Lawrence County KyArchives Biographies.....Parker, Francis "Frank" Marion February 5, 1845 - March 25, 1916 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/kyfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Rita Parker http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00021.html#0005073 April 26, 2007, 7:55 am Author: Rita M. Parker Francis M Parker's death Certificate states his mother was Nancy Parker, father, unknown. Nancy Parker was a daughter of early Lawrence Co Kentucky settler: James Parker. Frank was probably raised by his mother's older sister, Julia. Julia married Thomas Adkins Jan 14, 1847. Frank was 2 years old at that time. The 1850 census shows a Francis M Atkins, age 5, living with Thomas, Jane and their children Sarah (2) and John (9 mo). This Francis Adkins still lived with Tom and Julia Adkins in the 1860 census in Lawrence Co Ky. Lowell Parker believes Frank was raised by Mary Burton and Harrison Young. However Frank was not listed in their household in the 1850 census. In the 1860 Lawrence County census a Franklin M Parker lived with Harrison's son, John Young and family on Irish Creek near Cherokee. He worked as a farm laborer. Could it be that Francis Adlins and Franklin M Parker were one in the same? Frank enlisted as a Union Private on 08 November 1861. He was attached to Company K, 14th Infantry Regiment Kentucky on the 10 December 1861. Francis was attached to Unit 767. He fought in several battles including the Battle of Middle Creek fought in Floyd Co Kentucky; and the Battle at Cattlesburg. On August 1864 Frank was shot in the right hand during the union advance upon Atlanta. Frank received a pension for the injury. Frank mustered out Company K, 14th Infantry Regiment Kentucky on 31 January 1865 in Louisa, KY he served 3 years 4 months. He was discharged with distinguished service. Frank returned to Lawrence County to marry Phoeba Sparks 3, 1865. Frank lived next door and worked for Jarred Sparks, Phoebas father until Jaretts death in 1876. On Jan 4, 1873 Jarred Sparks sold Frank and Phoeba 50 acres on Big Blaine for $164.60. The land was bordered by others owned by Levi and Reubin Sparks, his brothers-in-law. In 1876 Jarred Sparks died. On April 17, 1875 Jesse Gambill sold 206 acres on the Big Blaine to Frank. On April 26, 1875 Phoeba Jane sold 50 acres of the Big Blaine farm to Richard Morris. Seven months later, on November 12, 1875 Phoeba sold the 206 acres to Chilton Rice. On November 15, 1876 Phoeba sold a tract of land on the Big Blaine to their son Reubin Parker and S. Sparks. Ruby later (Jan 19, 1899) sold 30 acres on Rockhouse Fork to Joshua Chandler. By the 1880 Census Frank and family had moved to Twin Branches near Webbville, Lawrence County. They lived there until Frank purchased 175 acres of farmland May, 2 1888 on Cherokee Creek near Blaine from James and Rebecca Stone. The land was located in what is now known as Cherokee, on Parker Fork. In all they had 9 children. Frank received an Invalid's pension Date: May 9 1890, Application # 774326 Certificate # 900126 filed in KY. Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 According to Lowell Parker "Francis Parker was a successful farmer. He was also successful at everything he tried. He was a carpenter, blacksmith, miller, merchant, and he did well at everything he tried. He had a natural ability when it came to business matters. This trait carried over to his children. The family of Francis Marion Parker was well respected throughout the community and could always be counted on to help out their neighbors when needed." According to Franks obituary dated March, 1916, he and Phoeba were often over heard saying they would not want to live without one another. On March 25, 1916 Phoeba died of injuries sustained in a fall. Within two hours Frank died of "asthma" and an "enlarged (broken) heart". According to great granddaughter Mercy (Parker) Carter they were buried together in a large coffin, divided by a piece of wood. Frank and Phoeba are buried at their homestead in the Parker Family Cemetery on Parker Fork in Cherokke. Around Franks death the Parker holdings were divided among their children in the following manner: Minyard "Hack" Parker received 50 acres which he sold to HN Fisher and wife March 20, 1913. Phoeba transferred to Drew Parker 109 acres of the farm on Cherokee Creek. On Jan 11, 1919 Drew sold "tracts" of Cherokee Creek to Serena Burton. Drew Parker purchased 110 acres on Cains Creek. He sold 10 acres to Paris and Sarah Moore on Little Blaine Creek. On November 21, 1927 he sold 100 acres on Cains Creek to WS and Nola Boggs. The writer could find no land records of sons Edford, Jarred and Berry receiving land from Frank and Phoeba. Frank and Phoeba's grandchildren: Teddy and Walter Parker, sons of Berry W. returned to Lawrence county in the early 1940's and purchased part of the original homestead. After several months Teddy who was a life-time military man decided to return to Pike County to marry. Walter's children: Mercy and Jake recall when they lived in Cherokee. Additional Comments: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Photo has been resized/compressed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Project ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/lawrence/photos/bios/parker65bs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/lawrence/bios/parker65bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/kyfiles/