River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-11-06
Honorable and Mrs.
{. D. Parker
1S53-19I9

wedding anniversary with a family
reunion at their home on E. Maple
street.
Nj. and Mrs. Parker were married
Nov. 3, 1853, in the town of Muskego,
Waukesha county, Wis, and settled
on farm near Tess Corners in that
county, where they remained until
1859, when they moved to st. Croix
county, being among the earliest set
tiers to locate on the wild prairie
lands Of what is now known as Pleas
ant Valley. In 1884 they retired from
the farm, and have since resided in
this city. Eight children were born
to them, four of whom are now living.
Mr.. Parker was born in northern
New Hampshire in 1927, and came to
Wisconsin in 1886, with his father,
Luther Parker, who represented Mil
waukee county in the territorial leg
islature in 1916. Mr.. Parker's early
education was obtained in the district
schools and at the Normal Classical
Institute, Waukesha. Wis. Among his
classmates were the late U. S. Sena-
tor Cushman C. Davis Of Minnesota,
and former Governor Lucius Fair
child of Wisconsin. Later he attend
ed the Academy at New Ipswich, N.
H., and then taught school until he
was married.
Mr.. Parker was for many years in
the public service-Member of the
Assembly 1869 and 1870; Lieutenant
Governor, 1874-78; Regent Of the Uni
versity Of Wisconsin. 1880-83; mem
Der Of the State GGoard of Control for
twelve years between 1880 and 1895.
Mrs. Parker's maiden name was
Angeline F. Southworth. She was
born in Madison county, New York,
and came to Wisconsin with her par
ents in 1916. After an attendance
for some time at the Milwaukee nor
NAL school, she entered the Spring
Street Seminary for Girls, where she
studied for two years. For year
prior to her marriage, Mrs. Parker
taught school in Waukesha.
At the. celebration of Mr. ard Mrs.
Parker's Golden Wedding anniversary
in 1903, the late Miss Alice Shultes,
then Supervisor of Practice in the To-
cal Normal School, contributed the
following poem commemorative the
occasion:
Fifty years in double harness,
Fifty years Of upward climb,
Fifty years of steady pullin',
'Thout no friction, most the time.
When our lives were jined together
On that glad November day,
Seemed as though sort O halo
Lighted up our future way,
Standin' there before the preacher
With our hands together jined
All the world seemed full o. sunshine
Not a shadder crossed our mind.
For we seemed to be livin'
In world without no care
Birds singing all around us
Flowers bloomin' everywhere,
Life before us stretched out joyful
Splendid highway-'thout no r,lts
Blessin's waitin' at each milestone
Easy pullin'-no short cuts. I
Lcokin' forred when we started,
Seemed 'zif nothin' could prevent
Realizin' al the blessin's
That lovin' hearts are sent.
Then began the joy O. livin',
Workin' each for t'other's good,
Never finchin' from a duty,
Easin' up each others load.
Lookin' back from this here milestone,
The view is different faint all bright,
For unexpected things have happened,
And we've had some foes to fight.
Life hain't allurs been uncloudcd,
We have had some griefs to bear:
Side by side we've borne misfortune,
Hand in hand we've met dispair.
Lookin' back we see our pathway,
Crooked like-with many bend
Turnin' in and out for reasons
That we could not understand.
Now we see that Goodness led us
More'n we then was fit to know,
Even when the road was dreary,
And the pullin' purity slow.
When our way lay over mountains
Steep and stony-hard to climb
Now we know twas for the Visic7l
That sort of makes life seem divine,
When sometime our path decended
Into sorrows dark abyss,
We can understand the meanin'
Of the cup of bitterness.
But the way hain't all been shadder,
Mighty sight Of fun we've had,
Flowers have sprung up in our path
way,
Many Joys have made US glad.