W. H. Parker

One of the oldest practising lawyers in Abbeville, was born 1st January, 1828, in this county, and received his early education in the well known schools of Allen, Burns and Coats, at Charleston, and afterwards at South Carolina College, from where he graduated in 1846, sixth honor in a class of 32.

He then commenced reading law in the office of Judge Thompson and was a diligent and laborious student, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1849, since which date he has been engaged in civil practice, being associated with Hon. Armisted Burt, from 1852 to 1855, and with Judge McGowan from 1869 to 1880, with results of a satisfactory character, and was in that time interested in many important suits. A well-read lawyer, Mr. Parker is diligent and laborious in the preparation of his cases and earnest in advocating the interests of his clients.

He was Commissioner in Equity from 1855 to 1869, and later was a member of the commission appointed to make a digest of the recent statutes instituted on the reframing of the State, his accurate knowledge of the law specially fitting him for those positions.

In the late war he did service for 12 months as Adjutant 19th South Carolina, Col. Lythgo, Bragg's Division in the West.

As a politician, Mr. Parker has also taken an active part and represented this county in the Legislature in 1880 and 1881, and was again elected after a hard fight on the University question, in 1882. In the House he was a member of the judiciary committee and chairman of the Incorporations Committee, and has always been active in promoting all measures instituted for the public good.

He is a Mason, Past Master Royal Arch and Council.