The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1914-03-13
Lewis j. Parker
Former Henderson COun-
tian Meets Tragic Death
BY His Own Hand at
OershOrm, Mississippi.
Cause Of Act Unknown But
Attributed to Dependency
Caused by iii Health.

Last Sunday the startling news
came to Lexington that Lewis j.
Parker had killed himself at
Gershorm, near Pontotoc, Missis-
sippi, causing sorrow to many
relatives and friends in this
county where Mr.. Parker was
born and reared. The details of
the tragedy are meager. Mr.,
Parker and his business partner,
Mr.. /. N. Joyner, had talked to.
gether that morning, going over
| the stave situation, which was
not satisfactory, for the Parker.
Joyner Stave Company had great
financial interest in the existing
depression of prices on their pro-
ducts. ln addition, Mr.. Parker
ia said to have been depressed
by the fact that he was soon to
undergo an operation, which once
before had almost cost his life.
Be the facts as they may, it re
maine beyond controversy that
the mind of Lewis Parker, the
splendid man of business, was
temporarily unhinged and that
normally he would have fought
and won or lost any battle with
out thought of self destruction.
Mr.. Parker was in bed, covered
up, when he fired with a revolver
the fatal shot which took effect
in his head and caused instant
death. The remains were brought
to Martin, Tenn. where Mr.. Par
ker had built for his family three
years ago q splendid home equip
ped with all modern improve.
ments. The funeral occurred
from the Martin residence Tues-
day at p. m, Revs. Fleetwood
Ball and |. N, Penick officiating
in the service which was held in !
the home.
Lewis j., sou of the late Priest
Parker and Mrs. Joan Parker, |
who yet survives, born in Hen.
derson county, Nov. 28, 1867. |
He was happily married to Miss
Matte Spellings, of Buena Vista,
Carroll county, July 81, 1891 and
to the union six children were
born, two of whom died in in
fancy. The surviving children
are John, Verde, Hattie and |
Lewis. Mrs. Parker also sur
wives. For several years Mr..
Parker was in the mercantile
business at Wildersville, this +
county and in the stave business
in this and Carroll counties as a
member of the Spellings- Rosser
Stave Company and latter the
Parker. Joyner Stave Company,
which was moved to Gershorm,
Miss, when in 1907, Mr.. Parker
and others bought a large tract
of timbered land in Pontotoc
county. From the first, the
Mississippi venture was repnted
success and Mr.. Parker was
credited with having accumu.
lated quite q valuable estate.
Mr.. Parker was a member of
the Baptist church at Wilders.
vile and later at Martin and also
held membership in the orders
of Free Masons, Odd Fellows,
Knights of Pythias, Woodmen
of the World and Modern Wood
men Of the World.
He was q hustler every day Of
his life since the days. when he
attended school in Lexington and
clerked in a Lexington store,
He waa full of resources and al
ways had the energy and will to
meet any emergency. He was a
business man of value in any
community and the business
world is the loser by his untimely
and tragic death. For many
years he was a.tried and true
friend to this Office, sending back
to it his printing to be done ever
since his location in Mississippi.
To this Office he was q friend
and in deed and in every way
we shall miss him.
May God reconcile his people
to his loss--especially the aged
mother and devoted wife.
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