Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 376 - 377 

WILLIAM PARKER, a representative farmer and stock-raiser of Salem Township, is a native of Erie County, N.Y., and first drew the breath of life April 4, 1833. He is a son of Thomas and Mary Ann (Jameson) Parker, both of whom were also natives of the Empire State. On his father's side his ancestors were Scotch-Irish, while upon his mother's they were of New England and English origin. Obadiah Moore, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, and served throughout the greater part of that memorable struggle. Hugh Jameson, the maternal grandfather of Mr. Parker, was a soldier during the contest with Great Britain in 1812-15, and was present at the burning of the city of Buffalo by the English during that conflict. Mr. Parker was the eldest of a family of three children: Henry, the second, is living in Minnesota, and Clark, the youngest, makes his residence in Jackson County, this State. The mother passed away to her reward in 1849, and the father in 1882. 

            The subject of this personal narrative was reared upon his father's farm and attended the district school in his boyhood days until he had attained his thirteenth year. From that time until he was seventeen years old he assisted his father in the labor attendant upon an agricultural life. On attaining the latter age he came west, and resided with an uncle, Michael Miller, in Wisconsin for some six months, after which he removed to Butler County, Ohio, where he remained engaged in farming until 1865. During that year, with a desire to improve his condition and have more room in which to extend his efforts, he journeyed westward, and settled in Woodford County, Ill. Resuming his agricultural labors in that portion of the great Prairie State, he there made his home until 1877, when he came to Kansas and settled in Sedgwick County. While in Butler County, Ohio, he was employed for some two years as a farm hand at $12 per month, after which he rented a farm, which he tilled until he had accumulated sufficient capital to purchase land of his own. 

            February 14, 1856, Mr. Parker and Miss Eliza A. Myers were united in the holy bonds of matrimony, in Butler County, Ohio. His wife was born in the last-named place, Jan. 15, 1835, and is the daughter of Isaac and Eliza (Gray) Myers. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania and her mother of Kentucky, and were among the early settlers of Butler County, having located there when that portion of the Buckeye State was literally a wilderness. They were the parents of six children, of whom the four following are living: Charles, a resident of Nebraska; Joseph and Jacob, still living in Butler County, Ohio, and Eliza A., the wife of the subject of our sketch. 

            Mr. Parker, who is among the large land-owners and extensive farmers of Sedgwick County, resides upon a farm of 342 acres, which is his property on section 33. A large, handsome and commodious dwelling, neat and roomy barns and substantial out-buildings, beautify his place, which is considered one of the finest in Salem Township, and a view of which we give in this connection. He is in all respects a self-made man, and having begun life a poor boy entirely without capital, has accumulated an easy competence which, with his splendid farm, is a monument to his industry, energy and ability. Both he and his most estimable wife are respected and honored members of society, and enjoy the confidence and regard of the entire community. They are spending their declining years in the enjoyment of the fruits of a life spent in toil, and look back with fond memories to the days when, joining their fortunes under adverse circumstances, they still had time for many deeds of charity and benevolence. In politics, Mr. Parker is a stanch adherent to the principles of Jeffersonian democracy, and takes great interest in whatever tends to the purification of party, and the elevation of society at large. 

            The family of Mr. and Mrs. Parker has consisted of eleven children, eight of whom are living. They are as follows: Hulda, who was born March 26, 1858, is the wife of W.F. Copner, and lives in Salem Township; Stephen A., the eldest son, and still a resident of this township, was born March 19, 1860; Emma L. was born Dec. 28, 1861, and married Samuel Butts, and is a resident of Summer County, Kan.; Laura B., the wife of Winfield Booth of this county, was born Nov. 12, 1863; Henry C.'s birth took place Dec. 27, 1865; William F. was born Dec. 26, 1867; Annie E. made her appearance upon the stage of life April 26, 1872, and Lewis S. was born Oct. 21, 1874. Those deceased were Mary E., born Nov. 6, 1856, died Jan. 5, 1861, and two who died in infancy unnamed.

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