Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2011, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Judith Anne Weeks Ancell for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Portrait And Biographical Album Of Mecosta County, Mich. Containing Portraits And Biographical Sketches of Prominent And Representative Citizens of the County together with Portraits And Biographies of All The Presidents Of The United States And Governors of the State. Also Containing A Complete History of The County, From Its Earliest Settlement To the Present Time. Chicago, Chapman Bros. 1883 =========================================================================== PARKS, Clarence W. =========================================================================== Page 233: Clarence W. Parks, senior member of the hardware firm of Parks Bros., and member of the Council of Mecosa, Morton Tp., was born in Lyons Tp., Oakland Co., MIch., May 18, 1855. He is a son of William R. and Anna E. (Dunlap) Parks. His parents removed tin March 1864, to Easton Tp., Ionia Co., and there bought 120 acres of land, residing thereon two years; they then went to Keene Tp, Ionia Co., and became the owners of 80 aces of land. C. W. Parks rented this property in 1877, and managed it three years. He came to Mecosta in 1880, in company with C. H. Taylor, to engage in mercan- Page 234: tile pursuits; and they founded a hardware trade. Their relation continued one year, Mr. C. H. Taylor selling his interest to M. F. Strong of Saranac, who one year later sold in turn to Robert D. Parks. the building which they occupy was bought by t he senior member of the firm, and Mr. Strong. It is 20 x 60 feet in dimensions; the main store with one adjoining, 24 x 36 feet, is utilized for a tin-shop, store-room, etc. The present firm was established Feb. 1, 1883, and are doing a prosperous business, carrying a stock of about $8,000, including hardware, stoves, tinware, sash doors, crockery, etc., with annual sales of about $25,000. Mr. Parks was elected member of the Village Council in the spring of 1883; he also belongs to the A. O. U. W. He was married in Vergennes, Kent Co.,. Mich., Sept. 28, 1881, at the residence of the bride’s father, to Agnes E., daughter of Sidney E. and Almira Hoag, who was born May 7, 1852, and was reared on a farm until her marriage. Sidney Hoag’s father was a prosperous farmer, and one of the pioneers of Vergennes. ===========================================================================