Hi Listers.. An index to the biographies in the History of Barron County, 1922, and others previously submitted are available at the following: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/wi/barron/bios.htm Thomas Parks, now deceased, was a well known figure in Barron County life for more than thirty years. He was one of the real leaders of the township in which he lived, his judgment was always to be relied upon, and he was one of those thorough-going steady men upon whom rests the stability of agricultural life in the Northwest. In his home he was all that a husband and father should be, and his death was sincerely mourned. He was born June 6, 1842, in Burgess, Ontario, Canada, and was there reared and educated. In 1873 he came to the United States and settled in Pierce County, this state, where he bought 80 acres of land and carried on general farming. In 1881 he sold out and came to Barron County, where he took a homestead of 80 acres in section 13, Oak Grove Township, and devoted sixteen years to its development. He cleared 40 acres, erected a set of buildings and bought suitable equipment. In 1897 he sold out and purchased 240 acres in section 35 in the same township. There he cleared 120 acres of land. He put up a good set of buildings, which, when they were destroyed, he replaced with another set. He was at the height of a successful career when he died Aug. 19, 1913. He was a valued member of the county board, and also served for many years on the town board and on the school board of his district. Fraternally he was a member of the Catholic Knights. He and his family were communicants of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Parks was married Aug. 23, 1869, to Bridget Darcy, born Feb. 2, 1847, in Canada, daughter of Michael and Bridget (Donley) Darcy, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Parks have had four children: Andy, Thomas, George and Frank. The last mentioned died Feb. 13, 1918. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 355.