I am the most misunderstood and misrepresented of men. Misrepresented because misunderstood. '"
-Judge Isaac C. Parker, 1896
Remembered today simply as 'the Hanging Judge,' Isaac Parker grew up on an Ohio farm, became a frontier attorney, and had a thirty-five year career in public service. He served as a city attorney, state judge, two-term representative to Congress, and for twenty-one years was a federal district judge in Fort Smith.
The following links provide a brief glimpse into the details of the life of this "most misunderstood of men."
Letters of Judge Isaac C. Parker letters and other documents written by Parker more...
Law Enforcement at Fort Smith Unpublished manuscript by former NPS Historian Edwin C. Bearss on federal court period. more...
U.S. Deputy Marshals The federal court employed deputy marshals, baliffs, jailers, and other court personnel. more...
A Loss to City, State, and Nation Local Obituary of Judge Parker more...
Did You Know?
Fort Smith was established on Christmas Day, 1817. Approximately 70 Rifle Regiment soldiers arrived by keelboat after a long journey on the Arkansas River.