The border vidette., 1911-07-29
A HAPPY REUNION.
Sixty-one Members of Parker
 Family Meet at Mowry.


 Parker family of Santa Cruz county, met in the tenth annual reunion at the Mowry school house Wednesday,. Following a barbecue dinner and an impromp- tu luncheon in the evening, the celebration was concluded with dance, participated in not only by the members of the Parker clan, but by a score or more of friends residing in various Sec- tions of the county.
 It is an interesting fact that in this county alone there are one hundred and eight five des- cendants of William Parker one of the first pioneers of Arizona. It is equally an interesting fact that these members, direct and collateral relatives meet each season in some appointed local ity of easy convenience to the greatest number and hold con- versationaI and g tronomi G feast during one entire day each year. The picnic grounds are usually selected at Parker's Canyon, not far from the original homestead of the founder of the present Arizona family. This year, Mowry was selected as a matter of interest in diversion.
 William Parker located ill Arizona m the late sixties, not long after the Civil war. He was a native of Tennessee but at the age of two years transplanted by his parents in Cedar county Missouri. The love of advant- ure and the natural inclination to possess himself of wealth caused him to take chances with the hundreds and thousands who withstood the fatigues of car avan travel and the dangerous attacks of Indians in an effort to find gold in California. It was during the epochal year of 1S49 that he left Missouri for Califor- mia. Whether he found gold is not told in the legends of the family. It is known though that he left that state and came to Arizona when this section offered more probability ofGeRth from belligerent ApacheS than immediate prospect of riches. It may be remarked however, that this man was endued with the spirit of the pioneer, which has made civilization possible throughout the American con- tinent-a spirit that was appar- ently anxious to sacrifice self to hardship and too frequently to tortuous death. -4 a.'~
 From this single beginning, a poSterity now survives William in this one county that reflects credit upon his determination and does justice by continuing his memory to succeeding gener- ations. It is noticeable of the present day Parkers and their acquired kinsmen the progress and energy and indication of the future greatness of this portion of tine territory is typified. The family is strong politically, it has never wavered in it's allegiance to the development of the coun- try and without exception the individual members have been devoted to enterprises calculated to further the advantages and promote the welfare of every community in which they have thrown their lot.
 To instance the prominence of these folk, there are now two upon the board of supervisors ill this county. They are George Parker and o. F. Ashburn. MT. Ashburn affiliating by reason of his marriage to cousin Of George Parker and a neice of the first William.
 The second generation are not surviving. It is the third and fourth and fifty generation now extant. These and their child ren are now applying their efforts to increasing the proportions of Arizona farming and stock rais- ing industries. The homes of their children dot the valleys and the hills throughout Santa Cruz and the hightoned citizen ship, the thoroughbred progress iveness is a big degree of pride to every resident of this county.
 May the family survive in Arizona for million years.