Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1896-05-01
MIR. Parker,s Death.

OIED--At the ltush Hotel. in Williams
port, on Wednesday, April 20. 1895,
at 8 o'clock p. M, John Parker, aged
"a years. 3 months and days.
Deceased was born in Wayne county,
Ind, Feb. 49, 1922, ssnd msved to Henry
county. Iowa. in 1s42, when the country
was very new. To show its newness, it
may be appropriately noted here that
deceased helped to build the barracks at
Fort Des Melnes, in Polk county, Iowa,
for occupancy by United States dra.
goons, He, with man named William
Lamb, constructed the first coffin made in
Des Moines, saving with whip.saw the
lumber therefor. In 1874 deceased was
married to Miss LOIS See, who survives
HIM. In 1874 he embraced religion, and
in 1850 he was admitted to the Iowa M.
E. conference a. q preacher. In 1869 he
was transferred to the Missouri confer
Harrison county: In his second year rs
u preacher in Missouri the Shareholders
rebellion broke out. and he enlisted as
private in Merrllps Union cavalry regi.
ment which was famous under the name
of ''Merrill's Horse.' Upon their arrival
at st. Louis Mr.. Parker was given cap.
tain's commission, returned to Harrison
county and recruited ITO men, who be-
came Company .'l' of Col. Tindelps 23d
regiment Of Missouri Volunteer Infantry
The regiment was under Gen. Prentiss
and served in Missouri until Gen. Prem
tiss and his command were ordered to
Tennessee, where deceased took part with
his regiment IN the great battle of Pitts.
burg Landing, In which Gen. Prentiss
and part OF his men were taken prisoners
and Col. Tindell was killed. Capt. Park
er was not captured, but he and large
number Of others had, by the exposure
and hardships Of the campaign. been rem
dered sick and unit for military duty
and were sent to the hospital at st.
Louis, then to Alton, ILL.,, and after ward
back to Benton Barracks, in st. Louis.
Capt. Parker's illness, like most of the
other invalid soldiers, was chronic diar-
rhea, and, failing to get we'll, in the fall
Of 1862 he was honorably discharged. He
then went back to his former home, near
Des Moines. in Polk county, Iowa, where
he resided for eighteen years. While
there he was for q portion of the time
general agent and collector for the Hawk
tion Of the time he conducted collection
aud loan Office.
About 1880 Mr.. Parker was admitted
to the bar, and thereafter practiced law
in Des Moines until 1884, when he moved
with his family to the then territory Of
Dakota, locating ct Winchester, where he
resided at the time Of his death.
Deceased never fully recovered from
his army complaint, and was in receipt
of pension OF $40 per month.
During about Q year of his army service
Mrs. Parker accompanied her husbsnd d in
the field.
Deceased had lost two sons and three
daughters by death. His surviving sens
are Charles F.. Of Covins, CAL. and
James O., of Winchester. this county.
His only daughter is Mrs. SuriIda Urbane
Dixon, of Winchester. Mrs. Leah Car.
michael, Of Onio, this county, is Q niece
of the deceased.
| At the time of his death Mr.. Parker
was commander Of Emmons county's q.
A. r. post and chairman Of the Republl.
can county central committee, positions
Of honor ard trust which he had held for
many years. Al the beginning of state.
hood he was appointed by Judge Walter
II. Winchester. Of the Sixth judicial dis.
triot. of which Emmons county Is . sub
divlSion. to the peSltlen Of state's 9
| |(oeunty) attorney. to fll : vacancy. In
| 1894 he was elected without opposition
to the same position and his term had not
expired when hs died.
Mr.. Parker was chairman of the recent
county convention held at Winchester to
select delegates TO the state (presidential)
convention at Fargo, and was ono Of the
eight delegates sent. The weather was
raw and changeabls during the trip, part
Of the journey having 70 be made by
y team. and he tookia sevsrs cold. Hsgot