PARKER, Alanson Townsend

PARKER, HOXIE, WILCOX, FORSYTHE, JACKSON, CURTIS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 11/28/2013 at 00:20:59

BIOGRAPHY ~ ALANSON T. PARKER

Public-spirited, progressive and influential, Alanson T. Parker, of Mason City, is a worthy representative of all that constitutes an exemplary citizen, being active and interested in the public welfare, pleasant and genial in social circles, and in business life an honored and trusted man, one with whom it is a pleasure to deal. He was born, May 14, 1840 (1839 on his gravestone), in Herkimer county, New York, which was also the birthplace of his father, Archibald Parker. Archibald Parker spent his entire life in the Empire state, his birth occurring in 1808, and his death seventy-seven years later. He married Cassandra Hoxie, who was born in Madison county, New York, in 1809, and died at the age of fifty-three years. Of their seven children, but two survive, Peter, of Oswego county, New York; and Alanson T.

Brought up on the home farm, Alanson T. Parker was educated in the common schools and the village academy. In 1870, following the advice of Horace Greeley, he started westward in search of more promising opportunities for increasing his finances and came direct to Cerro Gordo county. Locating in Mason City, Mr. Parker embarked in the milling business with his cousin, H. G. Parker, with whom he was associated as a miller for a quarter of a century, during which time these two enterprising gentlemen built Parker's Opera House, a three-story building at the corner of Sixth and Main streets, in which Mr. Parker still retains his interest. Mr. Parker was subsequently engaged in the grocery business here for ten years, but sold out and is now devoting his time to his business as a real estate dealer and to the care of his private interests, which are quite extensive. He owns property of value in Mason City and has also a large ranch in Wisconsin.

When Mr. Parker came to Mason City it was a mere hamlet, containing by six hundred souls. He foresaw its possibilities, and bravely putting his shoulder to the wheel of progress has been a prime mover in the inauguration of beneficial improvements, development into one of the most enterprising and thriving cities of northern Iowa. He is an uncompromising Republican in his political affiliations, and fraternally is a member of Cerro Gordo Lodge, No. 70, K. of P., and of Mason City Lodge, No. 375, B. P. O. E.

Mr. Parker has been twice married. He married first, in 1874, Belle L. Wilcox. She died in 1881, aged thirty-three years, leaving one child, Belle L. Mr. Parker married for his second wife, in 1884, Martha J. Forsythe, who was born in Watertown, Wisconsin, in 1853. Mrs. Parker is a member of the Congregational church.

SOURCE:
WHEELER, J.H., Ed. History of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Vol. II. Pp. 674-75. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910.

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Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
August 27, 2006
by Kristin Buehner and Peggy Senzarino

Faces behind the places

. . . Parker Opera House, Mason City: This elegant building, built of native limestone in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, was erected by Alanson T. Parker and his cousin, H.G. Parker, in 1883. It was the entertainment center of the community. The opera house was actually on the second floor, with the first floor reserved for commercial interests. A.T. and H.G. Parker began a milling business, Parker’s Flouring Mill, on Willow Creek.

H.G. sold his interest in the mill to A.T. Parker in 1877. Alanson Parker operated the mill for 25 years. He later became involved in the grocery business and ultimately, in real estate.

He developed the Wildwood Addition and Forest Park in the western part of town and A.T. Parker’s Addition in the Rock Glen area. He also developed large additions south of 12th Street Northwest, the viaduct on First Street Southwest and a boulevard on Second Street Southwest.

He also owned a ranch in Wisconsin.

Parkers Woods in West Park is named for A.T. Parker.

A modest, unassuming man, A.T. Parker was a member of the Congregational Church in Mason City. His granddaughter, Marybelle Jackson, is a resident of Mason City.

NOTE: Alanson Parker was the son of Edmund Parker (1774-1842) and Hepzibeth (Curtis) Parker (1776-1945). Alanson died in 1926 and was interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City.

Transcriptions and note by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2013

Parker Opera House
 

Cerro Gordo Biographies maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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