Texas Legislators: Past & Present

James William Parks

Full Name: James William Parks
Birth date: May 18, 1876
Death date: March 24, 1963

Terms of Service

House, 35th ⁽¹⁾ Legislature
1/9/1917 - 1/14/1919
Democrat
House, 34th Legislature
1/12/1915 - 1/9/1917
Democrat
House, 33rd Legislature
1/14/1913 - 1/12/1915
Democrat

(1) Dallas, Dallas County. "District No. 44. Barry Miller, J.W. Parks, John E. Davis and Chas. O. Laney, all of Dallas, composed of the county of Dallas," p. 5. House Journal .

Biographical Notes and Resources

Photographs

Photograph. J.W. Parks, State Preservation Board
Photograph. J.W. Parks, State Preservation Board
Photograph. J.W. Parks, State Preservation Board

Other Resources

Obituary and photo, James William Parks, "James Parks, Leader in Texas Labor, Dies," 3/26/1963, p. 16. "Mr. Parks served three terms as state legislature from Dallas County, from 1912 to 1918. Among the present bills he helped write was the Employers' Compensation Act . . . " Dallas Morning News .
Census of 1900 - J.W. Parks, Ellis County, born May 1876 in Kentucky, cigar maker, son-in-law of W.P. and Elizabeth Wall, spouse Laura.
Census of 1920 - J.W. Parks, Dallas, Dallas County, born circa 1877 in Kentucky, musician/orchestra, spouse Laura.
Census of 1910, 1930, and 1940 - James W. Parks, Dallas, Dallas County, born circa 1877 in Kentucky, theater musician/manager musician union, spouse Laura A. FamilySearch . 1930 1940

1900

1920

1910

James W. Parks, birth date 5/18/1876 in Kentucky; death date 3/24/1963 in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas; retired musician. FamilySearch Texas Deaths, 1890-1976 .
James William Parks, birth date 5/18/1876, home address in Dallas, theater musician. FamilySearch United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 .
James W. Parks, birth date 5/18/1876, death date 3/24/1963, burial in Laurel Land Memorial Park, Dallas, with Laura A. Parks. Find a Grave .
Occupation and religious affiliation, 34th Legislature. "Occupations of Members of Legislative House," 3/14/1915, p. 4. Galveston Daily News .
PARKS, JAMES WILLIAM (1876–1963). Handbook of Texas Online .
Candidate statement and photo, "Laboring Man Is Running for the Legislature on a Progressive Platform," by J.W. Parks, Lancaster Herald, 7/19/1912, p. 6, crediting Lancaster Genealogical Society. "For some time past, I have been identified with the Cigar Makers' Union and with the Musicians' Union of Dallas." Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries) .
Mentioned in: Nicola, Carson. On the Labor Front: Uncovering Dallas's Union Legislators 1890-1920. Texas Christian University, May 8, 2023. Texas Christian University .
35th Legislature (1917) - J.W. Parks, postoffice Dallas, nativity Kentucky, age 40 (born circa 1877), 38 years in Texas, musician, member of former legislatures: 33rd-34th, Democrat. Texas Legislative Manual .