My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. PARKS is a son of George and Ann (Nelson) Parks, and was born January 21, 1855, in the city of Buffalo, New York. His grandfather, Daniel Parks, was an Englishman by birth, born in Leeds, emigrated to America and located at Black Rock, near Buffalo, New York. His business was that of combined farmer and hotel-keeper. He was connected with the Episcopal church, and was united in marriage with Eliza Harris, who bore him three children; he died at the age of eighty-eight years. The grandfather of Mr. Parks on the maternal side was also a native of England, and, with his wife and family, took ship for America, but during the voyage his wife died and he was forced to fight the battle of life in the new world single-handed and alone. Prior to his coming to America he was an overseer of one of the landed estates of an English nobleman. His death occurred shortly after his arrival in the United States. George Parks was born in the city of Buffalo, New York, in the year 1831, and is still a resident of that place. He has always been by occupation a contractor in the line of pile driving and dock building. He votes the Republican ticket and gives his party a warm and energetic support, but has never yet claimed a reward by way of office-holding. Mr. Parks is a member of the Baptist church, holds the offices of steward and trustee, and has always been considered one of its prominent members. He belongs to the Royal Templars and is an advocate of temperance reform. In 1863 he enlisted in the 24th regiment, New York Cavalry, and entered the civil war. He was offered commissions on three different occasions, but uniformly refused. During his term of service he took part in twenty-six battles and thirteen skirmishes, and, in moments of imminent danger, no one was more ready to risk his life for the sake of victory. His was a continuous tour of duty, with the exception of thirty days, when he was physically incapacitated. His marriage resulted in a family of eight children, six living and two dead.

George W. Parks received his education in the public schools, learned the same business that his father followed and continued it until 1872. Later he became a dealer in lumber and timber, and in 1890 he embarked in the merchandising business, handling the three staple lines, dry-goods, groceries and hardware. This constitutes his present business, in which he has become firmly established, enjoying a good local trade.

George W. Parks united in marriage with Mary, daughter of Henry Burmaster, of the village of Irving, and has two children living and one dead: Charles, Maud and Claude, deceased. He, together with his wife, holds membership in the Methodist church, of which he is steward and trustee, the latter of which offices he has held for the past nine years. Mr. Parks has always been identified with the development of the town from a material standpoint as well as educationally and religiously. He has been a member of the school board for a number of years, and also takes an active interest in politics. He is a member of the Royal Templars and of the Equitable Aid Union.