The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-11-02
Mr. Parker TO Leave AbbevfIIe.

mr. E6rAcE 10 Leave ADDeE1Ile.
Hon. William Henry Parker Of this city has
sold the home, in which he has lived for
forty-dve years, to w. P. Greene, ESQ.,, and
the law partnership bet ween Mr.. Parke and
Mr.. Greene has been dissolved.
Mr.. Parker contemplates moving TO Green
VILE to be with his son, MIR. l.. w. Parker
who stands nigh IN the manufacturing circles
ofSouth Carolina. That son Is president OF
several cotton mills, including the Olympia
OF Columbia, which is the largest cotton
mill in the South under one root.
The action OF the Hon. w. II. Parker In
quitting the law, and in selling his home,
ends a long and honorable career in Able
vile. For sixty years he has been identified
with all the best interests Of the city Of bis
adoption, and his consistent life has been q
benediction, and his example has been
worthy OF all emulation. The correctness
and the superiority of his character is known
OF Us all, and the children that hay gone out
from bis hreside attest more clearly than all
else the makeup OF his true character.
Mr.. Parker Is one Of the oldest citizens OF
the town, and no man among US ia more
widely known or more favorably regarded
His long and useful life Is without blot or
blemish.
In building Trinity Church he took a lead.
Ing part, and gave Of his time end money for
Its erection, and all his life he has been one
OF fits most liberal supporters. AS deacon and
warden he was ever jealous.
AS q member OF the Episcopal church, he
has been loyal all the years OF his life and has
striven to obey all It's laws and In conduct has
tried to make the journey along the paths
as a follower ofour Savior.
He loved Masonry, and was for q long time
an officer in Clinton Lodge. He sat in the
East for years.
AS treasurer ofthe Lethe estate he restor
ed the almost lost fortune OF the Lethe in
dustrial school to something OF its former
proportion. Much OF the money had been
lost in loans that were paid in confed-
crate money, or were lost because Of the re-
suit Of the wal.
Abbeville Literary Club, and for twenty.si1
years he has received and given much pleas.
ure in attending its meetings.
His history Of the Abbeville Bar was one of
the most notable papers which was ever
read before the club. It was 30 full OF In.
formation that member OF the club
asked that 1t be published in the news
papers.
In politics he was always out spoken, and
because oil his sincerely Of speech at times
he was not quite as popular with the people
as he would have been II he had been more
discreet and less honest in speech. For sew.
eral years he was q member Of the General
Assembly, and there. as elsewhere, he was
an active and Influential worker.
Mi. Parker Is the last survivor OF the first
secession meeting that was held In, the
South, which meeting was held In Abbeville
in 1850.
He volunteered into the Confederate army,
and was with Gen. Bragg In the Army of
Tennessee. While holding the Office OF Adju.
tant Of the 18th 8. c. Regiment, he was eject.
ed to civil office by the Legislature OF the
State. He resigned TO enter upon the duties
to which the Legislature had assigned him
AS q young lawyer be was elected by the
Legislature to the Office OF Commissioner In
Equity, which position he filled with ability
and efficiency for many years. The duties Of
that office drew his mind especially along
lines which he ever followed, namely, the
examination into titles to real estate.
After the war he was q member OF the firm
OF MCGOWAN & Parker; later, he has been as
ISOLATED with Mr.. Greene, as Parker &
Greene.
Being public spirited Mr.. Parker has always
given aid and support to every public en-
terprise.
To Mr.. Parker are the people Of the county
largely Indebted for the best County Fair
that was ever held In any county. Through
his inspiration 1t was kept up for years.
Abbeville has engaged in many railroad
enterprises, and Mr.. Parker was always
ready with bis cash. We all remember the
Cumberland Gap project. None were more
Jealous, and few lost more money by 1t than
he. When the Seaboard Railroad
appeared on the scene he had not quite
recovered from the Cumberland Gap e1per.
fence, but he went into 1t cheerfully and
literally.
In 1891, when the Farmers Alliance wanted
a bank the members Of that order were level
headed In the selection Of q president. Al.
though Mr.. Parker was not q member OF the
Alliance and although 1t was known that he
was not an adnirer Of some OF the Alliance
methods, yet with a u~nsnninlty which was
remarkable he was asked to take charge Of
the enterprise and to manage their bank.
Realizing the delicate position he would be
placed in when conducting q political
bank he hesitated, but finally undertook the
work Of establishing a bank under the exist
ing political conditions. with very little
money In sight.
The capital stock was to be paid on the
instsllment plan. Some four hundred ALI
ancemen entered the work Of building the
bank, with Mr.. Parker at the head. Some OF
the Alliancemen paid up according to the
stipulated terms. but many others did not
pay. In this extremity Mr.. Parker and bis
personal friends furnished the needed mon
ey and 50 1t Is the bank under his direction
has been since that time q factor in the
business affairs OF Abbeville.
A few years later the building Of q cotton
mill was agitated. Mr.. Parker was one OF the
directors, and with others he pledged his
private estate for the success OF the enter.
prise.
Any movement that had for Its object
the betterment OF mankind or the upbuilding
OF Abbeville always found q friend in him.
Mr.. Parker has served we'll his day and
generation, and now when he Ia far advanced
in years he receives the we'll done of his fel.
low-citizens, and they hope that many more
years Of life may be vouchsafed TO him In
which to enjoy a we'll earned rest.
he has given TO Abbeville the energy Of a
long and good life.