FRANK L. PARKER, I.
by Willie Parker
Frank and Fred Parker were identical twins, born November 14, 1866, in Salem, Iowa. Their parents were Thomas and Nancy Wilmeth Parker.
Frank married Flora Tospen November 13, 1887. Marriage records in Kingston show he was not 21 and had to have the consent of his father.
In 1890 (date shown on land deed) Ed, Frank and Fred bought a livery stable in Cowgill, Missouri. (There is a picture showing the three boys in front of the stable.)
After a short time this business venture failed. Since Frank and Fred lookd so much alike, they always enjoyed playing tricks on people. They were snappy dressers and loved horses and racing. Frank became a farmer, and bought and sold horses and mules. Fred went to Texas and bought horses and mules for the army and later farmed cotton.
Flora once said "she never really unpacked as Frank was always selling one place and moving to another".
Frank was Sheriff of Caldwell County from 1904 to 1908. The family lived in the house connected to the jail. Flora cooked for the prisoners. Roe and Raymond were little. They would run errands and buy tobacco for the prisoners.
Albert Filley was convicted of killing his wife and child while Frank was sheriff. He was sentenced to hang. Filley's last request was that Sheriff Parker carry out the execution. He was hung in the hallway between the jail and the house.
Fred returned to Missouri in 1920 after World War I but returned to Texas after a short time. He lived in Plainview, Texas the remainder of his life.
Fred returned to Missouri in 1920 after World War I but returned to Texas after a short time. He lived in Plainview, Texas the remainder of his life.
Frank bought a small farm near Far West. He took out a life insurance policy Flora didn't know about until after his death. She built the house with the money. She lived there until her death.
Frank died January 11, 1918, after being kicked in the head by a mule. Both are buried in Hamilton Cemetery.