PARKER, Thomas B., Sr. - 1914

PARKER, SPOONER, LEONARD, DICE, RINKARD

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/6/2009 at 01:41:06

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

THOMAS B. PARKER, Sr.

Thomas B. Parker, .Sr., has lived in Aurelia for almost a quarter of a century, spending the evening of a long, useful and worthy life in rest and retirement. He was connected with agricultural interests of Cherokee county for many years and has labored diligently to attain the prosperity which is his today. He was born in London, England, October 30, 1827, and is a son of Henry and Sarah (Spooner) Parker, also natives of England. They came to the United States in 1841 and settled in Savanna, Illinois, where the father followed cabinetmaking for some time, later turning his attention to the making of piano cases, an occupation which he had followed for twenty years in England. After coming to America he concentrated his attention upon cabinet making and carpentering, finally retiring from active life and moving to Spring Valley, Illinois, where he passed away at the age of seventy-six. His wife survived him some years, dying at about the same age. To their union were born seven children, of whom Thomas B. is the only survivor.

Thomas B. Parker remained with his parents until he was fourteen years of age and then worked at various occupations in Illinois until 1849, when he went overland to California, mining in the gold fields of that state for three years thereafter. At the end of that time he returned to Savanna, Illinois, and bought a farm which he operated until 1877. When he disposed of this property he moved to Cherokee county, Iowa, buying three hundred and twenty acres of land near Aurelia. For many years thereafter he cultivated and improved this property, adding to his holdings from time to time until he owned finally six hundred acres. Eventually he acquired a comfortable fortune and upon this retired from active life in the later 8os, making his home since that time in Aurelia. He has disposed of practically all of his land in Iowa and his holdings are now principally in Pipestone county, Minnesota, where he owns three hundred and twenty acres of highly improved farming land. He has a comfortable home in Aurelia and an extensive circle of warm friends.

On the 4th of November, 1855, Mr. Parker was married to Miss Catherine Leonard, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Keelin and Elizabeth (Dice) Leonard. The father was born in Rowan county, North Carolina, August 15, 1811, and came of German ancestry. He was a son of Valentine Leonard and the grandfather also bore the name of Valentine Leonard. He with his four sons operated a large plantation in North Carolina on which was also a manufacturing plant. Both the father and grandfather of Keelin Leonard were soldiers of the Revolutionary war, participating in the long struggle for American independence. Valentine Leonard, Jr., wedded Mary Rinkard, who was born in Germany and her old Bible, one column printed in German and the other in English, is still carefully preserved by the family. After her husbands death she left North Carolina and traveled in a covered wagon to Ohio, where she opened up and improved farms. Her family numbered four sons and five daughters. In the early days there was no church in the vicinity of the Leonard home and not wishing her children to be deprived of religious training, she called together some of her neighbors and herself gave Biblical instruction. The outgrowth of this was the establishment of a large church.

Her son, Keelin Leonard, was in his fifteenth year when the family removed from North Carolina to Montgomery county, Ohio, where he remained for seven years. He was afterward a resident of Williams county, Ohio, for fourteen years and thence moved to Elkhart county, Indiana, where he remained for five years. He afterward spent a quarter of a century in Carroll county, Illinois, and in 1876 arrived in Cherokee county, Iowa, where he lived for a similar period. He died in Sheldon, Iowa, March 25, 1901, when almost ninety years of age.

It was on the 26th of April, 1836, that Keelin Leonard married Elizabeth Dice, who passed away February 26, 1891, after a happy married life of fifty- six years. They were the parents of eight sons and five daughters of whom two died in infancy, while Daniel passed away in his seventeenth year and Jacob died while serving in the Civil war. Four sons and five daughters still survive. Mr. Leonard always made farming his life occupation and had a well developed and highly cultivated tract of land. He was progressive in his work, cultivating the best varieties of grain and also raising highgrade cattle and horses. He also had good buildings upon his place and he provided most liberally for his family, his cellar always being filled with great supplies of apples, vegetables and pork. In all of his business relations he was strictly honorable and upright. Both he and his wife were members of the German Baptist church for more than a half century. Later Mrs. Leonard joined the Brethren church with which she was connected until her death. Mr. Leonard acted as deacon of his church for sixty years and lived indeed an upright and consistent Christian life. His library consisted of his Bible, a hymn book, his church paper, the life of General Washington and a newspaper. His wife passed away February 26, 1891, and Mr. Leonard survived until March 25, 1901. He was not only one of the worthy, but also one of the most respected citizens of this part of the state and he left behind him an honored name which is rather to be chosen than great riches. His daughter, Mrs. Catherine Parker, passed away January 27, 1913, at the age of seventy-four years, to the deep regret, not only of her immediate family, but also of many friends. She and her husband, the subject of this sketch, had lived a very happy married life together for a little over fiftyseven years. In her early married life she joined the Brethren church and her influence was always a factor in moral progress in her home and in the. community in which she lived. By her marriage she became the mother of four children: Louis, who lives in Aurelia; Lemuel of Los Angeles, California; Thomas B., of Aurelia; and Leonard, who died in Illinois in childhood.

Mr. Parker is a member of the Brethren church and has served a greater part of his life as deacon. He is a democrat in his political belief. He has never sought to figure prominently in political circles, however, concentrating his attention upon his business affairs until, with a competence acquired from his labors, he retired to private life. He is most widely and favorably known in this county where he has so long resided and where he has a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance. His record has ever been honorable and commendable and the sterling traits of his character have gained him high regard.