Charles Parker

 

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: BURNETT, HUGHES, MARION, PARKER

CHARLES PARKER. Among those who assisted in redeeming the prairie from its original condition and fitting it for the introduction of the rich crops indigenous to the soil of Illinois, the subject of this sketch took a prominent part. He came West in March, 1866, and after a brief residence in Woodford and Livingston Counties, this State, purchased the land which he has now transformed into one of the finest farms in Ludlow Township and which embraces 160 acres of section 4, and eighty acres adjoining in Ford County. The fields are outlined by beautiful hedge fences and most of them include forty acres, a part devoted to pasturage, and the balance to grain-raising. As a farmer Mr. Parker has been methodical in his operations and uniformly successful, while as a business man he is prompt to meet his obligations, his word being considered as good as his bond.

Our subject is a native of the wealthy and populous State of Ohio, his birth taking place in Tate Township, Clermont County, Feb. 13, 1836. His ancestors were English and located in New Jersey whence his grandfather, Isaac PARKER, in 1847 emigrated to Ohio, locating in Hamilton County. Cincinnati, the Queen City of the West, was then but a small village, and it is said that Isaac Parker was offered a tract of seventy acres now included in the city limits in exchange for a horse, but declined, considering that he would be no gainer by the bargain. He resided in Hamilton County but a short time, then going into Clermont County, cleared a farm from the wilderness and established a comfortable homestead, which he occupied until his death. There also he reared a fine family of children, among whom was Isaac PARKER, the father of our subject.

When but a youth of eighteen years old the latter had located with his parents amid the wilds of Clermont County, Ohio, where not long afterward he married, and purchased the farm in Tate Township, upon which he settled in 1830, and which his father-in-law, Robert BURNETT, opened up in 1803. This property still remains in possession of the family. In those days there was no market for produce in the whole State, and Isaac Parker was obliged to carry his corn to a distillery and have it made into whisky, which, with bacon and other produce, he transported on a flatboat down the river and sold at the plantations or in different towns. He occupied the farm upon which he first settled until his death, which took place in December, 1886, when he was eighty-six years old. His wife, who was formerly Mrs. Hannah BURNETT, was born in New Jersey, and was of Welsh parentage and ancestry.

The children of this worthy pair received careful home training and such education as the district schools of those days afforded. Charles, of our sketch, later entered Clermont Academy, where he fitted himself for college, by a three years’ course. When nineteen years old he became a student of Farmer College, in Hamilton County, where he attended three years, and completed his education after coming to Illinois, in Eureka College, in Woodford County. After graduating he accepted a position as book-keeper with the firm of Burnett & Abrahams, merchants in Bowie County, Tex. After the outbreak of the Rebellion he returned to Ohio, taught school in the winter, and worked on a farm the balance of the year until 1866, the year of his arrival in this State.

The marriage of Charles Parker and Miss Louisa MARION took place in Tazewell County, March 18, 1875. They have one child, a son, Jean Chester, born Jan. 12, 1885. The parents of Mrs. Parker were Calvin and Elizabeth (HUGHES) MARION. The paternal grandfather, Elijah MARION, a native of Massachusetts, emigrated to Ohio in about 1805, and located in Franklin County soon after its organization. The farm which he cleared from the wilderness is now included in the city of Columbus, where he died when eighty-six years of age.

Calvin Marion was three years of age when his parents removed from Massachusetts to Ohio, where he was reared to manhood and whence, in 1832, after his marriage, he emigrated overland to Illinois, locating first in Tazewell County. The land which he entered was finally included in Groveland Township. Peoria, then Ft. Clark, was the nearest depot for supplies. He sometimes transported his wheat with teams to Chicago, which was 170 miles distant. Both parents are living, and occupy the old homestead in Tazewell County, the father being eighty-five years old and the mother eight years younger.

Mrs. Parker is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having joined when eighteen years old. In politics Mr. Parker is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. All his family have always been Democrats since the organization of the party.