The San Francisco call., 1904-07-10
SPLENDID
CAREER OF
CANDIDATE
Democratic Nominee
a Man of Strong
Qualities.
His Rise to Fame a
Succession of
Victories.

Alton Brooks Parker. who has been
chosen 10 lead the Democratic hosts in
the ballot battle TO be fought at the
polls IN November next, is an American
by every line Of title. Of pre-revolu-
tionary stock on both sides Of his
house. His ancestors came from Eng
land 10 Massachusetts in the early
settlement days and helped make good
the advance Of civilization on the
western hemisphere.
His grandfather, John Parker,
was born at Worcester, Mass, in 175l
He left his farm in 1776, entered Wash
ington's army as a private and served
throughout the whole war. One Of his
sons, John second, IN 1903 moved to
New York and bought a farm at Cort-
land, which farm to-day is in posses
sion Of his grandson, Alton Brooks
Parker, the subject OF this sketch John
Parker was a man Of high education,
great intelligence and broad public
spirit His son. John third. who be-
came the head OF the family on his
death, imbibed his fathers love of
learning and though not financially
able 10 give his children all the advan-
tages IN educational lines that he de-
sired did succeed in fmplanting in
their bOsOms a burning desire to ac-
Quire learning. OF the value Of this
parental care, his son Alton is to-day
q living, personal, practical example.
CAREER OF ACHIEVEMENTS.
Alton Brooks Parker was born in the
old homestead May Il. 1852. and so is
now in his hfty-third year, the very
prime Of vigorous and useful man
hood.
When he was nine years OF age he
began attending the winter sessions Of
the district school, helping about the
farm when not so engaged, and in his
thirteenth year entered the Cortland
Academy, the same at which Daniel S.
Lamont received his collegiate prepar-
alton.
After the high school. at the age of
Is. he began teaching at Virgil, N Y
and taught for four years with great
success, his aim being 10 earn the
money to carry him through the nor
nal school This done, he taught at
Rochester for a time and earned the
money 10 take the two years course
at the Albany Law School. He had
decided. when only 13 years old, after
listening to a celebrated lawyer speak
at his County Courthouse, to follow
the legal profession.
ENTERS THE LAW.
On the completion Of his term at AL
bany IN 1872 he was admitted 10 prac-
tioe at the bar. Settling at Kingston.
he kr0 .o1o
sociate in the firm OF Schoonmaker &.
Hardenburg, the leading law firm Of
that section.
When he was but 25 years Of age he
was elected Surrogate Of Ulster
County, after a hard political fight, in
which he was the only one Of his ticket
TO reach success. Six years later (lSs3)
he was reelected with increased ma
3ority, and two years later he was ap-
pointed Justice Of the Supreme Court
OF New York, to I'LL the vacancy caused
by the death OF the Hon. 7. r. West
brook He entered at once upon the
duties OF the Office for the current year.
at the end OF which he was elected
Justice for the fun term. In January.
1sss' the second division OF the Court
Of Appeals was created and Judge Par
ker was appointed 10 a seat on that
bench being the youngest member that
ever sat in the Court Of Appeals in the
State OF New York. That position he
held until the dissolution Of the court
IN 1892.
In that year he was appointed by
Governor Flower a member of the
general term Of the first department
OF the Court OF Appeals, where he con-
tinued until 1885. when appellate divi-
Eions were adopted under the new con-
gtitution.
WINS GREAT VICTORY.
In 1897 he was nominated by the
Democratic party for the Office Of Chief
Justice OF the Court Of Appeals. the
highest judicial position in the State OF
New York, and was seated at the head
OF the bench by majority Of over co.
zoo When the State had gone for Nc
Kinney the year before by PIP, 900.
Judge Parker of the bench is
Farmer and takes much pleasure IN
turning the soil that is 10 receive the
SEED and grow the grain needed on his
place He was married October 1e. 1879
10 MISS Mary /. Schoonmaker. the
daughter Of HIS friend and mariner
Judge Augustus Schoonmaker az
Kingston, n. Y. His family now con-
sists only OF himself and wife b,,+ t,s.
aged mother IS a frequent visitor TO his
flresloe, and his daughter Bertha wife
OF Rev. Charles N. Hall Of Kingston
\. Y, with her two children also
SPENDS q good part Of her time there.
his prother' Fred ". Parker, is in the
insurance business IN New York City.
FOND OF POLITICS.
Judge Parker from the attainment of
his majority began 10 take an active in
terest in politics. and aside from the
campaigns in which he was the proba-
bic beneficiary, had a hand in most Of
the fights made on local, State or ma
tional issues.
His larger debut may be said TO have
been made IN 1875. when he orc. nizad