I've been doing a lot of searching on Ancestry.com...and while growing my "family tree"...I noticed that my grandfather's (George Truman Parker 1906-1984) father is listed as Jefferson Davis Parker (1863-1940)...with his father listed as John M. Parker (1823-1894) and mother as Clara Fortune Barton Parker (1823-1894). Jefferson Davis Parker was married to my great grandmother Artiliss Martha Lanier Parker (1878-1946). Nearly every bit of info I can find on Ancestry.com give basically the same information.
However...my grandmother (Nellie Saulmon Parker 1920-2012) told my mother that before Artiliss Parker died in 1946, Artiliss told my grandmother that Jefferson Davis's father was a man named Phillip Washington Parker who was born in Tennessee but came to Arkansas before the Civil War. He and his family lived in Lawrence County, Arkansas near the Black Rock community and Phillip W. was training with his regiment in Hoxie, Arkansas before heading off to fight in the civil war. He left behind his pregnant wife to go to battle, but did not return. His wife gave birth to Jefferson Davis Parker after Phillip's death. Jefferson Davis Parker's birth date has been listed by family members as July 3, 1861 or 1863. Artiliss also told my grandmother that Jefferson Davis Parker had a brother named Isaac and one named Phillip. He also had a sister named Mary.
Since these two different paths are different...yet both have Jefferson Davis Parker marrying Artiliss and giving birth to the correct children and being buried in Glazier Peau Cemetery in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas...which is all correct...I'm trying to figure out who JD's parents really are. Also...is the Jefferson Davis Parker that is buried in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas the one listed on Ancestry.com as being born in Hempstead County, Arkansas...or is he the one that his wife Artiliss says was born and raised in Lawrence County, Arkansas? Can anyone help?
Comments
1. His wife, Artiliss, told my grandmother (George Truman Parker's wife Nellie Saulmon Parker...sometime near Artiliss's death) that JDP, who went by the name "JD" at that time, was the son of a man named Phillip Washington Parker, who was from Tennessee and moved the family to Lawrence County, Arkansas near Black Rock (Black River township?) She couldn't remember his mother's name. She said Phillip died of heat exhaustion while training soldiers for the Civil War in Hoxie, Arkansas...and that he died before JDP was born. She also said JDP had a brother named Phillip and a brother named Isaac...along with a sister named Mary. She stated that JDP moved to Garland County, Arkansas (near Hot Springs) when he was a teenager. His first wife was named Effie, but she died...but not before they had a son named Columbus, among other children.
2. I found a Phillip Washington Parker who appears to have been born about 1812 in Tennessee. He married a Rhoda Crawford in Rhea County, TN on Sep 29, 1840. It appears that Phillip W's parents may be Phillip Parker (1759-1829) and Polly Lampford Parker (1782-1825)...though I haven't confirmed that yet. So far...I have found confirmed through census records that Phillip Washington Parker and Rhoda Crawford Parker's children were:
A. James E. Parker - 1841
B. Isaac C. Parker - 1844
C. Rebecca A Parker and Elizabeth E Parker - 1848 (twins)
D. Nancy LG Parker - 1851
E. Sarah L. Parker - 1854
F. Phillip W. Parker - 1859-1927
Now...here's where things get tricky. Father Phillip supposedly dies in Hoxie, AR in 1861 while training soldiers...yet I haven't been able to confirm that yet by any paper trail...just second-hand information from my grandmother...through JDP's wife Artiliss. But know this...neither Artiliss nor JDP ever met JDP's father Phillip...since he died just before JDP was born (as told by Artiliss). Also...Rhoda Crawford (possibly JDP's mother) died in 1865...when JDP would have only been 3-4 years old (leaving him to probably not remember, or barely remember her).
So...there is no census report that would show Phillip, Rhoda and all of the family together that included JDP because he was born after the 1860 census...and both parents died before the 1870 census. Also...have not found a birth certificate on JDP...nor paper trail that lists Rhoda as his mother...and Artiliss didn't know his mother's name (JDP was already deceased when she relayed this information).
3. Now...in the 1870 census, we did find the younger children in Lawrence County. There was a man named James D. Richey who had married one of the twins, Rebecca Parker, and it appears that Rebecca's twin sister Elizabeth was living with them...along with little brother Phillip W (age 11 now) and an 8 year old boy named Samuel D. Parker. Could this Samuel be JDP? The age fits...and I don't see where this Samuel D. Parker pops up again in any paper trail I can find. Did they maybe change his name to Samuel because the south lost the war and they felt embarrassed that he'd have the name of the president of the confederacy and JDP changed it back when he was older and less embarrassed? Maybe he was named Samuel at birth and just decided later to change his name...for no real reason? Or maybe this Samuel isn't really JDP? If this isn't JDP...then I've yet to find a single paper trail connecting JDP to Phillip and Rhoda...so far.
4. I then find a marriage license for "Davis" Parker and Effie Melton (remember...Artiliss said JDP was married first to an Effie) for Dec 1885...and a marriage between the two on Jan 3, 1886 at a "Crawford" home in Yell County, Arkansas. This is significant, since JDP's rumored father Phillip was married to Rhoda CRAWFORD. Could they be related? It also lists Davis Parker as living in Baxter area of Garland County (near what is now Jessieville, AR.) So...this definitely appears to be my great-grandfather, Jefferson Davis Parker, who was going by Davis at the time. Could he have not liked the Samuel name and decided to go by his middle name? Remember...the 8 year old in the 1870 census was listed as Samuel D. Parker.
5. In the 1900 census, I find Davis Parker living in Baxter, Garland County, Arkansas as a "boarder", living with JM Crawford (born around 1851) and his wife SE Parker...along with their kids. Davis is 38 at this time...which add up with the 1861/1862 birthdate. It also lists Davis as a "widower"...meaning Effie has passed by now...and it also lists a Columbus Parker, age 11 (meaning born around 1889). My great grandfather JDP did have a son named Columbus.
Also...I checked into this JM Crawford...and it appears to be John Moses Crawford (1851-1918), the son of William M. Crawford (Jan 10, 1821 - Sep 29, 1885) who lived in Yell County, Arkansas...meaning this is undoubtedly the Crawford home where "Davis" married Effie Melton. Again...is this confirmation that JDP's mother was Rhoda Crawford? I've yet to find a definite paper trail between Rhoda Crawford and these Crawfords...but it makes sense. These Crawfords appear to have lived in Lawrence County, Arkansas before Yell County (remember...Phillip and Rhoda's family lived in Lawrence County...and JDP is rumored to have been born there)...and it appears these Crawfords came to Arkansas from Tennessee (just like Rhoda Crawford did). Lastly...I believe William M Crawford's father may have been Moses Crawford (1774-1831) who moved the family from Tennessee to Lawrence County, Arkansas around 1828. So...as you can see...it keeps adding up. BUT...I've still yet to find a piece of paper to definitely tie Rhoda to these Crawfords....or to tie JDP directly to Phillip, Rhoda or their listed children.
6. In the 1910 Census, I find JDP finally listed as Jeff Davis Parker (earliest I've found anything close to Jefferson) and now married to my great grandmother, Artiliss, aged 32. They also list the children in the home as Mary, Earnest, Gracie, George T, Ola and Joe. I'm pretty sure Mary and Earnest (and maybe Gracie?) are from JDP's marriage to Effie.
JDP went on to pass away in 1940...and Artiliss a few years later.
So...that's about all I have (the major stuff)...though I have a lot of pieces that could become major if more is added to them. If you know of any other information, that would be great. I'm inclined to believe this is JDP's lineage...but I'd still like at least one more piece to make this definitive...something to tie JDP directly to Phillip or Rhoda...or their listed kids...or even tying Rhoda to Moses, William and John M Crawford.
I am posting what I found so far on Jefferson Davis "Jeff" Parker son of John M. and Clara. He is not your Jefferson Davis Parker.
I was able to confirm that this Jefferson Davis "Jeff" Parker was the son of John M. and Clara from the obit of Jeff sister Mary who was married twice.
I only work with Parker males who take the y-DNA test so I can't be much help on any of the DNA testing.
Wayne
Descendants of Jefferson Davis Parker
Generation No. 1
1. JEFFERSON DAVIS9 PARKER (JOHN M.8, WILLIAM B.7, AARON6, JOHN H.5, FRANCIS4, RICHARD3, WILLIAM2, Y-DNA (FG#7)1) was born December 12, 1861 in AR, and died March 27, 1943 in Miller Co., AK. He married GEORGETTA E "GEORGIA" ROBINSON. She was born July 20, 1860, and died July 24, 1943.
Notes for JEFFERSON DAVIS PARKER:
Jefferson D "Jeff" Parker
Birth: Dec. 12, 1861
Arkansas, USA
Death: Mar. 27, 1943
Miller County
Arkansas, USA
s/o John M and Clara F Parker
h/o Georgia Robertson, m. 1889, Columbia, Arkansas
Family links:
Parents:
John M. Parker (1823 - 1900)
Clarissa Fortune Barton Parker (1823 - 1894)
Spouse:
Georgetta E Robinson Parker (1860 - 1943)*
Children:
Lida M Parker (1896 - 1978)*
Davenport Parker (1900 - 1952)*
Siblings:
Mary M Parker Winn (1847 - 1941)*
Judson Parker Robertson (1855 - 1940)*
Jefferson D Parker (1861 - 1943)
Augustus Marion Parker (1868 - 1937)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Hillcrest Cemetery
Texarkana
Bowie County
Texas, USA
Edit Virtual Cemetery info [?]
Created by: KindredWhispers
Record added: Dec 20, 2014
Find A Grave Memorial# 140247386
Name: Jeff Parker
Age: 38
Birth Date: Dec 1861
Birthplace: Arkansas
Home in 1900: Waldo, Columbia, Arkansas
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Georgie E Parker
Marriage Year: 1889
Years Married: 11
Father's Birthplace: Georgia
Mother's Birthplace: Arkansas
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Jeff Parker 38
Georgie E Parker 39
Lyda M Parker 10
Minnie E Parker 9
Lilla M Parker 5
Dewey Parker 2
Davenport Parker 5/12
Source Citation
Year: 1900; Census Place: Waldo, Columbia, Arkansas; Roll: 54; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 0053; FHL microfilm: 1240054
More About JEFFERSON DAVIS PARKER:
Burial: Hillcrest Cemetery,Texarkana,Bowie Co., TX
Census 1: 1880, Year: 1880; Census Place: Georgia, Columbia, Arkansas; Roll: 41; Family History Film: 1254041; Page: 231C; Enumeration District: 045; Image: 0203
Census 2: 1870, Year: 1870; Census Place: Clay, Columbia, Arkansas; Roll: M593_50; Page: 380B; Image: 115; Family History Library Film: 545549
Census 3: 1900, Year: 1900; Census Place: Waldo, Columbia, Arkansas; Roll: 54; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 0053; FHL microfilm: 1240054
Fact 1: 1880, Age 17 born abt 1863
Fact 2: 1870, Age 7 born abt 1863
Notes for GEORGETTA E "GEORGIA" ROBINSON:
Georgetta E "Georgia" Robinson Parker
Birth: Jul. 20, 1860
Arkansas, USA
Death: Jul. 24, 1943
Family links:
Spouse:
Jefferson D Parker (1861 - 1943)
Children:
Lida M Parker (1896 - 1978)*
Davenport Parker (1900 - 1952)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Hillcrest Cemetery
Texarkana
Bowie County
Texas, USA
Edit Virtual Cemetery info [?]
Created by: KindredWhispers
Record added: Dec 20, 2014
Find A Grave Memorial# 140247382
More About GEORGETTA E "GEORGIA" ROBINSON:
Burial: Hillcrest Cemetery,Texarkana,Bowie Co., TX
Children of JEFFERSON PARKER and GEORGETTA ROBINSON are:
i. LIDA M.10 PARKER, b. March 28, 1896; d. October 29, 1978, Waco,McLennan Co., TX.
More About LIDA M. PARKER:
Burial: Hillcrest Cemetery,Texarkana,Bowie Co., TX
ii. DAVENPORT PARKER, b. January 09, 1900, Waldo,Columbia Co., TX; d. December 07, 1952, Atlanta, Cass Co., TX.
Notes for DAVENPORT PARKER:
Davenport Parker
Birth: Jan. 9, 1900
Waldo
Columbia County
Arkansas, USA
Death: Dec. 7, 1952
Atlanta
Cass County
Texas, USA
Family links:
Parents:
Jefferson D Parker (1861 - 1943)
Georgetta E Robinson Parker (1860 - 1943)
Sibling:
Lida M Parker (1896 - 1978)*
Davenport Parker (1900 - 1952)
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Woodlawn Cemetery
Texarkana
Miller County
Arkansas, USA
Edit Virtual Cemetery info [?]
Created by: Spirit Wanderer
Record added: Aug 18, 2014
Find A Grave Memorial# 134533691
More About DAVENPORT PARKER:
Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery,Texarkana, Miller Co., AR
On just about every genealogy site, it lists the son of John M and Clara Parker as Jefferson Davis Parker...and then show him marrying Artiliss Martha Lanier Parker and that George Truman is one of their sons.
However...Artiliss had told my grandmother (George Truman Parker's wife Nellie Saulmon Parker) that her husband, Jefferson Davis Parker's father was a Phillip Washington Parker from Tennessee who moved to Lawrence County, Arkansas near the Black Rock community. JD had 3 brothers that she could remember (Isaac, Phillip and a brother who died and she couldn't remember the name)...and then a sister named Mary. Artiliss said that JD's father Phillip trained soldiers in Hoxie, Arkansas for the Civil War...and that Phillip died in the war just before JD was born.
On Ancestry. com, I was able to find a Phillip Washington Parker from TN who moved to Lawrence County, Arkansas somewhere around 1840.
http://person.ancestry.com/tree/29324706/person/13658691187/facts
He was married to a Rhoda Ann McCrawford. They do list an Isaac and Phillip as children...but do not list a Mary...nor do they list Jefferson Davis Parker...so even though this would seem like the Phillip that Artiliss was speaking of...I'm not sure. However...my grandfather (George Truman Parker) always talked about his relatives in Lawrence County and never mentioned Hempstead County nor Georgia. My mother (Martha Jolena Parker Smith) can't ever remember meeting any her father's close relatives, but she does remember some Lawrence County Parkers at Nellie Saulmon Parker's funeral in 2012.
Btw...I'm just about to send my sample for DNA to Ancestry.com for them to determine my DNA. I'm assuming something like that could help in the future?
Thanks so much for your help. This little bit of info is stumping me! :-)
Welcome to Parker Heritage.
I have deleted my earlier post because when I started to look at the 1900, 1910, 1920 census reports for Garland County
Arkansas for Jefferson Davis Parker and they all list his parents being born in TN.
Jefferson Davis Parker son of John M. and Clara Parker (both are listed as being born in GA) on the 1850, 1870, 1880 census. This Parker family is part of the Parker y-DNA Project Family Group #7 (FG#7)
So it looks like we need more research to prove a good paper trail. I will let you know when I find some more information.
Wayne N. Parker researcher for P239 FG#7