D. O. Parker, a prominent stockman and extensive land owner of Marshall county, was born in the western part of New York, February 20, 1850. He is a son of C. A. and Mary (Hayward) Parker. The father was a native of Vermont and the mother of Massachusetts. D. O. Parker was reared in the State of New York to the age of nineteen. He attended the public schools of his native State and assisted his father on the farm. In 1869 he came to Kansas and settled at Irving, where he remained a short time. He then went to Washington county and took a homestead, which was located just south of Linn. He also worked out by the month for farmers and worked on the farm near Waterville, Marshall county, which he later purchased, and where he now resides. He moved to Marshall county as soon as he proved up on his homestead and has made this county his home ever since. When he came to Marshall county he first bought a farm of 160 acres and engaged in farming and stock raising. He followed farming and cattle feeding, first beginning on a small scale and gradually increasing the number of cattle and the number of his acres, and has added each year.

Mr. Parker was married in 1876 to Miss Mary Catherine Runkle, daughter of Emanuel and Margaret Runkle, natives of Ohio, who in an early day removed to Indiana, and in the '60s immigrated to Kansas, settling in Marshall county, where they engaged in farming and stock raising. Mrs. Parker received her early education in the public schools of Ohio and Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Parker have been born six children: Edna (deceased); Delia (deceased); Josephine; Otis; May and Charles. The wife and mother died in 1909 and Mr. Parker's daughters now preside over his home.

In 1904 Mr. Parker was appointed to fill out an unexpired term of the office of county commissioner and was elected to that office three times, serving in all about eight years. Prior to this he served as trustee of Waterville township two terms. Politically he is a Republican, and has taken an active part in the organization of his party, and has been a delegate to county and Congressional conventions on numerous occasions. He is a member of the time honored Masonic fraternity.

Mr. Parker has made his own way in the world, and made it well. He started his career a poor boy, and empty handed, and has never inherited a dollar. The great success that has crowned his efforts is of his own making and he is entitled to the full measure of credit.