Throughout the years

In 1880 ^[3] we find him living in the home of Edmund Wilcox in Ewing, Franklin, Illinois as house 100, dwelling 75. His brother Ira Monroe was with him. The Wilcox family consisted of Edmond, Georg, Dora, Edward, Myrtle, Effie, Olin and Fred.

In 1910^[4] He would be living in Kensett, White, Arkansas on Country Roads South of Kensett & West Paint Road. He was self employed and they owned their own farm with a mortgage. He and Marie had been married for 8 years and in the home were himself 24, Marie 26, Edith 6 and Chester 4.

Military life

He would fight in the Spanish American War and be a Serg, CO E, 10 US Infantry^[5]. During that time he would be shot 5 times, and survive.^[6]

Shot by Dr. A.G. Harrison

Article in the Arkansas Gazette, Little Rock, Wednesday July 12, 1911^[7]

Man who shot and Killed W.E. Parker Last Thursday is held in sum of $5,000.

Special to the Gazette: Searcy, July 11 - Dr. A.G. Harrison charged with the murder of W.E. Parker last Thursday at Kensett was given a preliminary trial this afternoon before Squire W.E. Holland of this place and was held in bond of $5,000 to await the action of the Grand Jury. Dr. Harrison promptly made the bond and was released.

The killing of Parker was the direct result of the killing of a pig that was run over by the automobile of Dr. Harrison. The evidence showed that Dr. Harrison paid for the pig, but that he later slapped Parker after having heard that Parker had insulted him. The Killing occurred at the preliminary trial at Kensett on the warrant sworn out by Parker charging Dr. Harrison with assault and battery.

In the preliminary trial today Dr. Harrison claimed that he shot Parker after the latter had made a motion as if to draw a pistol from his pocket. A witness was introduced who swore that a pistol was found on the dead body of Parker. Mrs. Parker swore that her husband did not have a pistol, but o the contrary, was in his shirt sleeves at the time of the killing an could not have had a pistol concealed about him.

Dr. Harrison had sued out of a writ of habeas corpus last Saturday before County Judge Chaift, in which he asked for his discharge. Judge Chaift, fixed the bond of the defendant at $5,000, but declined to discharge him. The justice of the peace today, after hearing the evidence fixed the bond at the same amount.

Death

Willis would pass away the 6th of July 1911 due to being shot by Dr. A.G. Harrison at the Tram Office in Kensett, White, Arkansas. He would be buried on the 8th of July the Kensett Cemetery^[1]

Notes from Connie

The 1870 census for Franklin Co, Illinois, Ewing Townships is shown on the previous page. Harvey Burton Parker and his wife Elizabeth are shown in house No 61 as H.B. Parker age 43, as a farmer and wife Elizabeth age 40. (You will see ages differ from census to census many times) son, Greenberry Age 17, John age 13, Robert Age 7 and Lucinda age 4, Charles Age 1. apparently, Mary E passed away since the last census.

This will be the last census showing Louisa Elizabeth as she apparently passed away between the time her last child, Willis Edward was born in 1874 and Harvey was admitted to the Asylum in May of 1877.

A great tragedy to the family as the younger children were adopted out. Family lore states that Harvey was so overcome with grief from the death of his wife, he became unbalanced and it was necessary to place him in the asylum. He was released in 1885, but his children would have been pretty much grown by that time.

There is no mention of Charles so we assume he died as an infant or young child. I am still trying to locate what happened to the rest of the children while Harvey was in the Asylum. Robert and Lucinda were still very young, but no record of their adoption has been uncovered. I am still looking for clues as to where they went. Lucinda was admitted to the Asylum in 1908 and died there in 1951. There is no record she ever married nor did her sister Mattie. Many of Harvey's sons married and lived their lives in Southern Illinois near the same areas they grew up in.

One son, Willis Edward the youngest was killed in Arkansas during an argument with a judge who shot him, his young wife remarried and had two more sons by her second husband.

We have to thank Jackie Parker Wilson, Descendant of Willis Edward for so much of her information on the family. We have been unable to find the Graves of Harvey and Louisa at this time.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=24413908&ref=acom
2. ↑ State of Missouri Marriage Certificate dated 31 Dec 1902
3. ↑ Year: 1880; Census Place: Ewing, Franklin, Illinois; Roll: 207; Family History Film: 1254207; Page: 506A; Enumeration District: 014
4. ↑ Year: 1910; Census Place: Kensett, White, Arkansas; Roll: T624_67; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0167; FHL microfilm: 1374080
5. ↑ Grave Maker
6. ↑ Information given by family
7. ↑ Arkansas Gazette, Little Rock, Arkansas, July 12, 1911 "