Following is one of the Biographies and Stories which where gathered by Charles Sumner McKamy in the 1950s for publication in a Crawford County History Book. Unfortunately he passed away before the book was published.
Valmore Parker was born in Crawford County December 29, 1861, the son of Henry and Mary Allison Parker. As a young boy, he helped his father on the farm and attended the district school. In this era, farming required much time and labor as no modern devices were in use. Also, he studied long hours in the winter by the light of candles and coal oil lamps.
Later, as a young man, he went to high school in Robinson. At that time, high school was conducted in what was known as The Robinson House, there they taught the usual high school subjects. After finishing this course, he taught for a year or two in Castle School in Honey Creek Township. It was here that he formed a fast friendship with one of his pupils, Carson Taylor, who many years later became Owner and Publisher of "The Manila Bulletin" -- the largest newspaper in the Orient, published in the English language. Mr. Taylor at this time is one of the most influential men in The Philippine Islands. During this period of teaching, he was considering his further education and decided to study medicine.
Valmore Parker enrolled as a pre-medic student in Danville, Indiana. The college there is a very old one and is now as Episcopal School. After one year of pre-medic work, he felt that he had made a mistake, as he had no taste for the dissecting room. Feeling that this was not his calling, he transferred to law the next year.
In the study of law he found his true vocation. He studied at both Valparaiso and Danville, Indiana. Graduated from Danville and returned to Robinson where he entered the law offices of George N. Parker. This was a period of reading law and preparing for the Illinois Bar. During this interim he served one term as County Superintendent of Schools.
After passing the Illinois Bar, he started practicing in Robinson in partnership with Mr. Enoch E. Newlin. Mr. Parker formed several successive partnerships. One with Thomas J. Newlin and after Mr. Newlin retired from the practice of law, he formed a second partnership with Enoch E. Newlin (who had served as a Circuit Judge for three terms) and Mr. Newlin's son, Frank E. Newlin. Later in his career, he and J.C. Eagleton formed a partnership which lasted until Mr. Eagleton became a Circuit Judge. His last partnership was with Manford E. Cox. Mr. Cox and his son Carroll T. Cox are still conducting the practice of law in the offices formerly occupied by Mr. Parker and Mr. J.C. Eagleton, and later by Mr. Parker and Mr. Cox.
As well as being a lawyer, he was a banker. Mr. Parker, with Mr. John S. Abbott and Mr. W.G. Eaton, organized the Crawford County State Bank in 1902. Mr. Parker served as Vice President and legal advisor, and later as President of the bank. It was in these early 1900's Robinson became like a "gold rush" town, for black gold in he form of oil had been struck is Crawford County and in great quantities. People moved in so fast that the place grew over night like a mushroom. There was great shortage of living quarters, but a holiday mood prevailed. Business was booming and oil was flowing. This lasted for many years, but as the oil fields became developed, producers and oil worked moved on to new fields, but left much prosperity in their wake. Since that time, oil has been produced continuously in this county, although in greatly reduced quantities in recent years.
In 1886, Valmore Parker married Miss Helene Barrett of Kentucky. She was the daughter of Andrew and Mary Jane Barrett, who came to this country from near London, England. Three children were born to this union, namely -- Blanche, Eugene and Maude. Eugene died while in service in World War I. Mrs. Parker passed away February 4, 1938.
Mr. Parker, after long years of practice in Robinson, passed away at the age of 84 on July 7, 1946. At the time of his passing, he was dean of the Crawford County Bar -- His was a long and useful life -- He had been a prominent figure in the professional, financial and educational life of the community -- He was an admired and honored member of the profession and had been a friend to many in need.
Surviving Mr. Parker are his two daughters, Blanche Parker and Maude Parker Ford. One granddaughter, Jeanne Parker Ford.