Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-07-30

Mr.. Parker had been ill for several
weeks. With the coming OF the hot
weather, about a month ago, the
grand old man." as he was known
among the lawyers of the state, be-
came slowly weaker, until he was un-
able to appear at the Office where his
attendance had been as regular as
that of his two sons. Hopes were at
first entertained for his recovery, but
gradually these were abandoned and
the family could do nothing but await
the end.
With Mr.. Parker's death closes a
chapter of legal life that cannot be
duplicated in the state. Among his
contemporaries were Chancellors
Pennington and Haines, Governor
'Chanceliors Southard and Seeley,
Chancellors Halsted, Williamson,
Henry w. Green, Zabriskie, Runyon
and McGill Chief Justices Green,
Whelpley, Beasley, Magic and Depue.
He began his career before the fourth
volume of the New Jersey Equity was
published, and was continuing it al
most to the time of his death. His
practice began under the Constitution
of 1776, continued to thrive under
the Constitution of 1914, and was
still increasing at the time of the
amendments of 1875.
During his membership of the bar
sixty-seven students have read law in
his Offices. Most of these men have
made names for themselves since
leaving him, but one and all of those
living have remained his friends.
At the dinner given in his honor a
year or more ago by the Jersey Bar
Association, members both from this
state and from New York gathered to
do him honor. One of the speakers
at that time said that after all his
sixty-six years of professional life he
still was as young as the youngest.
At eightyfive years old he still rode
his horse through the streets of New
ark and his interest in political issues
never wavered as his age advanced.
Among his closest friends he
numbered some of the greatest in the
land, the name of General Grant be-
ing one of the first on the list, while
General Philip Kearny occupied al
most the place of brother in his
affections
Political Office had little attraction
for Mr.. Parker, although almost
every post of honor at the disposal of
the state was offered him he pre-
ferred to be lawyer, first, last and
all the time. AmbassadOrships were
declined by him, and the mention OF
his name for the United States SEN
atorship brought forth no effort on
his part to secure the position.
Though opposed to holding Office
Mr.. Parker was always at the service
of his state and country, and when
called upon by President Grant to
take commission which carried with
it more responsibility than thanks,
accepted it as a duty.
The death of Cortlandt Parker is
not only severe loss to the bar of
Newark and New jersey of which he
was the Oldest member, but also to
this community, for as a citizen he
took an active part in all movements
which had for their object the pro-
gress of the city and the betterment
of all the inhabitants. He was a
charitable man, especially to veterans
of the Civil War who were in need
and to their families.
AS churchman ne ranked high in
the council of the Episcopal church,
and when he spoke at diocesan con-
ventiOns he was listened to with deep
respect. He wrote able communica-
tions to the Newark Daily Advertiser
for many years, criticising what he
considered wrong in the acts of public
officials and bodies and corporations.
He was tall and as erect as an Indian
to the last, and many people thought
he was very proud. But it was a
natural dignity, and when one got to
know him well they found genial,
sociable and lovable nature, man
who would drop his work to do a
person favor.
Cortlandt Parker was one of the
few men to live up to the traditions
of an illustrious ancestry. In all New
Jersey no better descent is known
than that of the venerable lawyer
who has just passed away.
His first ancestor on this side. of
the water, who came from England in
sl1684,e was Elisha Parker. His son
Elisha anarried and lived in Barn
stable. Mass, until about the year