Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-07-13

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cents day more bad been secured Tor
him. Yosng Parker was somewhat cha
grined, and was about to notify the vir-
gil ssbooi trustees hat he could not take
their school, but his father Insisted that
be keep bis engagement, remerking; II
have observed thst when young man
once faiia in that way, he is pretty apt to
fail all through life.r
Having equipped himself for better
position be sought place ia the teaching
profession that would enabIa him to fol-
low legal studies. For year he taught in
the Blnghamton public schools, and
then he took charge OF the public school
at Accord, Ulster county, as principal. He
was twenty at this time, and his salary
was 50 day.
Parker's fret big case was In represent.
ing Ulster county In a protracted suit
With the city OF Kingston, which he won.
His fee was e 800, a veritabie windfall for
young lawyer still In his twenties.
Hardly had he entered the law Office OF
Sehoonmaker q Hardenburg, In Kingston.
when he foaud himself In the midst
of political contest. Mr.. Schoonmaker,
the senior partner, was candidate
tor county judge. Ulster county was
uominaily republican, but at the ensuing
election Mr.. Schooumaker was elected.
Becoming candidate for another
term he was defeated and discouraged
and decided to Withdraw rom politics.
Here is where the young 'aw clerk be-
came actively interested In politics.
Parker, on his own initiative, arranged
for Schoon makers nomination for state
senator, prevailed upon the judge to ac-
cept, managed the campaign himself, and
had the pleasure of restoring Schoon-
makers former prestige. Schoonmsker
subsequently became attorney general Of
New York, and was an interstate COM
merce commissioner.
In 1854 he went to the democratic ma
tionaI convention as a Cleveland sup
porter.
He managed the state campaign Ia New
York In 1885. when David Bennett Htll
first ran for governor. and saw the ticket
elected by msjorities of II 900 to 1900.
Meanwhile, In 1883, when Grover Cleve-
land was tho candidate for governor of
New York, Parker was urged to accept
the nomination for lieutenant governor,
but the homo. was refused, as he desired
to follow a Judicial career. Again in 1885
the nomination was offered aud again re-
fused.
In this same year President Cleveland
sent for him to come to Washington, and
offered him the appointment as first as
sistant postmaster general under William
r Villas. The salary was 5000, while his
office OF surrogate paid but 5000. To the
sstonishment OF the President this was
declined, because he was not ready to
abandon bis hope of judicial career.
A few months later an offer came that
he was glad to accept. Death had re-
moved Theodore K. Westbrook from the
supreme judicial court, and Governor
Hill rendered the position to the surrogate
OF Ulster. 1t was accepted, and at the age
of tairty-four Alton Brooks Parker be-
care member OF the supreme court of
New York. In 1897 he was nominated to
be chief judge OF the court OF appeals,
and was elected.
On the bench of New York's highest
court Judge Parker has been conspic-
nous success. He las proved to be a
working judge. He is young, and has
energy and physical strength. He loves
work, and, aside from his sense OF duty
to the public, 1t was impossible for him
to tolerate the conditions that be found
In he eoprt xr han ha aacapdad tha hauch
The judge has one brother and one
sister. The former, Fred ii. Parker, Is an
Insurance examiner In New York city,
and the latter, who 10 now Mrs. May l..
Miles Lives In Derby, Conn. Their mot her,
Mrs. Harriet Stratton Brooks, lives with
her daughter at Derby, but us uslly spends
the summer at Judge Parker's home. Mr..
Miles, the brother-in-law, is foreman In a
piano factory In Derby.
In 1873 he was married to Mary l..
Schoonmaker, of Accord, Ulster county.
They have mad two children. John M.
Parker, their only son, died at the age
OF seven. Bertha, their only daughter,
was married in 1893 to Rev. Chariea Mer-
Ger Hall, the young rector Of the Episeo-
pal mtseluu CHurCn OF tnt ffOIv IrOes, at
Kingston. Alton Parker Hall and Mary
McAllister Hall. the two grandchildren,
are the pets of the Judge.
After his marriage he made his home in
Kingston till 1898, W hen he bought farm
In Esopus overlook ing the Hudson,
thoroughly improved the estate, and gave
1t the name OF Rosemount. The farm is
carried on with financial profit, and upon
II are some of the best blooded cattle in
New York state. His barn is filled with
blue ribbons, the trophies of many
cattle show.
Judge Parker, now in the prime of his
physical powers and mental faculties, is
of staiwart form. He is just under six
feet In height, weighs about 1876 pounds,
and because of hard and constant outdoor
exercise, his muscles are strong and his
nerves steady.
His hair Is dark brown color, thin at
the top OF his head, and well sprinkled
with gray at the sides. His mustaehe,