Elizabeth (Land) Parks (bef. 1849 - 1939)

Born before 20 Jan 1849 in Carbrooke, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 24 May 1939 after age 90 in Fairplain Township, Montcalm, Michigan, United States

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Biography

Norfolk, England, Church of England Birth and Baptisms
Baptisms solemnized in the Parish of Carbrooke in the County of Norfolk in the Year 18__
When Baptized: 4 Mar 1849, Child's Christian Name: Elizabeth (daughter of), Parent's Name: Benjamin and Charlotte Land, Abode: Carbrooke, Profession/Trade: laborer, By whom the Ceremony was performed: Wm Wells, Vicar.

1850 US Federal Census
Tompkins Parks was living in Dallas, Clinton, Michigan with his parents Sidney 32 and Betsey 32 Parks and his siblings Catharine 16, Philo 3, and Eliza 1. His age was 4, he was born in Michigan, and he was marked as already attending school.

Homer Parks was living in Dallas, Clinton, Michigan with his parents Morris 35 and Emily 25 Parks and his siblings William 5, Morris 3, and John 9 months. His age was 6, he was born in Ohio, his father was born in New York and his mother in Ohio, and he was attending school.

1851 England Census
Elizabeth Land was living in Carbrooke, Wayland, Norfolk, England with her parents Benj 26 and Charlotte 31 Land and her brothers Charles 4 and Benj 3 months. Her age was 2 and she was born in Carbrooke, Norfolk, England.

In the spring of 1852, following the death of her mother Charlotte Land and her younger brother Benjamin Jr, and the remarriage of her father to Mary Ann Dack, Elizabeth and her family left England and emigrated to Ontario, Canada where they appear to have temporarily settled in Hamilton. While living in Hamilton Elizabeth's half-siblings, Mary, Jane/Jennie, and William were born.

In either late 1857 or early 1858 her family continued their migration and crossed the border into the United States where they permanently settled in Clinton County, Michigan.

1860 US Federal Census
Elizabeth Land was living in Dallas, Clinton, Michigan with her father Benjamin Land 36, her stepmother Mary Land 36, and her siblings Charles 14, Jane 6, William 3, and Lorette/Sorette 1. Her sister Mary was living with a family named Miller in a neighboring town of Riley. Her age was 12, she was born in England, and she was not listed with an occupation or as attending school but was probably helping her stepmother with the home and younger siblings.

I have not been able to find Thompkins Parks and his family in the 1860 US Federal Census.

Homer Parks was living in Dallas, Clinton, Michigan with his parents Morris 46 and Emily 35 Parks and his siblings William 14, Alexander 13, John 10, Charlotte 8, George 6, Webster 4, and Pathiah 2 months. His age was 16, he was no longer attending school, and had no occupation listed so he was probably helping his father work their farm.

US Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
Name: Homer Parks, Enlistment Age: 18, Enlistment Date: 31 Dec 1861, Enlistment Place: Dallas, Michigan, Enlistment Rank: private, Muster Date: 13 Feb 1862, Muster Place: Michigan, Company: K, Regiment: 14th Infantry, Side of War: union, Survived War: yes, Muster Out Date: 10 Jul 1862, Muster Out Place: Big Springs, Mississippi, Muster Out Information: discharge due to disability.

The 14th Michigan Infantry was organized at Ypsilanti and Detroit, Michigan, and was mustered into Federal service for a three-year enlistment on 13 Feb 1862. They left Michigan for St. Louis, Missouri on 17 Apr and then moved on to Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. During the time that Home was serving they saw action at the siege of Corinth, Mississippi from 29 Apr to 30 May, at Farmington on 3 May and 9 May, they were involved in reconnaissance toward Corinth on 8 May, and a pursuit to Booneville from 13 May to 12 Jun. From 13 Jun to 18 Jul they were involved with Buell's operations along the Memphis and Charleston Railroad in Northern Alabama and the middle of Tennessee. It would have been during this last listed action that Home was either injured or became too ill to continue and was discharged for disability.

Homer Parks married Emma Oliveada Gage on 12 Sep 1863 in Clinton County, MI.

US Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
Name: Tompkins Parks, Enlistment Age: 19, Enlistment Date: 10 Sep 1863, Enlistment Place: Dallas, Michigan, Enlistment Rank: private, Muster Date: 2 Oct 1863, Muster Place: Michigan, Company: B, Regiment: 10th Cavalry, Side of War: union, Survived War: yes, Muster Out Date: 22 Nov 1865, Muster Out Place: Memphis, Tennessee.

On 10 Oct 1863, in Dallas, Clinton, Michigan, probably just before he shipped out Tompkins married Diantha M. Parks. Possibly a relation of his as she was also from Clinton County. I have found no divorce record, but Diantha did not die until 1924 so the couple probably divorced soon after he mustered out of the Union Army.

The 10th Michigan Cavalry was organized at Grand Rapids, Michigan between 18 Sep and 23 Nov 1863. The regiment left Grand Rapids for Lexington, KY on 1 Dec 1863. From Kentucky they went to Knoxville, TN on 25 Feb 1864, and saw their first action at Flat Creek Valley on 15 March. The regiment was involved in more than a dozen expeditions during that spring, summer, and fall, and in 1865 took part in General Stoneman's raid into North Carolina and Virginia. This raid, involving mostly cavalry troops and a fewe mounted infantry, destroyed much of what remained of a rail system in these states, as well as destroying any military supplies they found.

I have not been able to find a marriage record for Elizabeth and her first husband Tompkins D. Parks, but we know from the birthdate of her first child that it was probably sometime in 1866.

1870 US Federal Census
Betsey and Tompkins Parks were living in Riley, Clinton, Michigan with their children Lovina 2 and Richard 10 months. Betsey's age was 21, her parents were both of foreign birth, and her occupation was keeping house; Tompkins age was 24, his occupation was harness maker, and his personal estate was valued at $200.

Homer and Emma Parks were living in Lyons, Ionia, Michigan with their daughter Luella 4. Homer's age was 26, and his occupation was laborer; Emma's age was 24, she was born in Michigan, and her occupation was keeping house.

While I have found no divorce record for Homer and Emma Parks, we know that they were divorced prior to 1880 as she was married to George Griffin by the 1880 census.

1880 US Federal Census
Elisabeth and Tompkins Parks were living in Evergreen, Montcalm, Michigan with their children Lovina 12, Sidney R. 11, Thomas 8, Irving 4, and Alfred 4 months. Elisabeth's age was 31, her parents were both born in England, and her occupation was housekeeper; Tompkins age was 36, his parents were both born in Ohio, and his occupation was harness maker.

I have not been able to find Homer Parks in the US Federal 1880 Census. But I have found a marriage record showing that a Homer Parks married Alice M. Hobert on 7 Jul 1887 in Owosso, Shiawassee, Michigan.

1890 US Federal Census Veterans Schedule
Persons who served in the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps of the United States during the war of the rebellion (who are survivors), and widows of such persons in Sidney Township, County of Montcalm, State of Michigan, enumerated in June, 1890
Name: Tompkins Parks, Rank: private, Company: B, Regiment: 11 Michigan Calvary, Enlistment Date: 17 Sep 1863, Discharge Date: 17 Nov 1865, Length in Service: 2 years 1 month 15 days, Post-Office Address: Sheridan, Montcalm, Michigan, Disability Incurred: Rheumatism, no remarks.

Michigan Death Records
To the Honorable Secretary of State of Michigan: Return of Deaths in the County of Montcalm for the Year Ending December 31st, A.D. 1895 Date of Death: 26 Mar 1895, Name: Tompkins Parks, Sex: male, Color: white, Marital Status: married, Age: 50 years 5 months, Place of Death: Fair Plaine, Disease/Cause of Death: poison (suicide), Birthplace: Michigan, Occupation: harness maker, Parents: Sidney and Betsey Parks.

Tompkins D. Parks died on 26 Mar 1895 in Fair Plaine, Montcalm, Michigan and was buried in Clear Lake Cemetery in Fenwick, Montcalm, Michigan.

According to the Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files on 18 Apr 1895 Elizabeth filed for her Civil War Widow's Pension, her application was #612457 and she was assigned certificate #416.741.

On 13 Mar 1899 Homer Parks wife, Mary Alice, died in Lyons, Ionia, Michigan of consumption.

1900 US Federal Census
Elizabeth Parks was living in Fairplain, Montcalm, Michigan with her children Clara 14 and Benjamin 10. Her age was 48, she could read and write, she was a widow, she had given birth to 7 children with 6 of them still living, and she owned her own home that was free of mortgage.

Homer Parks was living in Lyons, Ionia, Michigan his widowed mother Emily Parks 74, his son Lloyd 10, and a boarder Ellen Henry 22. His age was 56, he was listed as married but his wife had died the previous year, his occupation was a painter who had been unemployed for 3 months during the previous year, and he owned his home that was free of mortgage.

Michigan, US, Marriage Records
To the Honorable Secretary of State of Michigan: Return of Marriages in the County of Ionia for the Quarter Ending June 30, A.D. 1905
Date of License: 12 Jun 1905, Name of Bridegroom: Home Parks, Age: 61, Color: white, Residence: Lyons, Birthplace: Ohio, Occupation: painter, Father's Name: Morris Parks, Mother's Name: Emily Leach, Times Previously Married: 2; Bride's Name: Elizabeth Parks, If previously married Maiden Name: Elizabeth Land, Age: 56, Color: white, Residence: Fenwick, Birthplace: England, Occupation: housekeeper, Father's Name: Benjamin Land, Mother's Name: unknown, Times Previously Married: 1; Date of Marriage: 13 Jun 1905, Place of Marriage: Fenwick, Name and Station of Person by Whom Married: Rev. N. Gephart, Minister, Witnesses: Judson and Mary Knapp of Vickeryville.

I have not found a relationship, but I will always wonder if Elizabeth's first husband Thompson Parks and second husband Homer Parks were related to each other. Both men were harness makers, but Tompkins was born in Michigan and Homer in Ohio - both born in 1844. Possibly they were cousins.

1910 US Federal Census
Elizabeth and Homer Parks were living in Fairplain, Montcalm, Michigan. Elizabeth's age was 61, she did not work outside of the home, and she had given birth to 7 children with 6 of them still living; Homer's age was 66, he could read and write, his occupation was a harness maker who appears to have owned his own shop, he had not been out of work at all for the past year, and they owned their home free of mortgage.

1920 US Federal Census
Elizabeth and Homer Parks were living in Fairplain, Montcalm, Michigan. Elizabeth's age was 71, she was a naturalized citizen, and she did not work outside of the home; Homer's age was 76, his occupation is given as none - probably retired, and they still owned their home free of mortgage.

1930 US Federal Census
Elizabeth and Homer Parks were living in Fairplain, Montcalm, Michigan. Elizabeth's age was 81, and her occupation was homemaker; Homer's age was 86, he was a Civil War veteran, he was no longer working, they owned their home that was valued at $1200, and they did not own a radio.

Michigan, US, Death Records
Michigan Department of Health - Certificate of Death
Name: Homer Parks, Place of Death: Fairplains, Montcalm, Michigan, Date of Death: 13 Sep 1930, Time of Death: 10 a.m., Age at Death: 86 years 7 months 17 days, Cause of Death: acute dysentery, Sex: male, Color: white, Marital Status: married, Wife: Elizabeth Parks, Occupation: retired, Birthdate: 26 Jan 1844, Birthplace: Ohio, Father's Name: Morris Parks born in New York, Mother's Name: Emily born in Ohio, Informant: Elizabeth Parks, Burial Date: 15 Sep 1930, Burial Place: Clear Lake.

Homer Parks died on 13 Sep 1930 in Fairplains, Montcalm, Michigan and was buried in Clear Lake Cemetery in Fenwick, Montcalm, Michigan.

According to the Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files on 21 Nov 1930 Elizabeth Parks applied for her Civil War Widow's Pension on application # 1681.246.

Michigan Department of Health - Certificate of Death
Name: Elizabeth Parks, Place of Death: Fair Plains, Montcalm, Michigan, Date of Death: 24 May 1939, Time of Death: 6:30 a.m., Age at Death: 90 years 4 months 4 days, Cause of Death: cardiac failure, Sex: female, Color: white, Marital Status: widowed, Husband: Tompkins Parks, Occupation: housewife, Birthdate: 20 Jan 1849, Birthplace: Durbenshire, England, Father's Name: Benj Land born in England, Mother's Name: (left blank) born in England, Informant: Mrs. Irving Parks (her daughter-in-law), Burial Date: 27 May 1939, Burial Place: Clear Lake.

Elizabeth (Land) Parks died on 24 May 1939 in Fair Plaine, Montcalm, Michigan and was buried in Clear Lake Cemetery in Fenwick, Montcalm, Michigan with her first husband (although her second husband was also buried in that cemetery).

Elizabeth and Tompkins D. Parks are known to have had seven children: Lovina Parks (1867-1892), Richard Sydney Parks (1869-1960), Thomas Parks (1872-1960), Irving Gilman Parks (1876-1952), Alfred Clay Parks (1880-1921), Clara Belle (Parks) Walker (1885-1942), and Benjamin Parks (1890-1935).

Sources

• Her father is listed in her Michigan death certificate, in her marriage record to her second husband, she is living with her father and stepmother in the 1860 US Federal census and English Baptism records list both of her parents.