William L. Parker was born in Johnson County, Texas, eighteen miles southwest of Fort Worth, on March 28, 1878, and he is the son of R. Parker, born in Mississippi in November, 1839. The family is of Irish origin, established in Mississippi in Colonial days, prior to the Revolution, and men of the family gave service in the long struggle for American independence.

R. Parker lived in Mississipi until his marriage to Callie Blocker, who was born in Mississippi in 1841, and following their marriage, they moved to Texas, settling first in Fanning and then in Johnson County. In 1883 the family moved to Wise County, Texas, and in 1894 they came to Washita County, Oklahoma. In 1893 they returned to Texas, and the mother died there in the same year. It was not until 1912 that Mr. Parker came back to Oklahoma, and he now lives retired in the Town of Dill. All his life Mr. Parker has been a farmer and stockman, until his retirement in recent years. He is a veteran of the Civil war, serving in the Confederate army as a member of the Ninth Mississippi Regiment of Volunteer Infantry. He saw a great deal of active service from first to last, was wounded several times, though never seriously. He is a licensed preacher in the Baptist Church, and is heard in Baptist pulpits from time to time.

Three children were born to these people: Julia, the eldest, died in 1901; Emma married T. C. Brown and lives ten miles southwest of Cordell on their farms; William L. is the third child.

William L. Parker had his education in the common schools of Wise County, Texas, and remained at home on his father’s farm until 1895. In that year he pioneered it to Washita County and here bought a relinquishment of 160 acres in Section 26, 4 miles south and 4½ miles west of the town of Cordell. He still owns the farm, though he does not live on it himself. He operated the place until 1906, when he moved to Rocky, renting the farm, and for a time worked in n store in Rocky. Then he worked a threshing machine until 1910, when he returned to the farm. In August, 1911, he gave up the farm again to a tenant, and moved into Cordell, when he was appointed assessor of Washita County. In November, 1912, he was elected to succeed himself, and on November 6, 1914, his re-election came for another two year term. Mr. Parker is a capable and efficient official, and while he lived on his farm in Rainy Township he was almost constantly a member of the school board.

Mr. Parker is a member of the Baptist Church, and his fraternal affiliations are with the Odd Fellows, in which he is serving as vice grand, and the Modern Woodmen of America.

In Wise County, Texas, in 1895, Mr. Parker was married to Miss Ellen Brite, daughter of T. B. Brite, a retired farmer, living in Alvord, Texas. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Parker. Maude, a graduate of the Cordell High School, is now a student in the Cordell Business College. Gertha is a student in the high school, and the two younger ones, Maggie and Eunice, are in the grade schools.