Robert Samuel Parkhurst, a pioneer in Montgomery County, Kansas, settled there in October 1869, leading a group of Indiana settlers. Born in Kentucky in 1823, he was a successful farmer and merchant, significantly contributing to the area’s development by establishing homes and acquiring land. He amassed hundreds of acres, which he later divided among his children. Throughout his life, Parkhurst focused on farming and community service rather than politics. He married Lucretia Henry in 1843, and they had four daughters. Parkhurst was also an active Mason and a longstanding Baptist.

ROBERT SAMUEL PARKHURST—Conspicuous among the pioneers of Montgomery county is the venerable subject of this brief notice. His advent to the county was at a date prior to the removal of the Natives to their new reservation in the Indian Territory, and when things social were in a somewhat chaotic condition; yet he went about his daily task of driving the initial stakes toward the building of his Western home and laid the foundation for a career of success and usefulness.
Robert S. Parkhurst settled in Montgomery county, Kansas, in October, 1869. He was at the head of a colony of Indiana settlers, few of whom now remain, but some of whom are still represented in the county. There were seventeen families of them and they drove teams overland from Johnson county, Indiana. Mr. Parkhurst had resided in that state since 1826, and, with the exception of three years, was engaged in the successful cultivation of the soil. During this three years’ exception he was one of the proprietors of the “New York Store” in Franklin, the county seat, and out of both his ventures—as farmer and merchant—he realized abundantly to give him a good start in Kansas. When he drove to the townsite of Independence it had only just been laid off. He came out to accomplish something permanent with the several thousand dollars he brought along and some sixteen houses sprang into existence in the new town as a result of his public spirit and foresight. He took up land also and began the preparation of a country home. His efforts at farming were amply and rapidly rewarded and as he approached the evening of life he found himself possessed of many hundred acres of land. Twelve hundred of this he divided amongst his children and, a few years later—when he had accumulated other large areas—fourteen hundred acres more were set off to his heirs, and still his resources were far from being exhausted. Perhaps few men have made the soil of Montgomery county respond so freely as he. He has centered his efforts in the one line and, except for his connection with the First National Bank, as a stockholder, he has not deviated from the life of a farmer.
Mr. Parkhurst was born in Kentucky, February 2nd, 1823. His parents were John and Abigail (Sellers) Parkhurst, the former born in Tennessee about 1790, and died in Johnson county, Indiana, at about seventy-five years old. His wife died in the same county being the mother of the following children, namely: Matilda, Owen, Robert S., James, Polly A., Sarah, John A., Caroline, Abigail, Wilson, Elijah, Daniel and Martha.
The youth of R. S. Parkhurst was passed chiefly at work on his father’s farm. He acquired little education and began life in a limited way. When he decided to come west he induced many of his friends to join him and five weeks of the autumn of 1869 were passed making the trip out to Independence. The first winter Mr. Parkhurst housed his family in a hay house in which his horses also were sheltered. In the spring other buildings of a frontier character were provided and the work of actual improvement was begun. How well he accounted for his first twenty-five years here is told in the property accumulations already alluded to. Political achievements he has none. He was reared a Democrat and has given support to the faith all his life. He has had no ambition for office; has been ambitious to be a good citizen and provide for his domestic wants.
In April, 1843, Mr. Parkhurst married Lucretia Henry, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Musselman) Henry. Mrs. Parkhurst was born in Kentucky in 1824 and is the mother of four daughters, as follows: Abigail, widow of Louis Hudiberg, of Montgomery county; Mary E., wife of John Hefley, of Independence, Kansas; Matilda, who married Richard H. DeMott, a prominent farmer of Montgomery county; and Lucinda, wife of William E. Smith, of Independence.
Mr. Parkhurst is a Mason. He belongs to the blue lodge and chapter and is a Baptist of the old predestinarian order, and has been a member of the denomination many years.
Source
Duncan, L. Wallace. History of Montgomery County, Kansas: By Its Own People. Illustrated. Containing Sketches of Our Pioneers — Revealing their Trials and Hardships in Planting Civilization in this County — Biographies of their Worthy Successors, and Containing Other Information of a Character Valuable as Reference to the Citizens of the County; Iola, Kansas : L. Wallace Duncan, 1903.
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