James Robert Parks

This blog is ostensibly about James Robert Parks, born Sep. 17, 1874 in Larissa, Cherokee Co., TX to Doctor "Doc" Taylor Parks and his wife, Rebecca Ellen Brock.  However, as will be seen a little further down, I concentrate more on one of his descendants.

James Robert Parks was a conductor on the Texas & Pacific (T&P) Railroad.  His home was at Big Spring in Howard Co., TX.  He moved there in 1892 and the following year was hired as a switchman with the T&P.  Five years later he became a brakeman and promoted to conductor in 1900.  James was an employee of the T&P for 56 years, 49 years as a conductor when he retired on Jul. 1, 1949 at the age of 75. On Dec. 1 of that year he suffered a debilitating stroke and died in Big Spring on Mar 28, 1950.

With him all those years was his wife, Rosa Ann Cardwell, a daughter of Sam Cardwell.  Rosa was born in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY in 1878.  She arrived in Big Spring in 1895 and married James on Sep. 29 of that year.  She died in 1954 at Big Spring, also of a stroke.  Both buried at Big Spring in the Mount Olive Cemetery.

I am fairly confident that they had only five children, all born at Big Springs.  They were Gladys Allene, born c1899; Robert M., born 1901; Mildred, born 1904, James Harold, born c1906 and Wendell, born 1920.

Daughter Gladys Allene was married c1918 in Big Spring to Roger Hammond White of Anson, Jones Co., TX.  He was also born c1899.  Together they had at least two children, Roger, Jr. and Shirley Jean.  Roger was born in 1919 and Shirley not until 1931. There were perhaps others born in between those years who didn't live to become adults, but I have not been able to identify any.

Roger, Jr. married Frances Genevieve Wallace in 1946.  Before that, however, he was a member of the 2d Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, 36th Division of the Texas National Guard.  His unit was activated at the beginning of WW2 hostilities and sent to the Pacific and the Indonesian island of Java.  In 1942 they were the only US forces on the ground.  On Mar. 12 that year, the British, American and Dutch military on the island surrendered to the invading Japanese.  All of the American forces were sent to Nagasaki where they remained prisoners for 42 months*.  According to some reports, there were about 400 POWs just to the north of Nagasaki when Maj. Sweeney, flying the B-29 bomber, Bockscar dropped the second atomic bomb on that city.

Although there were reports of some prisoners in the city being killed, I have found no evidence that any of the 2d Battalion prisoners being affected by the bomb.

After his marriage to Frances, he worked for the Pet, Inc., the evaporated milk company and was later employed by Cadena Jackson Food Services until he retired in 1981.

Roger, Jr. died at San Antonio, Bexar Co., TX on Jan. 22, 2010 and was buried there at Sunset Memorial Park. Frances preceded him in death on Sep. 5, 2000 and she too is buried at Sunset Memorial Park. They were parents of two daughters, Andrea and Wendy.

Neither James Robert Parks nor any of his ancestors are related to me.  His son, Robert M. Parks did marry Zou Margaret Hardy, the daughter of Abram Tyree and Lula Edna Coffee.  Lula was my first cousin, 2x removed, the daughter of Lilburn Warren and Margaret Goode Coffee. Lilburn Warren was brother to my great-grandfather, James M. Coffee.

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*Name Roger H White Jr Event Type Military Service Event Date 1941-1945 Event Place Asia Military Rank Staff Sergeant Service Number 20813494 Military Service Branch Field Artillery Parent Military Unit     36th Infantry Division Assigned Military Unit 131st Field Artillery Regiment Subordinate Military Unit E Btry World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Data Files, 04/2005 - 10/2007, NAID 731002. Collection ADBC: Records of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, 04-2005 - 2006; NARA NAID 731002, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

Children of William Brownloe and Mary Young Coffey

A couple of days ago I wrote about this family. William was a son of John C. & Martha White Coffey of which I wrote about earlier today. Mary "Mollie" was the daughter of George and Sarah "Sallie" Lee Young.

Today I decided to add a little more info about the children:

Walter Chandler, born c1920 in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co., died Aug., 28, 2001 in Johnson City, Washington Co., TN.

His obituary:

Chandler Coffey, 82, 700 Milligan Highway, Johnson City, died unexpectedly Tuesday, August 28, 2001, at Johnson City Medical Center.

Mr. Coffey was a native of Grainger County, Tenn. He was of the Protestant faith and was a retired worker from the Dawn of Hope Workshop.

Survivors include a sister, Bonnie Coffey, Greeneville, and a niece, Vickie Smith, Greeneville.

Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, (423) 543-4917, is in charge of arrangements. Visit our Web site at www.Funeral-Plans.com/Tetrick

COFFEY -- Graveside services for Chandler Coffey, 82, 700 Milligan Highway, Johnson City, who died Tuesday, August 28, 2001, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, August 31, at Coffey Ridge Cemetery, Unicoi, with the Rev. Ross Lindley officiating. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Correll and David Morrison. Everyone will meet at the cemetery at 10:55 a.m. Friday for the graveside service. Friends may call from noon until 8 p.m. Thursday, August 30, at Tetrick Funeral Home, Riverside Chapel. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to ARC of Washington County, 2700 S. Roan Street, Suite 300 B, Johnson City, Tenn. 37601, Attn: Lorie Copas. Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is in charge of arrangements.

Cecil G., born c1922, died young.  No other information.

John Henry, born c1924 in Morristown, Hamblen Co., TN, died Mar.  1, 2008 in Grainger Co.

His obituary:

John H. Coffey, age 84, of Bean Station,Tennessee went to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 1, 2008. He was a member of Yellow Springs Baptist Church. He was a good husband and father and will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Mollie Coffey; brothers, Kyle and Chandler; and sisters, Viola (Rick) (Ralph) Hatfield and Martha Sloan.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Susie Howerton Coffey; sons, Danny Coffey and Earl (Charlotte) Coffey; brother, Rhisteen of Morristown; sisters, Vioma McKinney of Indiana, and Fern Manning of Ohio; four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and one great great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at Westside Chapel Funeral Home, Morristown,Tennessee with the Rev. Vance Dennis Johnson, the Rev. Bill Johnson, and the Rev. Ray Seal officiating. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, at First Independent Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, prior to the services at the funeral home. Arrangements by Westside Chapel Funeral Home in Morristown, Tennessee.

Addie Viola "Rick" Coffey Hatfield, born Mar 25, 1925, died Jun. 2, 1989.

Her obituary:

Addie Viola (Coffey) Hatfield, 64 of 7923 Shartz Road, Franklin, died June 2 at her home. She was a native of Thornhill, Tennessee. Born in 1925 to William and Molly (Young) Coffey. Survivors include two daughters, Lisa Hatfield, Springboro, and Sharon Seabald, Dayton; two brothers, Chandler, Knoxville, TN; John, Bean Station, TN; three sisters: Cecil, Knoxville, TN; Vioma (Oma) (Floyd) Mckinney, Marion,Indiana and Martha Sloan, Bellefontaine, Ohio; one half-sister, Fern McQueary, Franklin; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her son Dale Hatfield in 1970 and her husband, Ralph in April 1988.

Services were June 5 at the Eaton-Anderson Funeral Home, Franklin with the Rev. Delbert Dawes officiating. Burial was in Woodhill Cemetery, Franklin, Warren County, Ohio.

 Martha Vioma "Oma" Coffey, born c1927.  No other info.

Martha Jean "Marty" Coffey Sloan, Jul. 27, 1929, Harlan Co., KY, died Dec. 5, 1989 in Bellfonatine, Logan Co., OH.

Her obituary:

Martha J. Sloan,1177 Erie St.was born on July 27th,1929 to Bill Coffey and Mollie Young Coffey in Harlan County, Kentucky.

Mrs.Sloan died Tuesday, Dec. 5th,1989 in Bellefontaine,Ohio,at age 60.

She married John M. "Hank" Sloan on June 11, 1966 in Bellefontaine,Ohio.

Funeral services will be conducted at Eichholtz Funeral Home Friday at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Keith McNeill will officiate and burial will be at the Rushsylvania Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

Mrs. Sloan was a former employee of Westinghouse Corporation in Bellefontaine. She was a member of the BPOElks 132 and the auxiliaries of F.O.E. 2166 and Frank Castle Post 1066, VFW.

She was the sister of Walter Chandler Coffey, Cecil G.Coffey, John Henry (Susie) Coffey, Viola (Rick) (Ralph) Hatfield ,Vioma (Oma) Coffey (Floyd) McKinney, Fern Young (Bill) McCeary (George) Manning, Mary Francis Young (Ben) Scearce, Paul Bunch and Ruth Bunch.

Survivors include two sons, Richard Dearwester of DeGraff and Craig Dearwester of Bellefontaine; two daughters, Mrs. Donald (Connie) Cardwell of Marysville and Mrs. Joseph (Valerie) Wise of Bellefontaine; and eight grandchildren.

Thanks to Barbara Rushing of Bradenton, FL for permission to use these.