Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/756

 660 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI years, using negroes for the work. Both these pioneer brothers are buried in the fam- ily cemetery on the old farm near Frederick- town. Joseph T. Parkin was reared to the invig- orating discipline of his father's farm and his rudimentary educational training con- sisted of such advantages as were afforded in the schools of the locality and period. He was identified with agricultural pursuits during the greater portion of his active career but he is now living in virtual retirement at Fred- ericktown, enjoying to the full the fruits of his former years of earnest toil and endeavor. In 1858 was solemnized his marriage to Miss JIary Lanpher, who traced her ancestry to stanch French extraction, her mother having been a member of the celebrated Nifong fam- ily. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph T. Parkin became the parents of two children, — Lizzie, who married Robert Murray and who died in 188-4; and Felix J., the immediate subject of this review. Judge Parkin passed his boyhood and youth at Fredericktown, where he attended the public schools. At 'the age of eighteen years he went to Colorado, where he main- tained his home for fourteen years and where he was most successfully engaged in mining operations. For a period of four years he was circuit court clerk and recorder in Ouray county, Colorado. Eventually dis- posing of his interests in that state, he re- turned to Missouri, in 1891, engaging in farming operations in Madison eount.v for the ensuing nine 3'ears. In 1900 he turned his attention to the abstract business and it is wortliy of note here that he has the only com- plete set of abstract records in Madison county, the same including all the old rec- ords. In politics Judge Parkin is an un- swerving advocate of the principles and poli- cies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor and while he is not an office seeker he is deeply and sincerely interested in com- munity affairs. In 1907 he was elected judge of Madison county and he was the able and popular incumbent of that important office for a period of four years, retiring therefrom at the close of 1910." In 1890 was recorded the marriage of Judge Parkin to Miss Minnie "Watts, a daugh- ter of Napoleon B. Watts, a sketch of whose career appears on other pages of this work, go that further data concerning the family history is not deemed essential at this junc- ture. Mr. and Sirs. Parkin are the parents of three children, whose names and respective ages, in 1911, are here entered, — Maurice, seventeen j'ears; Lelia, fourteen years; and Reva, seven years. In their religious faith the Parkin family are devout members of the Baptist church and they are popular factors in connection with the best social activities of Fredericktown, where their spacious and attractive home is recognized as a center of gracious refinement and hospitality. In a fraternal way the Judge is an appreciative member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a man of broad human sympathy and generous im- pulses and in the various walks of life is hon- ored and esteemed as a man of high ideals noble principles. William C. Bebgmann. The United States ranks as the foremost nation of the modern civilized world. It has served as the melting pot of the best characteristics of all other nations and the outcome is a fine sterling American citizenship consisting of strong and able bodied men, loyal and public-spirited in civic life, broad-minded and honorable in business, and alert and en- thusiastically in sympathy with every meas- ure tending to further the material welfare of the entire country. The great Empire of Germany lias contributed its fair quota to the upbuilding of this great nation and among its representatives in this counti-y are to be found successful men in every walk of life, from the professions to the prosperous farmer and business man. William C. Berg- ma nn, whose name forms the caption for this article, was born in Germany but he has re- sided in the United States since he was a child of eight years of age. He has main- tained his home at Cape Girardeau for fully a half century and here he has long been en- gaged in the general merchandise business. He is a fine old veteran of the Civil war and as a citizen and well known business man he commands the imqualifled confidence and es- teem of all with whom he has had dealings. William C. Bergmann was born at Briins- wick, Germany, on the 16th of February. 1841, and he is a son of Dr. Staats Henry Bergmann, who held distinctive prestige as a skilled physician and surgeon at Cape Girardeau during the period of his residence in this city. Dr. Bergmann was married to iliss L. C. Lehne in his native land and to