Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-07-14
LIFE SKETCH OF LION B. PARKER
Brief Sketch Who Has Been Noml-
mated by the Democratic Party for
President

Brief Sketch Who Has Been Noml.
mated by the Democratic Party for
President.
Alton Brooks Parker was born in
Cortland. Cortland County, State of
New York, on May Il, 1852, conse-
Quently is in the very prime of man
hood. being in his 53rd year, and in his
case It is the prime of vigorous and
healthy manhood. The stock from
which he sprung, on both sides, is all
English. His great-grandfather, John
parker, was born at Worcester, Mass,
in 1851. He was a farmer, and left his
plough in 1776 to serve in the patriot
army under Washington as private,
and so continued until the American
Republic was established, when he re-
turned to his farm, where he lived out
his life, respected by his neighbors as
a man Of independence, intelligence and
Industry. He reared a family, Of which,
however. little is known except of one
son, also named John, who, in 1903.
came into this State and bought farm
at Cortland-the same farm which at
this day is in the possession of Alton
Brooks. This John was recognized by
his neighbors as a highly educated
man, of great intelligence and public
spirit. He was heavily handicapped in
= 81 ro1o ~ bx, e., a inI,
rested the burden of debt a large fam
lily and ill health. Himself man Of
education, duly appreciating the ad-
yantages of culture and truly measur-
ing the lack Of it, until the day of his
death it was source of bitterness with
him that he had not been able to give
to his sons and daughters the advan-
tages he himself had enjoyed Early
the burden of the conduct of this Cort-
land County farm fell upon the shoul
ders of his son, John, the third in direct
line. His life was struggle, and he
carried the burden Of it with him to
| the grave. OF little scholastic train
ing, this John, third, was a studious
man, who read widely and deeply, and
who preached in his family the truths
CT the value of an education until he
bred in his son Alton, at least, a burn
| ing desire for learning.
HIS EDUCATION.
| Beyond the academy was the normal
school with it's higher branches Of
study and the Albany Law School,
| goals to be reached in that struggle
tc enter the ranks of lawyers Of the
State. When academy days were done
there was money to be earned to meet
| the expenses of attendance upon them.
| So for four years he is found teach
ing school, beginning at Virgil, Cort-
land County, at the age of 16. There
is another story that is characteristic.
At Virgil there was scholar so much
older than the new teacher that he de-
clined to submit to rule and authority,
and when force was attempted rebelled
and struck out at 'the new teacher" "
who promptly knocked the recalcitrant
Gown and collaring him, took him
home to tell his parents what he had
done The episode established his un-
disputed authority thereafter. From
Virgil he went to Binghampton, in
Broome County, where he taught in the
public school and between the two
places earned money sufficient to carry
him through the desired term at the
Normal school. Then he migrated to
Ulster County and taught school in
Rochester Of that county, where he
earned the money at So per day to give
him the desired two years course at the
Albany Law School. Here at Rochester
too, he won a bride in the person o.
Mary Lee SchoOnmaker. With the COM
pletion of his term OF Albany and his
graduation in 1872, he was admitted tE
, practice at the bar His days Of teach
ing were over. Settling in Kingston h
, became first a clerk and subsequent,
an associate, with the firm OF Schoon
maker & Hardenberg, the leading Law
firm Of that section of the country, ant
entered industriously and enthusiast
ca1ly into the practice OF the law, =
he had determined when boy OF 13. l
had been done, this translation from
an aspiring boy to full fedged law
yer, in seven years-a period Of strug
gle, OF privation, Of incessant labo
with head and hands, but never wit
lessening of purpose, rather with ey
firmly fixed on the goal.
: A FIGURE UP THE STATE.
It was not until 1885, that he ACHE,
ed a Statewide fame in politics. Th
fact Of the action Of Mr.. Parker in th
: campaign Of that year has been unde
! discussion quite recently, and man
! misstatements have been made, SO ths
misapprehension and confusion exist
. in many quarters and, indeed, misu1
I derstanding. A full statement Of tt
= facts, therefore, in this considerable
: will be justified.
In 1882 the Democrats had returne
to power in the State Of New York /
:, electing Grover Cleveland Governt
!, and David B. Hill Lieutenant Governo
;. The differences that had rent II
= Democratic party had been overcon
;, I in the face of the chaos that existed
:. that year in the Republican rank
: Tammany Hall, which in. 1879 hs