Schuyler R. Parker, who, although stricken by the grim reaper in the prime of manhood, had during his limited lifetime become an important factor in the commercial enterprises of northern Kansas. He was a native of Henry county, Illinois, born August 17, 1865, and was a son of Ira and Mary L. (Cowl) Parker. The parents were both natives of Delaware county, New York. The Parkers are an old English family—the name Parker having its origin in the occupation of park keeper. Ira Parker was a son of Samuel Parker and Susanna Ransom. Samuel was one of three brothers who immigrated to America from England. Samuel settled in the East (New York); another brother went south and settled in one of the Southern States, and the third located in California. Thus the Parker family was founded in America, and those of the Eastern branch are descendants of Samuel Parker, who was the great-grandfather of Schuyler R. Parker, of this review. Ira Parker was a Quaker. He was born in Delaware county, New York, April 12, 1809, and came to Henry county, Illinois, in 1851. He was a school teacher in early life and taught school in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Kentucky, and finally settled on a farm in Henry county, Illinois. In 1854 he married Mary Woodruff. She died, leaving one child, Laura, who married Marion T. Whitney. She died in Oregon in 1898. Ira Parker's second wife was Mary L. Cowl, of Putnam county, New York, to whom he was married in 1858. She was a daughter of Elijah and Caroline (Hinman) Cowl. The Hinman family are related to the Perrys—the mother of Caroline Cowl bore the maiden name of Perry and was a near relative to Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of the battle of Lake Erie. To Ira Parker and wife, Mary L Cowl, were born two children: Perry Cowl Parker and Schuyler Ransom Parker, the subject of this review.

Schuyler R. Parker was reared to manhood in Henry county, Illinois, educated in the public schools, and in early life engaged in farming for himself in that county, and was very successful in this line of endeavor. February 6, 1892, he came to Kansas, settling at Waterville, where he engaged in the general mercantile business, establishing the mercantile house of Parker Brothers. They also bought an elevator and carried on an extensive grain business. He was successful in his business undertakings to the time of his death, which occurred June 24, 1896.

On August 19, 1885, Schuyler R. Parker was united in marriage to Miss Margaret J. Grier, of Cornwall, Ill. After the death of Mr. Parker she became the wife of Dr. Franklin S. Adams, a personal sketch of whom appears in this volume.

To Schuyler R. Parker and Margaret J. Grier were born two children: Milton Ira, born February 5, 1887, in Henry county, Illinois. He was educated in the public schools of Waterville, and after attending high school took a commercial course in the Cedar Rapids Business College, where he graduated in the class of 1906. He was then stenographer for the American Penman Publishing Company for a short time, when he entered the employ of the First National Bank, of Klemme, Iowa, as assistant cashier, remaining there until June 15, 1910, when he returned to Waterville, Kan., and became a member of the firm of Adams-Parker Hardware and Furniture Company, of Waterville. He was married, December 4, 1912, to Miss Nellie Marie Gilbert, a daughter of Mathew H. and Lillian M. (Thomas) Gilbert, the former a native of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mathew H. Gilbert is a son of Henry and Martha Ann Gardner Gilbert, natives of England. The father was a ship carpenter. Mathew H. was born in New York City and at an early date came to Kansas, where he was a successful farmer and stock raiser. He retired in 1907 and died at his Waterville home in October, 1909. His wife survives, and resides in Waterville. They had two children, Nellie M., now Mrs. M. I. Parker, and Jenevieve, who resides with her mother. Milton Ira Parker is a Thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Mrs. Parker is a graduate of the Waterville High School and of the State Manual Training School at Pittsburgh, Kan., where she specialized in domestic science and art. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and of the Eastern Star. Alma Ellene, born at Waterville, Kan., August 28, 1893, the second child born to Schuyler R. Parker and Margaret J. Grier, is a graduate of the Waterville High School and is now a student at the Kansas Agricultural College, where she is specializing in vocal music and domestic science. She is a member of the Lutheran church and the Eastern Star.