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Harrison Joe (Joseph?) PARKS was born 12 September 1877 in Benton Co. Arkansas. His parents were Joseph Ensley PARKS (1851-1878) and Althea COX (1851-189?), and died 27 October 1961 in Brownwood, Texas. He married Alta MARTIN 21 December 1896 in Travis Co. Texas, daughter of Benjamin F. MARTIN (1830-1909) and R.V. HERRING (1857-1931). She was born 31 March 1878 in Round Rock, Williamson Co. Texas, and died 26 August 1948 in Spur, Dickens Co. Texas.More About Harrison Joe (Joseph?) PARKS: Burial: 1961, Spur Cemetery, Spur, Dickens Co. TX. Comment : heavy dark brown hair and brown eyes
Fact : owned a wagon yard in Hays Co. also a farmer.
They lived in the Highway community for some time, but near Spur ever since moving there about 1918.
Notes for Alta MARTIN:
She is well remembered by many people. I do not believe she was the type of person to be outgoing, but she was friendly and had a caring personality toward every one she came into contact with.
She became a mother figure to Maggie when she came into the family as Maggie's own mother had died 3 years earlier.
L.D. remembers going to her house and every time she would ask "Are you hungry?" She told Maggie that the reason L.D. was not growing was because she spanked him too much. You can bet how that went over!!
She had dark brown hair and brown eyes. When she died at age 70 her hair was only about 1/2 grey.
She spent a lot of time in the kitchen cooking for the large family, their friends and guest. She was apparently proud of her family background as she had several pictures of them, and would tell L.D. who they were, but child that he was, he didn't remember the stories she told about them.
A poem written by Alta. Parks
As I journey toward the evening of my time What have I done for this Savior of mine Have I turned a stranger from my door? Or, have I the widows and orphans ignored- Have I trampled the mercies of God under my feet? Or counted the floor of the covenant incomplete Then I see Jesus at the end of time. Searching for fruit upon my vine He says the axe is laid at the root of the tree For everyone that bareth no fruit for me. So let us come down from our lofty heights and humble ourselves in Jesus sight- Pride and high looks doth God hate And it will surely turn us from the gate. So let us now begin to repent of days gone by and a life misspent And Jesus is ready to forgive If we for him our lives would live.More About ALTA MARTIN: Burial: 1948, Spur Cemetery, Spur, Dickens Co. Tx. Fact 6: housewife Fact 7: loving,caring person Fact 9: Church of Nazarene Medical Information: Heart disease
Children of Harrison J. Parks and Alta Martin are:
- 1. Allison R. (Pat) Parks, b. 06 March 1898 , Hays Co., TX; d. 10 September 1971, Irving TX He married Nannie Shelton 22 December, 1922 in Hamilton Co, TX. She was born 05 February 1906 in Hamilton Co., TX and died 20 July 1980 in Irving, TX. they were both buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Irving ,TX.
He was named for his Uncle, a twin to Harrison J. He moved to Irving about the time of his marriage and had an auto repair business there. One or two of his brothers went to live with them at times to get work.
They had two daughters, Mildred and Mavis.
- 2. Orben (R. Ben) Parks was born 28 October 1898 in Hays Co., TX and died 16 July 1925 Spur, Dickens County, TX. He was buried in the Spur Cemetery. He married Irene Hammonds.
- 3. Delos Elmo Parks was born 16 September in Hays Co., TX and died 28 September, 1938 in Spur, Dickens, Co., TX. He married Maggie Lee Horn, daughter of Edward B.Horn and Mattie Johnson on 23 May, 1923 in Crosbyton but got the license in Lubbock, TX. She was born 21 Feburary, 1906 in Hopkins Co., TX and died 07 March 2002 in Clarksville, Red River Co., TX. Delos was buried in Spur Cemetery, Dickens Co., TX and Maggie was buried in Lydia Cemetery, Red River Co., TX.
Delos told his son he had attained most of his growth of 6 foot by the time he was 13. He had heavy dark brown hair and hazel eyes.
He farmed with his father and also went to the wheat and grain harvest. He and Maggie both attended Barber College in Oklahoma City but Delos quit before finishing the course, Maggie got her certificate but never did this as a profession.
Delos found out a few years before his death he had diabetes but he would not watch his diet nor take his medicine. Some thought because he was a large healthy looking man he was lazy, but his problem stemmed from the untreated diabetes.
He was called to preach and did hold many revivals but do not believe he ever pastored a church.
Delos and Maggie had one son, L.D. (initials only, for their own names)
- 4. Raymond Parks was born 28 March 1903 in Hays Co., TX and died 28 February 1904 in Hays Co., TX and buried at the Martin Church Cemetery, near Goforth in Hays Co., TX.
- 5. Gordon Parks was born 02 January 1906 in Hays Co., TX and died 11 November 2000. He lived in Dell City, TX at the time. He married Lola Mae Weaver 27 July 1924 in Dickens County, daughter of Newton Weaver and Celia Warren. She was born 01 October 1907 in Carbon, Eastland Co., TX and died 06 January 2000 in El Paso, TX.
Gordon and Lola Parks children are: Yuba Parks and Lola Beth Parks. They had one other child who died at birth.
- 6. Martin Parks was born 11 May 1911 in Hays Co., TX and died 01 August 1986 in Oakland , CA. He married Loretta Mattie Sparks 03 June 1933 in Dickens Co., TX daughter of John Sparks and Mary Pirkle. She was born 01 January 1915 in Dickens Co., and died 25 May 1995 in Oakland, CA They were both buried in the Chapel of the Chimes Cemetery, Hayward Co., CA
Martin was given his name because of his mother's maiden name. He had lost all the fingers on one hand in a farm accident but it did not hamper his mechanic ability or in any way deter him from what he wanted to do. They moved to Oakland in the early 1940's and he had his own auto repair shop.
Martin and Loretta Parks had one son: Norris Jerome Parks.
- 7. Una Beryl Parks was born 06 June 1915 in Hays Co., TX and died 18 October 1994 in Independence, MO. She married first to Virgil Lee Bilbrey 25 December 1928. He was born 01 March 1907 and died 20 March 1932 in Dickens Co., TX and buried in the Spur Cemetery. She married second to Kenneth Wayne Harris 10 February 1946. He was born about 1914 and died 05 October 1991 in Independence, MO.
Children of Beryl Parks and Virgil Bilbrey: Alpha Jo Bilbrey and Roena Lavern Bilbrey who died in infancy.
Child of Beryl Parks and Kenneth Harris: Karen K. Harris who died in infancy.
Beryl changed her name at some point to Carol because she didn't like the name Beryl but the family continued to call her by the original name.
- 8. Bernice Parks was born 06 January 1917 in Hays Co., TX and died 21 November 1990 in Patterson, Stanislaus Co., CA. She married first to J.B. Markum 22 June 1935. He was born 22 July 1905 in Waco, TX and died 08 February 1968 in Patterson, CA. She married second to Sterling Jackson 20 October 1973. He died in Patterson, CA 12 October 1976.
Bernice had brown hair with hazel green eyes and very little gray at age 70. She was a Licensed Vocational Nurse and her last job was in an industrial plant, which she said was the easiest job she had ever had.
Children of Bernice Parks and J.B. Markum: Hilton Wayne, Howard Paul and Karen Lyn.
- 9. Billy Sunday Parks was born 18 April 1920 in Spur, Dickens Co., TX. He married first to Edna Geraldine Jackson 09 December 1939 in Texas. She was born 13 February 1923 in Stephenville, TX and died 17 February 1949 in Galt, CA. She was buried in Matador, TX. He married second to Jean Danielson 09 August 1949 in Everett, WA.
Billy S. has been an Assembly of God preacher almost all of his adult life. He left TX for CA in the early 1940's and has pastored many churches in the central part of CA. He was named for the evangelist very popular about the time he was born.
He has had diabetes from an early age but has learned to keep it in control.
Children of Billy S. Parks and Geraldine Jackson: Lynda Marie, Jerry Dale, and Mary Etta.
Children of Billy S. Parks and Jean Danielson: Billy Joe Parks, Martin Wayne Parks
Submitted by Rose Parks
Funeral services were conducted in Bethel Baptist Church at 9:30 A.M August 29 for Mrs. Alta Parks, 70, a resident of Dickens County for 30 years. Officiating pastor was Rev. Doc Love, assisted by Rev. J.F. Eades of Assembly of God Church. Interment was in Spur Cemetery with Chandler Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Parks was born in Round Rock Texas in 1878. She was married in 1896 to H.J. Parks at Austin, and they lived in Goforth before moving to this county in 1918. Mrs. Parks joined the Nazarene Church at an early age.
Survivors include her husband, H.J. Parks; four sons, Allison R., Irving, Texas; Gordon, Arizona; Martin and Rev. Billy Sunday, California; two daughters, Mrs. Bernice Markham of California and Mrs. Beryl Harris, Kansas City, Mo; two brothers: Delos Martin, San Antonio; Denson Martin San Marcos; four sisters: Miss Tiny Martin and Mrs. Beaulah Hofheinz, New Braunfels; Mrs. Delta Dalton, Houston; and Zada Dickey, Sweetwater.
Active pallbearers were W.R. Hill, Jimmye Hahn, Lafayette Robinson, Lester English, Elmer Thomason and Clark Morgan.
Mrs. Alta Parks died 26 August 1948
©The Texas Spur.September 2, 1948
Submitted by Rose Parks
Funeral services for Harrison Joe Parks, 85, were held at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Campbell Funeral Home Chapel. Billy Smith officiated.Mr. Parks was born Sept. 12, 1876 and died Oct. 27, 1961. He first came to Dickens County in 1919. He came to Texas at the age of 13 from Arkansas. He lived in the Highway community and also in Jayton for five years. His wife preceded him in death in August, 1949. Mr. Parks was a member of the Baptist Church.
Survivors include four sons, Pat, Gordon, Martin and Bill; two daughters, Mrs. Beryl Harris and Mrs. Berniece Markum; one sister, Mrs. Mary Butler; 15 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren.
Pallbearers included Glen Hahn, Jimmie Hahn, Robert Hahn, Harry Martin and C.A. Alldredge.
Interment was in Spur cemetery.
©The Texas Spur November 2, 1961
Transcribed by Becky Hodges, September 2004
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022
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