The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1901-03-29
THE NEXT MAYOR.
Brief Sketch of the Republican Candi-
date who Should be Elected next
Monday by Big Majority


Monday by Big Majority
Miles L. Parker, the republican can
didate for mayor, has been a resident of
Owosso or of Shiawassee county for the
past forty-two years. He was born in
Livingston county fifty two years ago
but came to this county with his parents
when but ten years of age. His parents
settled on farm near Bancroft, COR
nering on the village in fact, and he
lived there with them until after his
fathers removal from the farm 10 serve
as sheriff of the county for the two
terms for which he was elected. After
serving two terms as sheriff, his father
decided to cast in his lot with the city
of Owosso and came here in 1874, i'm.
mediately going into the business of
brick manufacturing under the firm
name of Parker & Bedford. Miles
came with his father and at once began
to work with him in the brick business
With the exception of about eleven
months in 1888 while he was working for
a New York firm in Alabama, having
entire charge of their business from
Mussel Shoals to Chattanooga, he has
been resident of this city. Owosso
seemed better to him however than did
Alabama and southern Tennessee and
although he received an offer even more
fattering than the position which he
held when he went south, he decided
not to remain, but returned and again
began assisting his father in the yards
After the death of his father, in 1889, he
bought out the interest of Mr.. Belford
and has conducted the business alone
since that time. In 1893, the clay of the
old beds having been exhausted, he
moved the plant to it's present location
on Cedar street, south of Stewart street.
At the new location he has continued
the business with the same uniform sue
cess with which he always conducted it
and has built up fine out of town
trade. In fact the greater part of the
brick manufactured in his yards is
usually sold away from the city so that
every cent of money which
IS nearly all spent in the city for labor
and wood, is brought in from other
places. His payroll averages about one
hundred thirty-fve dollars per week
Turing the entire brick season. His
business is and always has been, one the
of which has always added
% the prosperity of the city itself and
Ill of his interests are bound up in the |
Welfare of Owosso.
In politics Mr. Parker has always |
,een staunch republican. For the |
TX years previous to the redivision of |
he city into five wards, he represented |
he fourth ward in the city council
rom the spring of 1891 to the spring of
S97. During his three terms as alder
nan, his record was one of constant
tirring for the best interests of the city
nd for public improvements, In the
all of 1897 he was appointed supervisor
f the newly made fifth ward to succeed
lis brother Chas. w. Parker who had
cen made county drain commissioner
nd had therefore been compelled to re-
ign the supervisorship At the sue
eeding spring election and at each of
he followingly spring elections he was
e-elected, the first majority by which
q was reelected being 225. During
he last year he has held the chairman
hip of the important committee on
Justices and constables' claims. His
ellow citizens in the fifth ward have
cen more than satisfied with the way in
,hich he has served them and have
ried before the present spring to get
i'm to make the run for the mayorship
ut for one reason or another each year
Q has not felt that it was best to enter
he contest until this year when he con-
ented to make the run should his
riends throughout the city decide that
hey wished him to do so.
Mr.. Parker Is a member of Corunna
Knights Templar, but his
lost active work outside .of the bust
ess interests and offices of alderman
nd supervisor which he has held for
is ward, and the work for which he
erhaps better known than for anything
lse outside of those lines, has been the
York he has done in connection with
he Asbury Sunday school. Although
Q has no children of his own, no man
fonder of children than he and the
leasure he has taken in mingling
18th children and feeling that he is
1eir friend and is recognized by them
3 such is one of the greatest pleasures
his life. Whether at Sunday school
allies, picnics in summer, or sleigh
dies in winter, his teams have always
cen at the disposal of the children and
Is drivers have taken them on their
des. In somewhat similar spirit he
as thrown himself enthusiastically
Ito the work of making a success Of
arious Fourth of July and Labor Day
which have been held at
ifferent times IN the city.