The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-04-19


this community than that occasioned by the
announcement on Wednesday evening of the
Isudden death of John d.. better known by the
| familiar name of Charlie Parker. II was diff
cult to believe the evidences Of oae's senses
The type of vigorous health no man OF his age
seemed to have firmei hold upon life and q
st ronger assurances Of It's prolongation. Again
is verified the saying: tIn the midst of life we
are in DEATH
wednesday afternoon in company with Fred
Cooper, Mr.. Parker went oat to Fairy Lake
hunting ducks. Other members OF the party
were f, E. Barnum ami t. w. Mann. They
had disposed themselves about the lake at con-
venient points, and Mr. Parker had rowed Mr..
Cooper few rods out into the lake TO a musk
rat mound, returning 10 the SCORE with the
boat near which, on the shore he laid down in
sight of Mr.. Cooper. Atintervals conversation
passed oetween them, and not more than five |
minutes prior to his death Thomas j. Killeen |
drove near him, and some words relative to |
shooting passed between them. A few minutes |
later Mr.. Cooper spoke TO him, but received no |
response, and thought he had removed to some |
point farther away. And yet he could see him, |
but in the gathering gloom Just before the |
storm which broke about quarter TO six /
o'clock, he thought it was log. gust OF |
wind blew away Mr. Farkers hat, and then |
the real situation became apparent. Mr.. Cooper /
gave the alarm by shouting and firing his gun,
he not being able to get ashore, and attracted |
the attention of Edmund Buck, from his farm |
house near. Messrs. Barnum al d Mann had |
left forhome but attracted by the shouts they !
turned about and drove Immediately to the |
scene. When Mr.. Buck arrived Mr.. Parker |
was QUITE dead, lying ih an easy position just |
as he had been for some time. Death was \
evidently as painless Az 1t was sudden. The |
body was tepderly transferred TO the boat, and |
brought to his home in this city.
The news rapidly spread, and citizens could |
think and talk Of nothing else, the expressions |
of grief and sympathy for his family being |
heartfelt and they were universal.
John C. Parker was born in Berkshire, Eug-
land near the city of oxford on December 21st |
1885, and with his parents came to America in |
1913, settling at st. CHARLES, H., where he re-
manned until the breaking out of the war,
when he enlisted as private in the 5Sth Hi
nois infantry, serving three and half years,
earning promotion to the first lieutenacy of his
company. During the war he married Mrs
Marian Kennedy. After the rebellion, in com
pany with his cousin and broth er-in-Iaw, Harry
Parker he removed with his wife TO Alden,
Iowa. where he remained until 1872. Meantime
his parents had moved to Sank Centre. He
brought his wife here on account of her health
before his removal to this nlace, the
following year. His wife died in 1873, and two
years later he married Mrs. Annie Woolford,
who survives him. Mr.. Parker never had any
children of his own, but his adopted daughters,
Misses Martha and Mary Woolford dhe former
now Mrs. j. w. Ward of Little Falls) We're
taken to his, heart as clio ely as though of his
own blood, and they nor he never felt that the
bond was any weaker than had they been his
own by birth.
Ever since his residence here he hes enjoyed
the confidence and esteem of his fellow cit1
zens as few others have He has served as
town supervisor, and twice was elected to the
city council being successfully its vice -prest
pent and president, the latter honor con-
ferred upon him by the new city council atits
only meeting held since re- organization, He
was charter member of B, r. Palmer Post of
the Grand Army, and a member of the subordi-
nate lodge of Odd Fellows, and of the eneamp-
ment OF his immediate family there survive
him his wife and daughters as indicated above; I
two brothers, Andrew E., Park City, Mont, and
Frank W., who removed to Yakima, Wash,
about two weeks ago, and five sisters; Jane S.
wife of Harry Parker and Emma, wife of Will
liam Lewis, both of Sauk Centre; Maria, wife
of Henry Mann of Blaine, Kas,; Julia, wife of
Frank W. Mann, brother OF Henry, of Devils
Lake N. d and Mary, wife of David Martelle
of Millbank, S. D., all of whom were notified by
Telegraph of the death OF their brother. The
funeral will be held at 3 p. M. on Friday.
hold in high estimation, and respect for his
sterling qualities increased the more intimate
the acquaintance. He was a splendid type Of
noble manhood. True and just in all his deal
ings, open as the day, kind and sympathetic,
it is the good fortune Of few men TO have a
wider circle of warm friends than he. In
every relation of life he was above reproach.
AS a husband loyal and tender, a father in
dulgent and affectionate; as citizen public
spirited and enterprising; as public officer
fearless and honorable, his character, under
the closest scrutiny, revealed few inconssten
cies or wrinkles. The soul of honor, his word,
never lightly given was sacred to him and to
be relied upon to the utmost
In his business relations he was punctilious,
honorable and generous. He has been an ex-
tensive farmer, had dealt largely in live stock.
mad engaged IN removing ond raising buildings,
aid for six years was a member of the firm of
Parker & Parker, grocers. Out door life, how
ever. was most congenia al 10 his taste, and with
reeklessness to exposure and hardship, ne
was as strong and vigorous physically as he
was morally,
A community is poorer indeed when robbed
of such men, and The bereaved family have the
consolation that the afflic ton which has fallen
with such sudden force upon them is shared by
the entire commun ity who extend sympathy
without stint.
'sHis life was GENTLE
And the elements so mixed in him
That nature might stand up and say
To all the world-''Ths was man."
The (SOSnRl Meetings.