The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-07

entered the Albany law school, and
upon graduating he returned to
Schoonmaker & Hardenburgh. Within
a few months he took a partner named
Kenyon and opened a law Office at
Kingston.
For twelve years the young lawyer
practised his profession in Kingston.
He had a good income and won sew
eral important cases. During that
time he was quite free from the con-
troll or influence of large corporations.
In 1877 he was elected surrogate
of Ulster county and was afterward
elected for a second term. That was
his first experience of public office.
His entrance into politics was due
ployer. Judge Sehoonmaker. who had
been driven out of politics. He be-
Heved that the judge had been
wronged and set out to restore him to
campaign that he soon became a rec
ognized political factor in Ulster coun-
ty, being a favorite of Mr.. TiIden
and Mr. Manning, who trusted and
consulted him. In 1885 he was in
duced to become chairman of the
Democratic state executive committee,
and in the campaign which he man.
aged David B. Hill was elected gov
ernor- Mr. Hill appointed him to a
seat on the supreme bench when Jus
tice Westbrook died.
Honors Came Early.
three years old he was unanimously
nominated for the supreme bench by
the Democrats. The Republicans
would not nominate an opponent. Not
served on the supreme bench until
his election as chief judge of the court
of appeals in 1897 by a plurality of
about $4,000 votes.
During his nineteen years on the
bench he has ignored politics. In 1896
and 1900 he voted for Mr.. Bryan, but
it was we'll understood that he was a
sound money man and merely accept
ed the will of the majority in his
party.
Judge Parker's wife was Miss
SchoOnmaker of Accord, a woman of
rare refinement and good Dutch Rev
olutionary blood. Their daughter mar
ried the Rev. Charles NJ. Hale, rector
of an Episcopal church at Kingston,
which is within easy driving distance
of Esopus- The judges son died two
years ago.
1t is on the farm at Esopus that
Judge Parker's personality has full
swing. Here he writes his most i'm
portant judicial opinions. Here, too.
he works in his fields. prunes his trees
and care for his thirty registered Red
Poll cattle, his full blooded Poland
China pigs and fine stock of Shrop-
shire sheep.
Rosemont. for so the farm is called.
is beautiful place, all up and down
hill, fronting the Hudson and extend
ing on either side of the rocky road
that sprawls in from the village of
Esopus- Across the great river is seen
one of the new Vanderbilt houses In
the other direction are the lovely
wooded mountains leading toward the
Catskills.
His Home Life.
The judges house is a modest but
comfortable wooden structure, stand
ing on the stone foundations of a
Dutch house of colonial times. 1t is
set on the side of a hill among shade
trees and fronts the river. 1t is the
abode of hospitality and refinement
the typical home of an American gem
tleman. The pictures, the books the
furniture, the wide hall and glowing
fireplace, the sunny library and the
dining room, with its long mahogany
table, all show evidences of intelligent
tastes that were not developed in one
generation.
Here Judge Parker walks among his
bulls and COWS, in top boots and~pea