When Reuben Parks was born on 27 May 1786, in Fauquier, Virginia, United States, his father, William Parks, was 28 and his mother, Catherine Payne, was 25. He married Nancy Lunceford on 2 May 1809, in Lincoln, Kentucky, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Springfield Township, Henry, Missouri, United States in 1860. He died on 31 August 1842, in Clinton, Henry, Missouri, United States, at the age of 56, and was buried in Tightwad, Henry, Missouri, United States.