18.
Miles Gibson PARKER
RECORD: McManus, Jane Parker, Pioneers West of Appalachia, 1976, 1984, Page 90.
RECORD: Records of Louisiana Confederate Soldiers and Louisiana Confederate Commands, Andrew B. Booth, published by The Reprint Company Publishers, Spartanburg, SC, 1984, p. 70.
Miles Gibson Parker, third child of Isaiah and Dicy (Calcote) Parker, was born 11 Dec. 1837 in Mississippi. He moved with his family to Louisiana while still a small child.
As a young man, Miles Parker met his future bride, Sarah Ellen Williamson, when she was but 10 years old. He knew immediately that this was the girl with whom he wanted to spend his life, and told everyone that when she grew up, he was going to marry her.
When the Civil War broke out, Miles enlisted. War records show he enlisted in New Orleans on Aug. 2, 1861. According to his enlistment papers, Miles was 5'3" tall, had blue eyes, dark hair, and a light complexion. He was a farmer and was single. Miles served in Company B, 1st Nelligan's Louisiana Infantry, nicknamed the "Red River Rebels." Miles was later promoted to 5th Sergeant on 28 Apr 1862, and his military records listed the battles in which Miles participated, which were some of the bloodiest battles of that war, occurring in and around Virginia and West Virginia. As listed on the records, they were:
Battle of Manassas (second) 30-31 Aug 1862
Chantilly - 2 Sep 1862
Harper's Ferry - 15 Sep 1862
Sharpsburg - 17 Sep 1862
Chancellorsville - 2-3 May 1863
Paynes Farm - 27 Nov 1863
Wilderness - 5 May 1864; Spootsylvania - 12 May 1864
Yellow Tavern - 19 May 1864
Cold Harbor - 2 Jun 1864
Harper's Ferry (second battle) - 6 Jul 1864
Monacacy - 9 Jul 1864
Snicker's Gap - 20 Jul 1864
Kernstown - 25 Aug 1864
Shepherdstown - 1 Sep 1864
Smithfield - 10 Sep 1864
Winchester - 18 Sep 1864
Fisher's Hill - 22 sep 1864
Cedar Creek - 19 Oct 1864
Hatchers Run - 5-6-7 Feb 1864
Miles was among the prisoners of war paroled at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on April 10, 1865. He was a member of the Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee.
Returning to Rapides Parish after the Civil War, Miles married the young Sarah Ellen Williamson, who was at that time only 15 years old.
In 1874, Miles Parker was the first elected sheriff of the newly-formed Vernon Parish and his term lasted until 1878. As the parish did not have a jail during that early period, Miles sometimes brought his prisoners home. Once Miles tied a prisoner, whom his wife called the "little Red Man' (for a red shirt he was wearing) to the foot of the bedstead. The "Little Red Man" was gone the next morning; either he was let loose or escaped.
Miles owned and operated a store in the Simpson area, and taught some of the earlier students in Simpson; but his main livlihood was farming. The Parkers had 14 children, and were fortunate that only one child died at birth. During one of her pregnancies, a fall from the corn crib in her sixth month caused Ellen to go into labor prematurely, and twin sons were born, each weighing about 1-1/2 pounds. Ellen was determined to save her babies. Although baby Williard lived only a few hours, Grover survived. He was so tiny that one of his older sister's wedding rings could be placed around his arm all the way to his shoulder.
Miles and Sarah Ellen remained in the community now named Simpson, in Verson Parish, Louisiana, for the remainder of their lives.
RECORD: 1900 Census, Vernon Parish, LA
Miles G. Parker, born Dec. 1837, 62, married 31 years, born MS, farmer
Sarah E. Parker, born Dec. 1851, 49, married 31 years, born LA
Frank Parker, born Oct. 1877, 22, born LA, teacher
Sarah A. Parker, Sept. 1880, 19, born LA, farm laborer
Marry M. Parker, July 1883, 16, born LA, farm laborer
Arthur E. Parker, June 1885, 14, born LA, farm laborer
Bertha E. Parker, Oct. 1887, 12, born LA, farm laborer
Miles G. Parker, Jan. 1890, 10, born LA, farm laborer
Liddie Parker, Sept. 1893, 8, born LA
Ellen E. Parker, Oct. 1895, 4, born LA
Robert O. Parker, Mar. 1898, 2, born LA
29.
Margaret Mag PARKER
30.
John Lee PARKER
31.
Callie Donia PARKER
33.
Frances Oscar PARKER
34.
Sarah Sallie Melitta PARKER
35.
Mary Amanda Mollie PARKER
36.
Arthur Edgar PARKER
37.
Bertha Euphama PARKER
38.
Grover PARKER
39.
Williard PARKER