Bridgeton pioneer., 1888-01-05
DEATH OF JOE PARKER
End Of an Illustrious Life.

12 o'clock, at the house of a friend,
phia. He suffered paralytic stroke
about A. 80 o'clock on Saturday after
noon, and sank rapidly during yester-
day. His relatives were with him
when he died.
The famous War Governor of New
Jersey, Joel Parker, was born in Free
hold township. Monmouth county,
New Jersey, November Gath, 1916.
His remote ancestors had been natives
of that State, and his father, Charles
Parker, was prominent business man
and held many positions of trust in the
service of the State. He was Assem-
blyman from Monmouth county for
five years, and State Treasurer from
1921 to 1887, being retained in spite Of
political changes on account of his
financial ability and his faithful dis
charge of his duties. Upon his ap-
pointment as Treasurer, in 1881, Chas.
Parker removed with his family to
Trenton, the State Capital, in which
city his son Joel received his early
education. He afterwards attended
the celebrated High School in Law
renceville, and 10 1886 entered Nassau
Hall, in Princeton, from which insti-
tuition he was graduated in 1889. He
| chose the profession of the law and
and studied with Henry w. Green,
afterwards Chief Justice and Chan
cellor. Upon being admitted to the
bar in 1S42 he settled at Freehold,
where he has since resided In 1S43 Mr.
Parker married Maria NJ, tn eldest
| daughter of Samuel R. Gummere, of
| Burlington, n. j., a member of the
Society of Friends.
| In 1874 Mr.. Parker made his entry
into politics stump the State for
| the Democratic candidate for Presi.
dent, and in every subsequent Presi-
Dental campaign he has been one of
| the most prominent speakers for the
Democratic party, not only in his own
! State, but ia New York and Pennsyl-
uania. IN 1847 he was elected to the
i New jersey Leg gieiataie, and had the
/ distinction to be the youngest men,
Der Of the House. His legal learning
and his power as a speaker, made him
| very prominent in his party, and
although in the minority, exercised
such an influence that his friend Geo.
| E. Fort was elected Governor of the
| State in 1850. In the following year
he was appointed Prosecuting Attor-
ney for Monmouth county, and served
in this capacity for five years. In 1860
he was chosen Presidential Eector
and was one of the three Northern
Electors who cast their votes for
Stephen A. Douglas, in the Electoral
College.
In 1861 Governor Olden, Republi-
can, nominated him as Major General
| of the five central counties of the
State, with the view of organizing the
militia and promoting Volunteering.
TIE Senate unanimously confirmed
the nomination.
In 1869 his county presented his
name to the Democratic State Con
vention for nomination to the high
office Of Governor. The result proved
the wisdom of the choice, for after /.
most exciting contest Mr. Parker was
elected over very popular opponent
by the unprecedented majority of
nearly $4,000 votes. He was inaugura-
ted in 1868, and held the office for three
years, III the most trying period of our
history.
The record OF Joel Parker as Cover
nor of New Jersey in those trying
years was one of which any man might
well be proud. The manner in which
troops We're raised, equipped and for
warded was most creditable to his
State and to the man who governed it,
When the Presidents proclamations
were received his calls for troops to
respond were printed instantly.
Governor Parker retired from his |
office in January, 1866, the New Jersey |
law forbidding the reelection of a
Governor for two consecutive terms. |
In his final message he strongly adj |
vocated amnesty and reconciliation.
He resumed the practice of law at |
Freehold, and although at the close |
of his term he retired from office a |
comparatively poor man, his practice
became very extensive and he amassed |
considerable wealth
In 1871 be was again proposed as a
candidate for Governor He at first
refused, but on the day Of the conven-
tion every other candidate retired from
the field, and he was nominated by |
acclamation. He still hesitated about |
accepting the nomination, but on the
representation that it was a forlorn
hope and that he alone could win for