I'AKKMAN. PARTl.iN. 463 late Jacob Bigelow, M. D. Of this union were three children : Grace (now Mrs. Charles P. Coffin), Francis (who died in infancy), and Catherine S. (now Mrs. I. T. Coolidge, 3d). Mrs. Parkman died in 185S. PARKMAN, HENRY, son of Samuel and Mary Eliot (Dwight) Parkman, was born in Boston, May 23, 1850. His early educational training was in private schools, in which he fitted for col- lege. He was graduated from Harvard in the class of 1870, and from the Harvard law school in 1873. He immediately went into active law practice, became successful in his profes- sion, and is to-day a representative of the younger legal fraternity of Boston. He has been called to various posts of public and private trust, and been honored by city and state official positions. He was a member of the Boston common council in 1879, '80, '81, '82, '83 and '84 ; was representative of ward 9, city of Bos- ton, in the Legislature of 1886, '87 and '88, serving on the committees on labor, street railways, bills in the third reading, cities, and rules, and has been secretary and presi- dent of the Republican city committee of Boston. He is secretary of the Provident Insti- tution for Savings, and president of the Ad. mis Nervine Asylum, and of the train- ing school for nurses. PARKS, EUGENE D., son of Horace and Ellen M. (Lewis) Parks, was born in Russell, Hampden county, January 17, 1862. The common schools of Russell gave him his early school training, after which he attended the VVestfield high school. His entry into business life was in April, 1879. I' 1 1888 he took the position of telegraph operator and helper at Russell Station, B. & A. R. R. Mr. Parks was married in Springfield, Oct. 22, 188S, to Lizzie Belle, daughter of Alexander H. (',. and Lizzie S. (Russell) Lewis. They have no children. Mr. Parks was chairman of the board of selectmen, assessors and overseers of the poor, 1877 and '78 ; and is now chairman of the Democratic town committee. He has also served two years as town treas- urer, and one year as tax collector. His church connections are with the Bap- tists, being prominently identified with the Sunday-school work. In all the positions he has held, he has preserved the respect and esteem of his fellow-townsmen. PARKS, ROLAND, son of Warren and Lydia (Sackett) Parks, — both natives of Blandford, Hampden county — was born in that town, December 31, 1803. His grandfather, Roger Parks, settled in Blandford at an early day, and was one of the hardy pioneers who first commenced felling the trees and establishing their homes among the hills of western Massa- chusetts. Mr. Parks passed his boyhood on the ancestral farm, remaining there until the death of his father, in 1835. He then started in the world for himself, removing to Russell, where for the next five years he gave his attention to farming, which business he relinquished in 1842, having been appointed station agent for the West- ern (now Boston & Albany) Railroad, at Russell. He was the first agent at that station, and retained the position till 185 1, after which time he was for two years deputy sheriff and jailer for the county. During Franklin Pierce's administration he was connected with the Boston Custom House, where he remained four years as inspector. He has had a general store at Russell at different times from 1843 to '67. Mr. Parks has several times served in the state Legislature, occupying a seat in the House of Representatives in the years 1841, '51 and '64, during which period he was a member of many important com- mittees. He has been justice of the peace for a number of years ; was from 1873 to '77 special county commissioner, and has also been postmaster. He has held every municipal office in the gift of his town except that of school committee, which he declined. Mr. Parks has been energetic in local improvements, especially influential in pro- curing the building of the beautiful iron bridge over the river when the Boston & Albany Railroad Company changed their track at Russell station. He was married, June 25, 1836, to Marcia, daughter of William and Rhoda Culver, of Blandford. He had one child : Olive C, (wife of Jarvis W. Gibbs, of Russell) who was born 1837, and who died 1887. Politically Mr. Parks was a war Demo- crat. He has voted the national Demo- cratic ticket every term, from Andrew Jack- son to Grover Cleveland, inclusive. PARTON, JAMES, son of James and Ann (I. each) Parton, was born in Canter- bury, England, February 9, 1822. He was brought to the United States when he was five years old, and being educated in the schools of New York City,
