Dr. Rufus Francis Parks
1877-1927

Source: Centennial History of Arkansas Vol 2&3 1922 Dr. Rufus F. Parks, a veteran of the World war, now engaged in the active practice of medicine and surgery at Midland, is a native of Orange county, Indiana. His parents were William and Mary (Easter) Parks, also natives of the Hoosier state, the father's birth having likewise occurred in Orange county. The grandfather in the paternal line was a native of Tennessee but removed to Indiana during the pioneer epoch in its history: The maternal grandfather was a native of North Carolina and he, too, became one of the early settlers of the Hoosier state. William and Mary (Easter) Parks continued to reside in Indiana for some years after their marriage and later became residents of Illinois and subsequently of Missouri, settling at Aquilla in the latter state. The father was a cooper by trade and engaged in that business as a life work. Both he and his wife spent their last days in Missouri. Dr. Parks pursued his early education in the schools of Indiana and continued his studies after the family home was established in Illinois. Later he became a student in the Hartwell Normal School of Missouri and thus completed his more specifically literary education. Having reviewed the broad field of business with its limitless opportunities along agricultural, industrial, commercial and professional lines, be determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work and to that end began studying in St. Louis, where he attended school, while later he continued his preparation for the profession as a student in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He entered upon active practice in Bonanza, where he remained until 1917, when he joined the army at Fort Riley, Kansas, becoming a member of the Medical Corps. He was made a first lieutenant and went to Long Island, New York. He sailed for France with the Seventy-seventh Division on the 28th of August, 1918, and was assigned to duty with Base Hospital No. 42. There he remained until the 27th of November, when he was transferred to Hospital No. 67, where he continued his labors until the following June. At that time he was assigned to duty at Base H0spital No. 50 and afterward returned to Base Hospital No. 42 in the Le Mans area. He was promoted to captain of Sanitary Squad No. 12 and he sailed from Brest for America, returning on the 30th of June, 1919. After landing he went at once to Camp Mills and later to Camp Upton, while afterward he was transferred to Camp Pike in Arkansas, where he received his discharge on the 29th of July, 1919. He has been commissioned a major in the Reserve Corps and is subject to call. When the country no longer needed his military aid Major Parks settled in Midland, Sebastian county, and entered upon the private practice of medicine and surgery. Here he has since remained and through the intervening period has built up a practice of extensive and gratifying proportions. His ability is widely recognized, as is the thoroughness with which he performs every professional duty and his conscientiousness in relation to every task that devolves upon him. Dr. Parks has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Nettie Deemer and following her demise he was married to Miss Alice Bruey. Dr. Parks has two children by his first marriage, Bryan and Cecil, the latter a member of the regular army. The three children born of the second marriage are Clover May, William C. and Louise. Fraternally Dr. Parks is a Mason, who faithfully follows the teachings and purposes of the craft and he is also connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Red Men. He belongs also to the Association of United States Military Surgeons and is a member of the Sebastian County Medical Society and the Arkansas State Medical Society. Through the proceedings of these bodies he keeps in touch with the trend of modern professional thought and progress and his ability is widely recognized by reason of the excellent results which have attended his professional activity.