Person Page - 588

     Elihu Holcombe was born on 25 October 1841 at Winnebago Co., IL.¹ He was the son of James Holcombe and Martha McClintock.² Elihu Holcombe died after 1924.¹

Elihu enlisted Aug. 31, 1861 in 7th Kans Cav and served until Sept. 29, 1865.

Elihu and Margaret B. wre enumerated in the 1880 Lincoln Center, Lincoln Co., KS. He was a deputy sheriff, age 38, she was 30. Children in the household were Tressa 6, and Hugh 2.

Elihu and Maggie were enumerated in the 1900 District 145, Topeka Ward 1, Shawnee Co., KA, federal census. He was a city inspector, age 27, she was 27. Children in the household, all born in Kansas, were Edwin H. 22, Matilda E. 18, and Walter 15. The census indicated that Maggie had 4 children, all still living.

Elihu was enumerated in the 1920 Miami, Ottawa Co., OK, federal census. He was 78 and boarding in the household of Cora Riddell.

     Lyman Holcombe was born circa 1848 at WI.² He was the son of James Holcombe and Martha McClintock.³ Lyman Holcombe died after 1930.¹

Lyman and Nancy C. were enumerated in the 1880 District 46, Lincoln, Andrew Co., MO, federal census. He was an engineer, age 31, she was 23. Children in the household were John W. 3, and Bertha 1, both born in MO.

Lyman and Cassie were enumerated in the 1900 District 7, Lincoln, Andrew Co., MO, federal census. He was 51, born March 1849 in WI; she was 42, born June 1857 in IA. Children in the household were Warren 14, and Floy 10. The census indicated that Cassie had 8 children, of which 4 were still living.

Lyman was apparently still in Andrew Co. in 1910 but the census image is unreadable. J. W. age 33, with wife and 11 year old son are also enumerated in Lincoln Twp.

Lyman and Carrie E. were enumerated in the 1920 district 50, St. Joseph Ward 1, Buchanan Co., MO, federal census. He was 70 (or 75), she was 61. There were no children in the household.

Lyman was enumerated in the 1930 District 9, Amazonia, Andrew Co., MO, federal census. He was widowed, age 82. John W. and wife Vesta, both 53, were living nearby in district 9.

     Nancy L. (?) was born in March 1833 at NY.¹ She married Herman Holcombe, son of James Holcombe and Martha McClintock, circa 1852.¹

     Mary Demming married George Phelps Holcombe, son of Harry Holcombe and Polly Birge Hayes.

     Ralph Griswold was born on 3 May 1771 at Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.¹ He married Deborah Case, daughter of Charles Case II and Deborah Viets.

Ralph was enumerated in the 1800 Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT, federal census. There were two male children and one female child in addition to Ralph and his wife. Ralph and his wife were both 16-25.

Ralph was enumerated in the 1810 Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT, federal census. There was only on male child enumerated and no females.

Ralph was enumerated in the 1830 Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT, federal census. He was 50-60 and alone in the household. Enumerated next door was Zopher Griswold, 20-30.

     Ida Holcombe was the daughter of George Phelps Holcombe and Mary Demming.¹

     Harriet Holcombe was the daughter of George Phelps Holcombe and Mary Demming.¹

     Samuel P. Officer was born circa 1819 at PA.¹ He married Caroline Holcombe, daughter of Harry Holcombe and Polly Birge Hayes.¹

     Harry Holcomb Officer was born circa 1848 at OH.¹ He was the son of Samuel P. Officer and Caroline Holcombe.¹

     Horace Ransom Grant was born on 18 August 1876 at CT. He was the son of Frederick Grant and Mary J. (?) Horace Ransom Grant married Mabel D. (?) circa 1908.

Build the home that the family lived in for many years at 36 West Hill Drive.

     Mabel D. (?) was born circa 1883 at MA. She married Horace Ransom Grant, son of Frederick Grant and Mary J. (?), circa 1908.

     Frederick Grant was born in August 1844 at CT. He married Mary J. (?) circa 1869.

     Mary J. (?) was born in December 1851 at CT. She married Frederick Grant circa 1869.

     Dorothy Ingersoll was born on 20 May 1654 at Hartford, Hartford Co., CT. She married Jacob Phelps, son of George Phelps and Frances (?), on 2 May 1672 at Westfield, Hampden Co., MA. Dorothy Ingersoll died after 1689 at Westfield, Hampden Co., MA.

     Israel Phelps was born on 3 April 1681 at Westfield, Hampden Co., MA. He was the son of Jacob Phelps and Dorothy Ingersoll. Israel Phelps married Rachel Clark on 26 January 1713/14 at Enfield, Hartford Co., CT. Israel Phelps died after 1726 at Enfield, Hartford Co., CT.

     Rachel Clark was born in 1672 at Farmington, Hartford Co., CT. She married Israel Phelps, son of Jacob Phelps and Dorothy Ingersoll, on 26 January 1713/14 at Enfield, Hartford Co., CT. Rachel Clark died after 1726.

     Noah Phelps was born on 16 March 1725/26 at Enfield, Hartford Co., CT. He was the son of Israel Phelps and Rachel Clark. Noah Phelps married Hannah Abbe in 1752 at Enfield, Hartford Co., CT. Noah Phelps died in 1793 at East Windsor, Hartford Co., CT.

     Rex Elwayne Parks was born on 24 November 1918.¹ He was the son of Arthur Foster Parks and Cora Melinda Cummings. Rex Elwayne Parks married Queena Mae Richardson.¹ Rex Elwayne Parks died on 13 January 1951 at age 32.¹

     Lawrence Olivero was born on 7 October 1914.¹

     Kennard G. Parks was born on 18 September 1928.^1,2 He was the son of Henry Clyde Parks and Bessie Aurelia Ravenscroft. Kennard G. Parks died on 19 October 2005 at Templeton, San Luis Obispo, CA, at age 77.^1,2

     Wallace Gordon Parks was born on 23 January 1913 at Goltry, Alfalfa Co, OK.¹ He was the son of Henry Clyde Parks and Bessie Aurelia Ravenscroft. Wallace Gordon Parks married Barbara Livingston.²

from the International Motorsports Hall of Fame:

Wally Parks was born in Goltry, OK, but spent most of his youth in California. It was there that he became interested in hot rodding when he went to watch the pioneers of the sport compete on the Muroc Dry Lakes in the desert area of Southern California.

In 1937, he joined the Roadrunners, which eventually joined with other Southern California groups to form the Southern California Timing Association, predecessor of the NHRA. Parks had bought and modified a Chevrolet while working in the auto industry in a General Motors assembly plant, where he eventually became a test driver.

When World War II came, the plant was converted to the production of tanks and Parks tested them. He became part of an exhibition tank drill team until the Army grabbed him up and eventually sent him to the South Pacific. While in the Philippines, Sgt. Parks decided he needed a V-8 jeep and built it with an engine commandeered from an old passenger car. The result was the world's first Jeep rod, open exhaust and all. It changed his career. He became a troubleshooter for the Army, travelling all over the Philippines in his hot Jeep.

When the war ended, Parks returned to GM for a short time until he resigned to become the business manager of the SCTA. He put together the first hot rod show for the rodders to exhibit their machines. It was a rousing success and the idea of a national organization was already brewing in Park's imagination.

"Hot Rod" was anathema then, referring to the kids who raced illegally on public roads. Parks and his colleagues were determined to change the meaning of the word.

It was a long and successful battle. Parks became the editor of Hot Rod magazine which he encouraged Bob Petersen, a publicity assistant at a movie studio, to start. Parks then supervised the standardization of the sport to a quarter mile acceleration run from a standing start, between cars classified in the same class of handicapped according to the rating of their class against that of their opponents.

By 1963, the NHRA was organized in every state of the Union and had spread overseas. The organization became a member of ACCUS, the Auto Competition Committee for the United States, American representatives to FIA, and Parks became its representative. By this time he had retired from active rodding, which he had pursued while editing Hot Rod magazine.

Parks resided over the phenomenal growth of rodding throughout the western world and spawned numerous imitators. He was not the sole motivating force; many others in sections of the country also nurtured the sport. But he was the best organizer and the best politician.

     John Willliam Parks also went by the name of Jack Parks. He was born on 15 April 1917 at KS.¹ He was the son of Winn Omar Parks and Rose Theresa Gminor. John Willliam Parks died on 5 January 2000 at South Gate, Los Angeles Co., CA, at age 82.¹

     Margaret Meek was born circa 1912 at KS.¹ She was the daughter of Price Meek and Bertha Jones.

     Arnold Norman Dobbins was born in 1910 at Junction City, Geary Co, KS. He was the son of Harry Taylor Dobbins and Mabel Clare Meek. Arnold Norman Dobbins died in 1979 at Blaine, Whatcom Co, WA.