Joseph Washington Parks - Fairhaven Cemetery, Orange Co., California Section: K-44-1* Born: 1832 Alabama Died: 20 Apr 1931 Anaheim Township, Orange Co., California

Masonic Lodge #241 Santa Ana, Calif.

Civil War (Union);Pvt in Co B, 3RD CAV (AR) & served with Gordon's Regiment of Arkansas Cavalry Company B headed by Anderson Gordon of Lewisburg (CSA).

Joseph Served on Both sides GAR & CSA.

Married 1st Nancy Elizabeth Johnson

Jul 1858 Conway Co., Ark.

Nancy died May 1862 in Conway Co., Ark.

Married 2nd Elizabeth Jane Gordon

01 Oct 1863 Conway Co., Ark.

Joseph & Elizabeth Jane had 7 Children:

James Henry Parks

George Lee Parks

John William Parks

Hiram Luther Parks

Charles Benton Parks

Arthur Monroe Parks

Anna "Annie" Laura (Parks) Carter-Pitzer

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On Joseph's application for pension for service during the Civil War. Joseph states his mother died when he was 6 yrs old, that he has no official record of his birth but has always believed he was born 28th Sept 1835 in Pickens County Alabama. That he lived with various people growing up. His CA Death Cert states his father's name was William Parks & mother unknown, informant was his daughter Anna (Parks) Carter.

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Joseph W Parks Obituary

Joseph W Parks was born in Alabama in 1833 and passed away April 20, 1931.

Mr. Parks was stolen by some Gypsies when he was seven years old. He grieved so much for his mother the Gypsies left him an elderly couple in Arkansas a few weeks later. He made his home with this couple until he was seventeen when he married. His wife died a about two years later.

When Mr. Parks was eighteen years old he joint the Masonic order of which he was a member until his death.

At the outbreak of the Civil War he joined the Southern forces. While on a furlough home to put in his crops the bushwhackers captured him and two other men. Later he escaped and joined the Northern forces. Towards the last of the war, Mr. Parks was wounded in the neck.

Mr. Parks was married shortly after the outbreak of the war to Elizabeth Gordon Farmer in Marlton, (*sic Morrilton) Arkansas. To this union seven children were born. Henry, George, Luther and Charlie are deceased. Mr. Parks is survived by John Parks of Sasakwa, Oklahoma, Arthur Parks of Garden Grove, California, and Mrs. Annie Carter of Tracy, California. These three children were at their fathers bedside when he passed away.

The Parks family came to Garden Grove from Marlton, Arkansas thirty-eight years ago. Mr. Parks was actively engaged in farming and orchard growing until sixteen years ago when he moved to seventh and Orchard avenue, Garden Grove, where he was residing at the time of his death.

Mrs. Parks passed away six years ago last September 1.

Mr. and Mrs. Parks were dearly beloved by all who knew them.

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Obit was obtained from Johnny Ray Parks (gg grandson of Joseph W Parks).

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From: Joyce Bayless 17 Sep 2012 - Source notes on Joseph Washinton Parks Date Of Birth:

The copies I have of his enlistment in Co B of 3rd Reg of Arkansas Cavalry says he is 21 years old and he enlisted at Lewisburg on 29 Jun 1864. He went absent without leave from the CSA on 1 September 1863 which would make sense if he was leaving to harvest a crop. What happened between September and the next June??? If he is 21 in 1864 that makes him born 1843. His pension papers #599992 filed 1915 says he was born 1835 in Pickens County, Alabama. He also states on it that his first wife, Elizabeth Johnson, and he were married July 1858 and that she died in 1862 . If the age when he enlisted in the Union Army is correct then he was only 15 when he married, an age that is doubtful. The birth year of 1835 makes more sense. Somewhere I read that supposedly he was 18 when he married the first time. If that is true that makes him born 1840. The Masonic Card I received from Santa Ana says he joined the Morrilton Masons at age 29 and was a clerk. I'm not sure we will ever know exactly when he was born. The first Census when I can definitely find him is 1870 and he is 29, 1880 he is 37, 1900 he is 62, 1910 he is 70, 1920 he is 83, 1930 he is 96. Those ages make him born anywhere from 1834 to 1841. Also his oldest son was born July 1864 which means he was at home in October of 1863.

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