JAMES VAN PARKS.--A patriotic citizen who has shown his practical patriotism by actual military service, a warm advocate of popular education, highly respected as an independent and fearless justice of the peace, James Van Parks, Jr., was born in Oroville, January 5, 1869, the son of James Van Parks, a native of Prince Edward Island. His father was a ship carpenter and about 1856 crossed the plains to California and settled inButte County.
Soon afterward the elder Parks located in Oroville and engaged in river mining; he became experienced in this work and widely known for his cleverness in building sluices and dams. He followed river mining for some years, and then was elected constable of Ophir Township, which at that time included nearly all of eastern Butte County. So acceptable were his services that he was frequently reelected and served in all about forty years in that office. He was also for years a messenger for Wells Fargo Express Company, and journeyed between Oroville and Quincy. Many times he assisted the sheriff on trips to distant points, on one occasion going to New York to capture Black Bart, the noted stage robber; but they did not get him. He was a clever official, using tact and skill in the pursuit and arrest of criminals who were more or less numerous in this part of the state in early days. One of a great many incidents might here be related.
Shortly after Mr. Parks was first elected constable a noted desperado, who had the reputation of being a successful gambler and gun-man, arrived in Oroville. A few nights after his arrival, he and several other men engaged in a gambling game in one of the local saloons. The desperado was very successful from the start of the game, finally he was caught cheating by one of the other players and immediately accused of doing so. The desperado without any warning whatever pulled his revolver and shot at his accuser, the bullet striking the man on the inside of the left arm and inflicting a dangerous wound. The desperado without losing any time drew another pistol from his pocket and with a gun in each hand backed out of the saloon, defying the crowd to follow. He then went into hiding in Chinatown. A warrant was issued from the justice court the next morning and placed in the hands of Constable Parks. Many friends of the young officer volunteered to be sworn in as deputies to assist him in arresting the criminal, but Mr. Parks declined the proffered assistance, stating that he had been elected to the position and that he did not wish to jeopardize the life of any of his friends; he thought he could handle the situation himself. By a clever ruse he located the house in which the desperado was hiding and concealing himself near that house patiently waited for the criminal to come out. About four o'clock that afternoon his patience was rewarded by the man coming out onto the front porch bareheaded and wearing a long linen duster; looking up and down the street, apparently to see if the coast was clear, he stepped down into the yard and walked around the corner of the house. No sooner had he turned around the corner of the house than Constable Parks rushed from his hiding place and peeked around the corner where the criminal had disappeared. The officer saw his man looking over the back fence and soon was right at his back. When Mr. Parks was within ten feet of his man he saw that he had a big pistol in his duster pocket. Stepping up quietly, he slipped the man's gun out of his pocket and placed it in his own empty holster. He then tapped the fellow on the shoulder and told him he was under arrest. The fellow immediately whirled and grabbed for his weapon and was much chagrined to find that he was unarmed. He admitted to the young officer that he was his prisoner and tried several ruses to get back into the house before going into court, but each plea was firmly but politely refused. The man finally said he hated to go up town bareheaded, whereupon the constable loaned the man his own hat and then marched him to the judge's office. That official placed the man under a thousand dollar cash bail, which the criminal immediately furnished for his appearance in court the next morning at ten o'clock. That night he "jumped his bail" and was never seen in Butte County thereafter. The man whom the desperado shot recovered. Constable Parks was a crack shot with pistol and rifle. He was a member and assisted in organizing a company of home guards here in 1861. The Guards were organized and drilled for the purpose of joining the Union forces if necessary. He remained a member of the company until it disbanded. Finally he retired from office, in which he had been an influential Republican. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was also an exempt fireman, having been one of the organizers and a charter member of the Oroville fire company, in which he was active for many years. He died in Oroville, March 13, 1911.
Mrs. Parks, who was in maidenhood Miss Margaret Noonan, was born in Ireland and in her infancy was brought to New York by her parents and later came with members of her family to California via Panama, settling in San Francisco for several years. She came to Oroville on a visit and while here met Mr. Parks. Later they were married at Sacramento and returned to Oroville to make their home. Mrs. Parks was one of the organizers and for many years an officer of the first public library established in Oroville and was one of the best read and best informed women in this part of the state. Mrs. Parks died March 31, 1910, the mother of five boys and three girls, viz.: Daniel N.; Agnes M.; Margaret A.; James V.; A. Lincoln; Matthew F.; John S.; and Mattie L. Three boys and the girls grew to maturity, while one boy and three girls are still living. The oldest daughter, Agnes M., married John G. Alm and resides at Enterprise; Margaret and Mattie live at Oroville where the former is a bookkeeper and the latter a teacher in the grammar school.
The only surviving son, James Van Parks, was educated in the Oroville public schools, and later secured a first grade certificate to teach, taking charge, when about eighteen years old, of the Magalia school, where he remained three years in charge of about fifty pupils. He then served as principal of the Nelson school for two years, then taught at Meadow Valley, Plumas County, one term. Thereupon he was made principal of the Quincyschool in Plumas County and held the position four years. Each summer for six years he also taught at La Porte, thus making a six-year service without vacations. After that he had charge of various schools in Plumas andSierra Counties, and for three years was principal of the Smartville school in Yuba County, concluding his teaching experience with one year as principal of the Palermo school. As a result of these many years of pioneer and superior service in the schoolroom, Judge Parks holds a life diploma as a teacher.
An ardent, constructive Republican, Judge Parks was persuaded in the fall of 1906 to become a candidate for the office of justice of the peace and was elected and entered upon his duties in the following January. In 1910 he was reelected without opposition, and in 1914 he was again chosen for the office, this time at the primaries and over two other candidates. How well the Judge deserves some such consideration as this at the hands of his fellow citizens, and how well he was prepared for such a responsible office, may be estimated from his work under adverse conditions in the educational field. Once he taught a school with seventy-eight pupils in nine different grades, and at La Porte there was an attendance of sixty pupils scattered through nine grades. Many times in the spring and fall as much as ten feet of snow covered the earth, and the pupils came and went on snow-shoes and skis, the young teacher mastered the skis and also the skates, and being athletically inclined he played baseball with the boys and went snow-shoeing and skating with them. He also played on some of the best ball clubs in Northern California.
Soon after the election of Judge Parks as justice of the peace, the railroad construction undertaken here brought into the county a large floating population of the disorderly and dangerous kind, and crime become more rampant. His duties, therefore, were at times numerous and onerous; but with untiring zeal he disposed of each burden of the day and was ready, with the rising of the sun, for the next day's tasks. Besides serving as justice of the peace the Judge is a notary and is active in conveyancing.
A public service rendered by Judge Parks that should not be lost sight of is that in which he was associated with the military forces of the country. Having previously served four years in Company F, Eighth Regiment, N.G.C., or until the company disbanded, he was instrumental in organizing Company I, Second Regiment, N.G.C., and became the first captain of the company. While serving with the military companies he became an expert shot with the military rifle, qualifying as a sharp-shooter. Besides being a member of the Oroville Volunteer Fire Department, he is president of the City Board of Education, to which he was elected at the city election in March, 1915.
On December 25, 1912, in the city of his birth, Judge Parks was united in marriage with Miss Jennie M. Williams, a native of Cherokee, Butte County, and the oldest daughter of David H. and Annie J. Williams, pioneer settlers who are still residing here. Two children: James V. and John W., bless this union. Judge Parks is a member of Chico Lodge, No. 423, B.P.O. Elks; of Argonaut Parlor, No. 8, N.S.G.W., of which he is past president; the Woodmen of the World; the Modern Woodmen of America, and several other fraternities. Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 709-712, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
~~~
James V Parks Birth Year: abt 1869 Death Date: 12 Jun 1929 Age at Death: 60 Death Place: Butte, California, USA Source Information: Ancestry.com. California, Death Index, 1905-1939 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Source: Old Oroville Cemetery, by Paradise Genealogical Society. The records compiled are from the written journals, burial permits, burial records and family records provided through the cooperation of the Oroville Cemetery District, where original records are held. Cited name is on page 252 of the publication completed in 1992.
Soon afterward the elder Parks located in Oroville and engaged in river mining; he became experienced in this work and widely known for his cleverness in building sluices and dams. He followed river mining for some years, and then was elected constable of Ophir Township, which at that time included nearly all of eastern Butte County. So acceptable were his services that he was frequently reelected and served in all about forty years in that office. He was also for years a messenger for Wells Fargo Express Company, and journeyed between Oroville and Quincy. Many times he assisted the sheriff on trips to distant points, on one occasion going to New York to capture Black Bart, the noted stage robber; but they did not get him. He was a clever official, using tact and skill in the pursuit and arrest of criminals who were more or less numerous in this part of the state in early days. One of a great many incidents might here be related.
Shortly after Mr. Parks was first elected constable a noted desperado, who had the reputation of being a successful gambler and gun-man, arrived in Oroville. A few nights after his arrival, he and several other men engaged in a gambling game in one of the local saloons. The desperado was very successful from the start of the game, finally he was caught cheating by one of the other players and immediately accused of doing so. The desperado without any warning whatever pulled his revolver and shot at his accuser, the bullet striking the man on the inside of the left arm and inflicting a dangerous wound. The desperado without losing any time drew another pistol from his pocket and with a gun in each hand backed out of the saloon, defying the crowd to follow. He then went into hiding in Chinatown. A warrant was issued from the justice court the next morning and placed in the hands of Constable Parks. Many friends of the young officer volunteered to be sworn in as deputies to assist him in arresting the criminal, but Mr. Parks declined the proffered assistance, stating that he had been elected to the position and that he did not wish to jeopardize the life of any of his friends; he thought he could handle the situation himself. By a clever ruse he located the house in which the desperado was hiding and concealing himself near that house patiently waited for the criminal to come out. About four o'clock that afternoon his patience was rewarded by the man coming out onto the front porch bareheaded and wearing a long linen duster; looking up and down the street, apparently to see if the coast was clear, he stepped down into the yard and walked around the corner of the house. No sooner had he turned around the corner of the house than Constable Parks rushed from his hiding place and peeked around the corner where the criminal had disappeared. The officer saw his man looking over the back fence and soon was right at his back. When Mr. Parks was within ten feet of his man he saw that he had a big pistol in his duster pocket. Stepping up quietly, he slipped the man's gun out of his pocket and placed it in his own empty holster. He then tapped the fellow on the shoulder and told him he was under arrest. The fellow immediately whirled and grabbed for his weapon and was much chagrined to find that he was unarmed. He admitted to the young officer that he was his prisoner and tried several ruses to get back into the house before going into court, but each plea was firmly but politely refused. The man finally said he hated to go up town bareheaded, whereupon the constable loaned the man his own hat and then marched him to the judge's office. That official placed the man under a thousand dollar cash bail, which the criminal immediately furnished for his appearance in court the next morning at ten o'clock. That night he "jumped his bail" and was never seen in Butte County thereafter. The man whom the desperado shot recovered. Constable Parks was a crack shot with pistol and rifle. He was a member and assisted in organizing a company of home guards here in 1861. The Guards were organized and drilled for the purpose of joining the Union forces if necessary. He remained a member of the company until it disbanded. Finally he retired from office, in which he had been an influential Republican. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was also an exempt fireman, having been one of the organizers and a charter member of the Oroville fire company, in which he was active for many years. He died in Oroville, March 13, 1911.
Mrs. Parks, who was in maidenhood Miss Margaret Noonan, was born in Ireland and in her infancy was brought to New York by her parents and later came with members of her family to California via Panama, settling in San Francisco for several years. She came to Oroville on a visit and while here met Mr. Parks. Later they were married at Sacramento and returned to Oroville to make their home. Mrs. Parks was one of the organizers and for many years an officer of the first public library established in Oroville and was one of the best read and best informed women in this part of the state. Mrs. Parks died March 31, 1910, the mother of five boys and three girls, viz.: Daniel N.; Agnes M.; Margaret A.; James V.; A. Lincoln; Matthew F.; John S.; and Mattie L. Three boys and the girls grew to maturity, while one boy and three girls are still living. The oldest daughter, Agnes M., married John G. Alm and resides at Enterprise; Margaret and Mattie live at Oroville where the former is a bookkeeper and the latter a teacher in the grammar school.
The only surviving son, James Van Parks, was educated in the Oroville public schools, and later secured a first grade certificate to teach, taking charge, when about eighteen years old, of the Magalia school, where he remained three years in charge of about fifty pupils. He then served as principal of the Nelson school for two years, then taught at Meadow Valley, Plumas County, one term. Thereupon he was made principal of the Quincyschool in Plumas County and held the position four years. Each summer for six years he also taught at La Porte, thus making a six-year service without vacations. After that he had charge of various schools in Plumas andSierra Counties, and for three years was principal of the Smartville school in Yuba County, concluding his teaching experience with one year as principal of the Palermo school. As a result of these many years of pioneer and superior service in the schoolroom, Judge Parks holds a life diploma as a teacher.
An ardent, constructive Republican, Judge Parks was persuaded in the fall of 1906 to become a candidate for the office of justice of the peace and was elected and entered upon his duties in the following January. In 1910 he was reelected without opposition, and in 1914 he was again chosen for the office, this time at the primaries and over two other candidates. How well the Judge deserves some such consideration as this at the hands of his fellow citizens, and how well he was prepared for such a responsible office, may be estimated from his work under adverse conditions in the educational field. Once he taught a school with seventy-eight pupils in nine different grades, and at La Porte there was an attendance of sixty pupils scattered through nine grades. Many times in the spring and fall as much as ten feet of snow covered the earth, and the pupils came and went on snow-shoes and skis, the young teacher mastered the skis and also the skates, and being athletically inclined he played baseball with the boys and went snow-shoeing and skating with them. He also played on some of the best ball clubs in Northern California.
Soon after the election of Judge Parks as justice of the peace, the railroad construction undertaken here brought into the county a large floating population of the disorderly and dangerous kind, and crime become more rampant. His duties, therefore, were at times numerous and onerous; but with untiring zeal he disposed of each burden of the day and was ready, with the rising of the sun, for the next day's tasks. Besides serving as justice of the peace the Judge is a notary and is active in conveyancing.
A public service rendered by Judge Parks that should not be lost sight of is that in which he was associated with the military forces of the country. Having previously served four years in Company F, Eighth Regiment, N.G.C., or until the company disbanded, he was instrumental in organizing Company I, Second Regiment, N.G.C., and became the first captain of the company. While serving with the military companies he became an expert shot with the military rifle, qualifying as a sharp-shooter. Besides being a member of the Oroville Volunteer Fire Department, he is president of the City Board of Education, to which he was elected at the city election in March, 1915.
On December 25, 1912, in the city of his birth, Judge Parks was united in marriage with Miss Jennie M. Williams, a native of Cherokee, Butte County, and the oldest daughter of David H. and Annie J. Williams, pioneer settlers who are still residing here. Two children: James V. and John W., bless this union. Judge Parks is a member of Chico Lodge, No. 423, B.P.O. Elks; of Argonaut Parlor, No. 8, N.S.G.W., of which he is past president; the Woodmen of the World; the Modern Woodmen of America, and several other fraternities. Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 709-712, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
~~~
James V Parks Birth Year: abt 1869 Death Date: 12 Jun 1929 Age at Death: 60 Death Place: Butte, California, USA Source Information: Ancestry.com. California, Death Index, 1905-1939 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Source: Old Oroville Cemetery, by Paradise Genealogical Society. The records compiled are from the written journals, burial permits, burial records and family records provided through the cooperation of the Oroville Cemetery District, where original records are held. Cited name is on page 252 of the publication completed in 1992.
JAMES VAN PARKS.--A patriotic citizen who has shown his practical patriotism by actual military service, a warm advocate of popular education, highly respected as an independent and fearless justice of the peace, James Van Parks, Jr., was born in Oroville, January 5, 1869, the son of James Van Parks, a native of Prince Edward Island. His father was a ship carpenter and about 1856 crossed the plains to California and settled inButte County.
Soon afterward the elder Parks located in Oroville and engaged in river mining; he became experienced in this work and widely known for his cleverness in building sluices and dams. He followed river mining for some years, and then was elected constable of Ophir Township, which at that time included nearly all of eastern Butte County. So acceptable were his services that he was frequently reelected and served in all about forty years in that office. He was also for years a messenger for Wells Fargo Express Company, and journeyed between Oroville and Quincy. Many times he assisted the sheriff on trips to distant points, on one occasion going to New York to capture Black Bart, the noted stage robber; but they did not get him. He was a clever official, using tact and skill in the pursuit and arrest of criminals who were more or less numerous in this part of the state in early days. One of a great many incidents might here be related.
Shortly after Mr. Parks was first elected constable a noted desperado, who had the reputation of being a successful gambler and gun-man, arrived in Oroville. A few nights after his arrival, he and several other men engaged in a gambling game in one of the local saloons. The desperado was very successful from the start of the game, finally he was caught cheating by one of the other players and immediately accused of doing so. The desperado without any warning whatever pulled his revolver and shot at his accuser, the bullet striking the man on the inside of the left arm and inflicting a dangerous wound. The desperado without losing any time drew another pistol from his pocket and with a gun in each hand backed out of the saloon, defying the crowd to follow. He then went into hiding in Chinatown. A warrant was issued from the justice court the next morning and placed in the hands of Constable Parks. Many friends of the young officer volunteered to be sworn in as deputies to assist him in arresting the criminal, but Mr. Parks declined the proffered assistance, stating that he had been elected to the position and that he did not wish to jeopardize the life of any of his friends; he thought he could handle the situation himself. By a clever ruse he located the house in which the desperado was hiding and concealing himself near that house patiently waited for the criminal to come out. About four o'clock that afternoon his patience was rewarded by the man coming out onto the front porch bareheaded and wearing a long linen duster; looking up and down the street, apparently to see if the coast was clear, he stepped down into the yard and walked around the corner of the house. No sooner had he turned around the corner of the house than Constable Parks rushed from his hiding place and peeked around the corner where the criminal had disappeared. The officer saw his man looking over the back fence and soon was right at his back. When Mr. Parks was within ten feet of his man he saw that he had a big pistol in his duster pocket. Stepping up quietly, he slipped the man's gun out of his pocket and placed it in his own empty holster. He then tapped the fellow on the shoulder and told him he was under arrest. The fellow immediately whirled and grabbed for his weapon and was much chagrined to find that he was unarmed. He admitted to the young officer that he was his prisoner and tried several ruses to get back into the house before going into court, but each plea was firmly but politely refused. The man finally said he hated to go up town bareheaded, whereupon the constable loaned the man his own hat and then marched him to the judge's office. That official placed the man under a thousand dollar cash bail, which the criminal immediately furnished for his appearance in court the next morning at ten o'clock. That night he "jumped his bail" and was never seen in Butte County thereafter. The man whom the desperado shot recovered. Constable Parks was a crack shot with pistol and rifle. He was a member and assisted in organizing a company of home guards here in 1861. The Guards were organized and drilled for the purpose of joining the Union forces if necessary. He remained a member of the company until it disbanded. Finally he retired from office, in which he had been an influential Republican. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was also an exempt fireman, having been one of the organizers and a charter member of the Oroville fire company, in which he was active for many years. He died in Oroville, March 13, 1911.
Mrs. Parks, who was in maidenhood Miss Margaret Noonan, was born in Ireland and in her infancy was brought to New York by her parents and later came with members of her family to California via Panama, settling in San Francisco for several years. She came to Oroville on a visit and while here met Mr. Parks. Later they were married at Sacramento and returned to Oroville to make their home. Mrs. Parks was one of the organizers and for many years an officer of the first public library established in Oroville and was one of the best read and best informed women in this part of the state. Mrs. Parks died March 31, 1910, the mother of five boys and three girls, viz.: Daniel N.; Agnes M.; Margaret A.; James V.; A. Lincoln; Matthew F.; John S.; and Mattie L. Three boys and the girls grew to maturity, while one boy and three girls are still living. The oldest daughter, Agnes M., married John G. Alm and resides at Enterprise; Margaret and Mattie live at Oroville where the former is a bookkeeper and the latter a teacher in the grammar school.
The only surviving son, James Van Parks, was educated in the Oroville public schools, and later secured a first grade certificate to teach, taking charge, when about eighteen years old, of the Magalia school, where he remained three years in charge of about fifty pupils. He then served as principal of the Nelson school for two years, then taught at Meadow Valley, Plumas County, one term. Thereupon he was made principal of the Quincyschool in Plumas County and held the position four years. Each summer for six years he also taught at La Porte, thus making a six-year service without vacations. After that he had charge of various schools in Plumas andSierra Counties, and for three years was principal of the Smartville school in Yuba County, concluding his teaching experience with one year as principal of the Palermo school. As a result of these many years of pioneer and superior service in the schoolroom, Judge Parks holds a life diploma as a teacher.
An ardent, constructive Republican, Judge Parks was persuaded in the fall of 1906 to become a candidate for the office of justice of the peace and was elected and entered upon his duties in the following January. In 1910 he was reelected without opposition, and in 1914 he was again chosen for the office, this time at the primaries and over two other candidates. How well the Judge deserves some such consideration as this at the hands of his fellow citizens, and how well he was prepared for such a responsible office, may be estimated from his work under adverse conditions in the educational field. Once he taught a school with seventy-eight pupils in nine different grades, and at La Porte there was an attendance of sixty pupils scattered through nine grades. Many times in the spring and fall as much as ten feet of snow covered the earth, and the pupils came and went on snow-shoes and skis, the young teacher mastered the skis and also the skates, and being athletically inclined he played baseball with the boys and went snow-shoeing and skating with them. He also played on some of the best ball clubs in Northern California.
Soon after the election of Judge Parks as justice of the peace, the railroad construction undertaken here brought into the county a large floating population of the disorderly and dangerous kind, and crime become more rampant. His duties, therefore, were at times numerous and onerous; but with untiring zeal he disposed of each burden of the day and was ready, with the rising of the sun, for the next day's tasks. Besides serving as justice of the peace the Judge is a notary and is active in conveyancing.
A public service rendered by Judge Parks that should not be lost sight of is that in which he was associated with the military forces of the country. Having previously served four years in Company F, Eighth Regiment, N.G.C., or until the company disbanded, he was instrumental in organizing Company I, Second Regiment, N.G.C., and became the first captain of the company. While serving with the military companies he became an expert shot with the military rifle, qualifying as a sharp-shooter. Besides being a member of the Oroville Volunteer Fire Department, he is president of the City Board of Education, to which he was elected at the city election in March, 1915.
On December 25, 1912, in the city of his birth, Judge Parks was united in marriage with Miss Jennie M. Williams, a native of Cherokee, Butte County, and the oldest daughter of David H. and Annie J. Williams, pioneer settlers who are still residing here. Two children: James V. and John W., bless this union. Judge Parks is a member of Chico Lodge, No. 423, B.P.O. Elks; of Argonaut Parlor, No. 8, N.S.G.W., of which he is past president; the Woodmen of the World; the Modern Woodmen of America, and several other fraternities. Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 709-712, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
~~~
James V Parks Birth Year: abt 1869 Death Date: 12 Jun 1929 Age at Death: 60 Death Place: Butte, California, USA Source Information: Ancestry.com. California, Death Index, 1905-1939 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Source: Old Oroville Cemetery, by Paradise Genealogical Society. The records compiled are from the written journals, burial permits, burial records and family records provided through the cooperation of the Oroville Cemetery District, where original records are held. Cited name is on page 252 of the publication completed in 1992.
Soon afterward the elder Parks located in Oroville and engaged in river mining; he became experienced in this work and widely known for his cleverness in building sluices and dams. He followed river mining for some years, and then was elected constable of Ophir Township, which at that time included nearly all of eastern Butte County. So acceptable were his services that he was frequently reelected and served in all about forty years in that office. He was also for years a messenger for Wells Fargo Express Company, and journeyed between Oroville and Quincy. Many times he assisted the sheriff on trips to distant points, on one occasion going to New York to capture Black Bart, the noted stage robber; but they did not get him. He was a clever official, using tact and skill in the pursuit and arrest of criminals who were more or less numerous in this part of the state in early days. One of a great many incidents might here be related.
Shortly after Mr. Parks was first elected constable a noted desperado, who had the reputation of being a successful gambler and gun-man, arrived in Oroville. A few nights after his arrival, he and several other men engaged in a gambling game in one of the local saloons. The desperado was very successful from the start of the game, finally he was caught cheating by one of the other players and immediately accused of doing so. The desperado without any warning whatever pulled his revolver and shot at his accuser, the bullet striking the man on the inside of the left arm and inflicting a dangerous wound. The desperado without losing any time drew another pistol from his pocket and with a gun in each hand backed out of the saloon, defying the crowd to follow. He then went into hiding in Chinatown. A warrant was issued from the justice court the next morning and placed in the hands of Constable Parks. Many friends of the young officer volunteered to be sworn in as deputies to assist him in arresting the criminal, but Mr. Parks declined the proffered assistance, stating that he had been elected to the position and that he did not wish to jeopardize the life of any of his friends; he thought he could handle the situation himself. By a clever ruse he located the house in which the desperado was hiding and concealing himself near that house patiently waited for the criminal to come out. About four o'clock that afternoon his patience was rewarded by the man coming out onto the front porch bareheaded and wearing a long linen duster; looking up and down the street, apparently to see if the coast was clear, he stepped down into the yard and walked around the corner of the house. No sooner had he turned around the corner of the house than Constable Parks rushed from his hiding place and peeked around the corner where the criminal had disappeared. The officer saw his man looking over the back fence and soon was right at his back. When Mr. Parks was within ten feet of his man he saw that he had a big pistol in his duster pocket. Stepping up quietly, he slipped the man's gun out of his pocket and placed it in his own empty holster. He then tapped the fellow on the shoulder and told him he was under arrest. The fellow immediately whirled and grabbed for his weapon and was much chagrined to find that he was unarmed. He admitted to the young officer that he was his prisoner and tried several ruses to get back into the house before going into court, but each plea was firmly but politely refused. The man finally said he hated to go up town bareheaded, whereupon the constable loaned the man his own hat and then marched him to the judge's office. That official placed the man under a thousand dollar cash bail, which the criminal immediately furnished for his appearance in court the next morning at ten o'clock. That night he "jumped his bail" and was never seen in Butte County thereafter. The man whom the desperado shot recovered. Constable Parks was a crack shot with pistol and rifle. He was a member and assisted in organizing a company of home guards here in 1861. The Guards were organized and drilled for the purpose of joining the Union forces if necessary. He remained a member of the company until it disbanded. Finally he retired from office, in which he had been an influential Republican. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was also an exempt fireman, having been one of the organizers and a charter member of the Oroville fire company, in which he was active for many years. He died in Oroville, March 13, 1911.
Mrs. Parks, who was in maidenhood Miss Margaret Noonan, was born in Ireland and in her infancy was brought to New York by her parents and later came with members of her family to California via Panama, settling in San Francisco for several years. She came to Oroville on a visit and while here met Mr. Parks. Later they were married at Sacramento and returned to Oroville to make their home. Mrs. Parks was one of the organizers and for many years an officer of the first public library established in Oroville and was one of the best read and best informed women in this part of the state. Mrs. Parks died March 31, 1910, the mother of five boys and three girls, viz.: Daniel N.; Agnes M.; Margaret A.; James V.; A. Lincoln; Matthew F.; John S.; and Mattie L. Three boys and the girls grew to maturity, while one boy and three girls are still living. The oldest daughter, Agnes M., married John G. Alm and resides at Enterprise; Margaret and Mattie live at Oroville where the former is a bookkeeper and the latter a teacher in the grammar school.
The only surviving son, James Van Parks, was educated in the Oroville public schools, and later secured a first grade certificate to teach, taking charge, when about eighteen years old, of the Magalia school, where he remained three years in charge of about fifty pupils. He then served as principal of the Nelson school for two years, then taught at Meadow Valley, Plumas County, one term. Thereupon he was made principal of the Quincyschool in Plumas County and held the position four years. Each summer for six years he also taught at La Porte, thus making a six-year service without vacations. After that he had charge of various schools in Plumas andSierra Counties, and for three years was principal of the Smartville school in Yuba County, concluding his teaching experience with one year as principal of the Palermo school. As a result of these many years of pioneer and superior service in the schoolroom, Judge Parks holds a life diploma as a teacher.
An ardent, constructive Republican, Judge Parks was persuaded in the fall of 1906 to become a candidate for the office of justice of the peace and was elected and entered upon his duties in the following January. In 1910 he was reelected without opposition, and in 1914 he was again chosen for the office, this time at the primaries and over two other candidates. How well the Judge deserves some such consideration as this at the hands of his fellow citizens, and how well he was prepared for such a responsible office, may be estimated from his work under adverse conditions in the educational field. Once he taught a school with seventy-eight pupils in nine different grades, and at La Porte there was an attendance of sixty pupils scattered through nine grades. Many times in the spring and fall as much as ten feet of snow covered the earth, and the pupils came and went on snow-shoes and skis, the young teacher mastered the skis and also the skates, and being athletically inclined he played baseball with the boys and went snow-shoeing and skating with them. He also played on some of the best ball clubs in Northern California.
Soon after the election of Judge Parks as justice of the peace, the railroad construction undertaken here brought into the county a large floating population of the disorderly and dangerous kind, and crime become more rampant. His duties, therefore, were at times numerous and onerous; but with untiring zeal he disposed of each burden of the day and was ready, with the rising of the sun, for the next day's tasks. Besides serving as justice of the peace the Judge is a notary and is active in conveyancing.
A public service rendered by Judge Parks that should not be lost sight of is that in which he was associated with the military forces of the country. Having previously served four years in Company F, Eighth Regiment, N.G.C., or until the company disbanded, he was instrumental in organizing Company I, Second Regiment, N.G.C., and became the first captain of the company. While serving with the military companies he became an expert shot with the military rifle, qualifying as a sharp-shooter. Besides being a member of the Oroville Volunteer Fire Department, he is president of the City Board of Education, to which he was elected at the city election in March, 1915.
On December 25, 1912, in the city of his birth, Judge Parks was united in marriage with Miss Jennie M. Williams, a native of Cherokee, Butte County, and the oldest daughter of David H. and Annie J. Williams, pioneer settlers who are still residing here. Two children: James V. and John W., bless this union. Judge Parks is a member of Chico Lodge, No. 423, B.P.O. Elks; of Argonaut Parlor, No. 8, N.S.G.W., of which he is past president; the Woodmen of the World; the Modern Woodmen of America, and several other fraternities. Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 709-712, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
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James V Parks Birth Year: abt 1869 Death Date: 12 Jun 1929 Age at Death: 60 Death Place: Butte, California, USA Source Information: Ancestry.com. California, Death Index, 1905-1939 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Source: Old Oroville Cemetery, by Paradise Genealogical Society. The records compiled are from the written journals, burial permits, burial records and family records provided through the cooperation of the Oroville Cemetery District, where original records are held. Cited name is on page 252 of the publication completed in 1992.
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