Biographies - Elmira Township

Matthew Buchanan Parks, son of William and Agnes (Buchanan) Parks, was born in Washington county, Va., August 15, 1818. His father was born in Cumberland county. Pa., March 7, 1777, where Joseph Parks (a native of Ireland and a tailor by trade), grandfather of Matthew, had settled prior to the Revolution. Joseph's wife, Rebecca Clark, was a native of England who came to America with her people before the Revolution, and met and married Mr. Parks in Cumberland county, Pa., and moved to Augusta county, Va. The founder of this family in the United States now lies in the cemetery near his Virginia home.

In 1810 William Parks, a millwright, married Miss Agnes Buchanan. This lady was a daughter of Matthew Buchanan, who served in the Revolution under General Campbell at Kings Mountain, and with two companies sent against the Indians in Kentucky. His wife was Elizabeth Edmondson. To them seven children were born, namely: Granville C, a widower of Bureau county; Eliza, unmarried, residing here; Rebecca who died in 1855; Matthew B., of Elmira, Polly Ann died March 29, 1847; Joseph, unmarried, and Nancy H., unmarried, residing here. The family moved from Virginia to Macon county, Ill., in 1835 ; but after a very brief stay there, William located 160 acres of land in what is now Elmira township, erected the first house ever built in Elmira on this land, and resided therein until 1842, when he moved out of the timber "onto the prairie," and there, so soon as the lands were offered for sale, entered 280 acres. He was engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death.

His wife was born in Washington county, Virginia, October 13, 1785, of which state her parents were natives, of the descendants from Scotch-Irish Buchanans of Lancaster county, Pa. She died in 1877.

Matthew B. has always been a bachelor citizen, represented his township on the supervisors' board for a number of terms, and tilled nearly all the township offices. He resides on the old Park Homestead with his sisters, Eliza and Nancy H., and his brother Joseph. The latter is a member of the Baptist church, while Matthew B. is not a member of any society, though a supporter of the Presbyterian Church.

In the family circle all questions affecting their interests are thoroughly discussed, and dissenting opinions so expressed as to leave no room whatsoever for discord.