| Thomas Benton Parker was
born to Lewis & Polly Ann Gentry Parker on
October 22, 1844 in Pinhook (Wren Community),
Lawrence County, Alabama. His siblings were:
Henry Campbell, William C., Washington Newton ,
John B., James Johnson, Blooming Elizabeth ,
Polly Ann Parker. Thomas enlisted on August
1, 1862 near Moulton, Alabama and served under
General Phillip Dale Roddey, a Moulton native,
who was referred to as,” the defender
of North Alabama”. Roddey’s regiment
was a well disciplined and efficient fighting
unit, a fact attested to by General Braxton Bragg’s
inspection of the Calvary. He reported,” The
officers were found to be zealous in the
performance of their respective duties,
discipline was excellent and the conduct of the
men toward the citizens in the neighborhood of
their camp was praiseworthy. The arms were in
good condition and the clothing of the men neat
and uniform.” Roddey’s calvary spent
most of the war in or near the Tennessee River
Valleytaking up winter camp in middle Tennessee .
In early spring of 1863, the regiment moved into
northern Alabama where it began taking an active
part in raiding and attacking the union forces
that were executing raids from southern Tennessee
. They also contested Straight’s Raid as
well as taking an active part with the
confederate forces under General Nathan Bedford
Forest which led to a victory at Brice’s
Crossroads. They also were involved in heavy
fighting at Harrisburg that resulted in heavy
losses and many wounded. Roddey’s
regiment also fought in several battles in the
Florence area of North Alabama . Thomas,
along with his regiment was paroled at Pond
Springs , Alabama on May 17, 1865. After
the war, Thomas Benton Parker returned to
Lawrence County and served most of his life as a
traveling Methodist minister. With his wife,
Francis Jane Gray, whom he married on February 3,
1862, he raised six children- 3 sons and 3
daughters:
Thomas
Petway, Iris Rosaylor, Mary Jane, Alice Minora,
George Whitten, and Oliver Cameron Parker.
In
addition to preaching, Thomas kept a store and
also worked at the Post Office in Caddo for some
years. Thomas and Francis had a good and
simple life with many of their children living
nearby.
In
Thomas’s obituary it was noted that he
served his country well and returned home to live
his live as a model citizen. This statement would
have suited him just fine.
He
and Francis are buried in Morris Chapel Cemetery
in Lawrence County Alabama. Source: Milton Dean
Turner
|
Photo
submitted by Milton Dean Turner
|
