Archie Parr

Sarah Pamela (Givens) Parr (1837-1918)

Archer "Archie" Parr (December 25, 1860 or 1859 — October 18, 1942), was a Texas cattle rancher and politician, who was nicknamed "the Duke of Duval County," where he was the local Democratic Party political boss. Beginning in 1914, Parr was elected to the Texas State Senate for numerous consecutive terms, serving nearly two decades, from 1915 to 1934. He had previously been elected as country commissioner, serving for a decade after repeated re-election. He amassed a great fortune through his career.

Anglo in ancestry, Parr spoke Spanish and acted as a patron, developing a power base among the Mexican Americans who constituted the majority of residents in the county. He retained their favor by supporting his constituents, showing sensitivity to their customs, and sometimes making cash payments. Parr controlled the party machine in the county. By his death in 1942, his son, George Parr, had taken it over, keeping control until 1975.

Archer "Archie" Parr was born on Matagorda Island in Calhoun County, Texas in 1860 to George Berham and Sarah Pamela (Givens) Parr. He had a younger sister, and they were children when their father died. George Parr had been a veteran of Zachary Taylor's forces during the Mexican War (1846). As a boy, Archie Parr left school in third grade to work to help his family. They were also helped by Sarah's brother, John S. Givens. The boy Parr wrangled horses at 11, was a drover at 14, and at 17 was a trail boss on a Chisholm Trail cattle drive. He worked as a school teacher in Rockport.

In 1882 Parr went to Duval County, where he worked as a manager on the Sweden Ranch near Benavides, Texas. Social life there included euchre, dancing, and croquet. He soon bought his own ranch there.