"History of Logan County, Illinois", published 1886.
pg 297

Samuel C. Parks studied law with Stuart & Edwards at Springfield, and located in the county late in the "forties", or early in the "fifties", when the seat of justice was at Mt. Pulaski.  In 1863 he was appointed Territorial Judge for Idaho; but this position he resigned, three years later, in order to resume the practice of law at Lincoln.  President Hayes appointed him a Territorial Judge in New Mexico, and President Garfield appointed him to a similar position in Wyoming  His term of office has just expired.