April 9 1864 in a War torn area of Chariton County Missouri six Parks children became orphaned and two were basically on their own. One was probably on his own prior to Apr 1864. The names of the six children are William M., John, Sarah Elizabeth, Lee Jones, Noah Flood, and Columbus Aquillas Parks. This is their story. This is Will's.
William, "Will" to his family was born May 2 1850. The story will reveal he spent the majority of his young life on his own. His birth date will remain May the 12th as his headstone shows and was written in his Family Bible by him. He was the first born son of Lemuel B. Parks. The only descendant that I have found, of Lemuel B. Parks that is carrying on the Parks surname.
His mother was Dicey Winn the daughter of William Winn of Howard County, MO. Dicey died March 17 1852 in Chariton County, MO, soon after giving birth to their second son John Parks.
"Will" had told his family that he was raised by his Uncle Jed and his aunt. His aunt was not very nice to him. Who is Uncle Jed? Not a Winn, Hurt or a Parks can be found that fits the category of Uncle Jed. "Will" does not appear in the 1860 Chariton County Census with Lem & step mother Amelia, however brother John does.
In 1870 Chariton County census there is a 20 year old William Parks enumerated with Igal K. Stephenson, listed as hired hand. Mr. Stephenson was a prominent well known stock dealer. By process of elimination I believe this is Will son of Lemuel and Dicey Winn Parks.
I sent for guardianship records on Wm. from 1850-1864. The response was "Nothing can be found." If guardian ship papers were filed on William after the death of Dicey well, any Probate Record prior to 1861 was destroyed by the burning of the building that served as a courthouse.
It was WAR. Smack! Another brick wall.
Will's father, Lemuel B. Parks dies before Feb 4, 1864. Feb 4th is the date on his empty probate court record.
Smack! Empty~Another brick wall.
Two months later, Amelia, the step mother dies. "Will" being 14, and John is 12, what a young age to be alone in those God awful times.
So what happen to these two young lads, you ask? Well in the 1880 census of Chariton, Howard, Boone and Randolph counties nowhere can I find Wm., John, Sarah or Noah. Four out of the six.
The story goes "John and his half sister Sarah went to Texas first, but for some reason Will did not at that time. He grew dissatisfied and lonely after they left and he set out on foot from Missouri to find them. He did not have much money so he would ask farmers along the way if he could sleep in their barns or sheds. He risked being shot because everyone was so suspicious of one another from the Civil War. He looked for abandoned campsites and if he was lucky he might find some food left behind by other families."
How is that for a "Walk About"?
Will married in 1886, raised his family and remained in Texas. Some of his descendants still remain in the areas he first settled.
William, "Will" to his family was born May 2 1850. The story will reveal he spent the majority of his young life on his own. His birth date will remain May the 12th as his headstone shows and was written in his Family Bible by him. He was the first born son of Lemuel B. Parks. The only descendant that I have found, of Lemuel B. Parks that is carrying on the Parks surname.
His mother was Dicey Winn the daughter of William Winn of Howard County, MO. Dicey died March 17 1852 in Chariton County, MO, soon after giving birth to their second son John Parks.
"Will" had told his family that he was raised by his Uncle Jed and his aunt. His aunt was not very nice to him. Who is Uncle Jed? Not a Winn, Hurt or a Parks can be found that fits the category of Uncle Jed. "Will" does not appear in the 1860 Chariton County Census with Lem & step mother Amelia, however brother John does.
In 1870 Chariton County census there is a 20 year old William Parks enumerated with Igal K. Stephenson, listed as hired hand. Mr. Stephenson was a prominent well known stock dealer. By process of elimination I believe this is Will son of Lemuel and Dicey Winn Parks.
I sent for guardianship records on Wm. from 1850-1864. The response was "Nothing can be found." If guardian ship papers were filed on William after the death of Dicey well, any Probate Record prior to 1861 was destroyed by the burning of the building that served as a courthouse.
It was WAR. Smack! Another brick wall.
Will's father, Lemuel B. Parks dies before Feb 4, 1864. Feb 4th is the date on his empty probate court record.
Smack! Empty~Another brick wall.
Two months later, Amelia, the step mother dies. "Will" being 14, and John is 12, what a young age to be alone in those God awful times.
So what happen to these two young lads, you ask? Well in the 1880 census of Chariton, Howard, Boone and Randolph counties nowhere can I find Wm., John, Sarah or Noah. Four out of the six.
The story goes "John and his half sister Sarah went to Texas first, but for some reason Will did not at that time. He grew dissatisfied and lonely after they left and he set out on foot from Missouri to find them. He did not have much money so he would ask farmers along the way if he could sleep in their barns or sheds. He risked being shot because everyone was so suspicious of one another from the Civil War. He looked for abandoned campsites and if he was lucky he might find some food left behind by other families."
How is that for a "Walk About"?
Will married in 1886, raised his family and remained in Texas. Some of his descendants still remain in the areas he first settled.
April 9 1864 in a War torn area of Chariton County Missouri six Parks children became orphaned and two were basically on their own. One was probably on his own prior to Apr 1864. The names of the six children are William M., John, Sarah Elizabeth, Lee Jones, Noah Flood, and Columbus Aquillas Parks. This is their story. This is Will's.
William, "Will" to his family was born May 2 1850. The story will reveal he spent the majority of his young life on his own. His birth date will remain May the 12th as his headstone shows and was written in his Family Bible by him. He was the first born son of Lemuel B. Parks. The only descendant that I have found, of Lemuel B. Parks that is carrying on the Parks surname.
His mother was Dicey Winn the daughter of William Winn of Howard County, MO. Dicey died March 17 1852 in Chariton County, MO, soon after giving birth to their second son John Parks.
"Will" had told his family that he was raised by his Uncle Jed and his aunt. His aunt was not very nice to him. Who is Uncle Jed? Not a Winn, Hurt or a Parks can be found that fits the category of Uncle Jed. "Will" does not appear in the 1860 Chariton County Census with Lem & step mother Amelia, however brother John does.
In 1870 Chariton County census there is a 20 year old William Parks enumerated with Igal K. Stephenson, listed as hired hand. Mr. Stephenson was a prominent well known stock dealer. By process of elimination I believe this is Will son of Lemuel and Dicey Winn Parks.
I sent for guardianship records on Wm. from 1850-1864. The response was "Nothing can be found." If guardian ship papers were filed on William after the death of Dicey well, any Probate Record prior to 1861 was destroyed by the burning of the building that served as a courthouse.
It was WAR. Smack! Another brick wall.
Will's father, Lemuel B. Parks dies before Feb 4, 1864. Feb 4th is the date on his empty probate court record.
Smack! Empty~Another brick wall.
Two months later, Amelia, the step mother dies. "Will" being 14, and John is 12, what a young age to be alone in those God awful times.
So what happen to these two young lads, you ask? Well in the 1880 census of Chariton, Howard, Boone and Randolph counties nowhere can I find Wm., John, Sarah or Noah. Four out of the six.
The story goes "John and his half sister Sarah went to Texas first, but for some reason Will did not at that time. He grew dissatisfied and lonely after they left and he set out on foot from Missouri to find them. He did not have much money so he would ask farmers along the way if he could sleep in their barns or sheds. He risked being shot because everyone was so suspicious of one another from the Civil War. He looked for abandoned campsites and if he was lucky he might find some food left behind by other families."
How is that for a "Walk About"?
Will married in 1886, raised his family and remained in Texas. Some of his descendants still remain in the areas he first settled.
William, "Will" to his family was born May 2 1850. The story will reveal he spent the majority of his young life on his own. His birth date will remain May the 12th as his headstone shows and was written in his Family Bible by him. He was the first born son of Lemuel B. Parks. The only descendant that I have found, of Lemuel B. Parks that is carrying on the Parks surname.
His mother was Dicey Winn the daughter of William Winn of Howard County, MO. Dicey died March 17 1852 in Chariton County, MO, soon after giving birth to their second son John Parks.
"Will" had told his family that he was raised by his Uncle Jed and his aunt. His aunt was not very nice to him. Who is Uncle Jed? Not a Winn, Hurt or a Parks can be found that fits the category of Uncle Jed. "Will" does not appear in the 1860 Chariton County Census with Lem & step mother Amelia, however brother John does.
In 1870 Chariton County census there is a 20 year old William Parks enumerated with Igal K. Stephenson, listed as hired hand. Mr. Stephenson was a prominent well known stock dealer. By process of elimination I believe this is Will son of Lemuel and Dicey Winn Parks.
I sent for guardianship records on Wm. from 1850-1864. The response was "Nothing can be found." If guardian ship papers were filed on William after the death of Dicey well, any Probate Record prior to 1861 was destroyed by the burning of the building that served as a courthouse.
It was WAR. Smack! Another brick wall.
Will's father, Lemuel B. Parks dies before Feb 4, 1864. Feb 4th is the date on his empty probate court record.
Smack! Empty~Another brick wall.
Two months later, Amelia, the step mother dies. "Will" being 14, and John is 12, what a young age to be alone in those God awful times.
So what happen to these two young lads, you ask? Well in the 1880 census of Chariton, Howard, Boone and Randolph counties nowhere can I find Wm., John, Sarah or Noah. Four out of the six.
The story goes "John and his half sister Sarah went to Texas first, but for some reason Will did not at that time. He grew dissatisfied and lonely after they left and he set out on foot from Missouri to find them. He did not have much money so he would ask farmers along the way if he could sleep in their barns or sheds. He risked being shot because everyone was so suspicious of one another from the Civil War. He looked for abandoned campsites and if he was lucky he might find some food left behind by other families."
How is that for a "Walk About"?
Will married in 1886, raised his family and remained in Texas. Some of his descendants still remain in the areas he first settled.
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