My Genealogy Hound

John Murfree Parker, a well-known member of the bar of Dardanelle, was born near Danville, Ark., November 24, 1849, to George W. T. and Matilda C. Parker. His paternal grandfather, King Parker, and grandmother, Martha, removed from Hertford County, N. C, in the year 1817, and settled near Gallatin, Tenn., and raised a family of five sons and three daughters. The youngest son, the said George W. T., studied medicine, graduated at the Louisville Medical College; came to the State of Arkansas, and in 1844 married Miss Matilda C. Simpson, in what was then known as Jefferson County; moved to and settled on the farm where his son, John M., was born, and, being strictly temperate and quite energetic, he soon became very popular, acquiring an extensive practice in his profession, and became the owner of a large body of land, on which he established a comfortable home, and with slave labor opened up and cultivated a good farm. During the late war the dwelling-house and afterward much of the fencing around the farm was destroyed. To them, the said George W. T. Parker and wife, were born eight children: Mary J., Alcinda E., John M., Adelia F., Cherry Wilna, George C. and two other sons who died in infancy. The said John M. Parker’s maternal grandfather, Thompson Simpson, and grandmother, Frances, removed from Fairfax County, Va., and settled on the Arkansas River, below the present site of Pine Bluff, at an early day, and the said Thompson Simpson engaged in selling goods and planting. He raised a family of two sons and five daughters. The subject of our sketch attended school prior to 1861, but during the period of more than four years, while the war was going on, he had the misfortune to be entirely deprived of educational facilities, and to sustain the loss of his mother, whose death occurred in August, 1863; and his father, whose death occurred in March, 1864. After the war he was placed under a guardian, and attended school at Dardanelle about nine months. In March, 1868, he began the study of medicine, and in the winter of 1868-69 attended a course of lectures at Nashville, Tenn., but, not liking this profession, he abandoned it in the spring of 1869, and at once commenced the study of law, borrowing books for the pursuit of this study. He had his disabilities, as minor, removed for the purpose, and was admitted to the bar in May, 1870, and at once began practice in Danville. In the fall of 1871 he entered into partnership with Hon. Thomas W. Pound, which proved both pleasant and profitable, and continued for several years. In the latter part of 1889 he removed to and opened an office in Dardanelle. He is the owner of much valuable real estate, consisting of about 1,200 acres, also has a block with residence in Danville, and property in other towns. He was county attorney for a short time soon after his admission to the bar. In 1880 he was an independent candidate for State senator, but was defeated. In 1888 was a candidate for presidential elector on the Prohibition ticket. With the exception of the active race made for senator, he has taken little interest in politics; has ever been strictly temperate, an active temperance worker, and is now an ardent Prohibitionist. He married a daughter of R. J. and Mary J. Woodard, who are old pioneer residents of the county. His marriage to Miss Malinda I. Woodard was celebrated July 1, 1875, and to this union have been born six children: J. Hobart, Harley M., Cordelia J., Herbert W., Olan and one unnamed (deceased). He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.