R W Parker

PARKER, ST CLAIR

Posted By: County Coordiantor
Date: 11/18/2006 at 22:58:15

R W Parker, farmer, Sec 2, P O Boone, was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, August 28, 1829, and was raised in Clay county, his father was of English and his mother of Irish descent and in the fall of 1850 he came to Iowa with a view of selecting his future home, bought a claim, and in May 1852, moved here and engaged in farming , he made a claim on Sec 12, which he entered as soon as it came into market, the main feature of this claim was the fact that it was the first made on the prairie, all former settlers having made their homes among the brush and timber, Mr Parker was considered unwise in his selection at the time, but future developments proved the sound judgment of the man in selecting land that nature had formed so rich in its soil, ready for the husbandman: after farming for about three years, his health not being very good, he concluded to try the mercantile life, sold his farm and entered into business in Boonesboro, at the end of six years, business not having proved satisfactory, he closed out his stock, having been unfortunate in his business, he sold the last piece of property in his possession, and paid the last dollar of debt, commencing life anew, without a cent, he went to work with a will and soon made arrangements for the place he now occupies, improving it as fast as he was able, until at this writing he owns one hundred acres of choice land, under good improvements and well cultivated, and raises and feeds stock altogether, December 12, 1850 he married Miss America A St Clair, a native of Indiana, she is a daughter of the Rev P St Clair, and early settler of Putnam county, Indiana, they have five children: Ann Belle L (wife of Thomas Payne), Lucinda M, Isaac T, Tillitha E and Lorenzo D

1880 Boone Co History Book