Parker, Charles H., Sr. – 1822-1896

HUGHES, PARKER, REA

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 8/15/2016 at 15:31:52

One of Our Best Men Gone
To the one who writes an obituary it is such a comfort to write concerning a truly good man, one in whom there is nothing to excuse, nothing to cover. Such a man was Mr. Charles H. Parker, senior, who passed from time to eternity at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Will Rea, in Chicago, last Friday. The disease was rheumatism of the heart, and the summons came suddenly. He was brought to Newton for burial, the funeral taking place last Monday afternoon, as the Baptist church, Rev. David Brown, of New Sharon, being the minister in charge, assisted by Rev. J. S. Nasmith, pastor of the church.
This much beloved and respected man was born in Kent, England October 11, 1822. He came to America when fourteen years of age, and settled at Walworth, Wayne county, N.Y. When a young man but nineteen years old, he became a Christian and joined the Free Will Baptist church, of which he remained a loyal, faithful member until his death.
On the 17th of October 1847, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Hughes. They lived in New York City until 1856, when they came to Iowa and located in Jasper county, Sherman township. There they resided until in February of 1891, when the wife died, which broke up the home. In September of that year he went to Chicago to live with his daughter, Mrs. Will Rea, and that continued to be his home until he was called to his Heavenly home. Besides that daughter, he leaves two sons, Charles H. and Ed. J., both well-known men of Jasper county, and seven grandchildren.
From all sides come testimonials of the honesty, uprightness, genial, sweet nature, good business capacity, large mindedness, and above, the exalted Christian character of Mr. Parker. Rev. Brown, in his sermon, spoke of the last time that he had had a conversation with him. Mr. Parker’s physical vision was growing very dim, but he said that as his eyesight was being obscured, his spiritual sight was growing clearer and clearer, as the days went by. What a beautiful testimony to make, how death is robbed of its terrors when it comes to a man so well prepared, so triumphant in faith, so truly a subject of the King of Kings! “With kindly, gracious personal qualities, crowned with pervading and inspiring religiousness, his death showed that he had fulfilled in his degree the law of Christ and shown in his place and discipleship the attracting power of that Christliness which said by its supreme Chief from the heights of Cavalry. “And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me.”
The funeral was largely attended by people from a wide territory, he being so well and favorably known. The text was 1 Cor. 15-20, and was a hopeful, tender address filled with the Christian’s joy and peace obtained from faith in Jesus, even in the hour of death. The choir, consisting of Miss Ora Townsend, Miss Ida Griebeling, Messrs. H. L. Wilson and Earnest Early, sang four or five appropriate and choice selections. The body was laid to rest in the Newton cemetery, in the afternoon of that perfect Spring day, so suggestive of the resurrection, from which assured fact all Christians glory in the hope set before them.
Source: Newton Journal; April 1, 1896, page 3, col. 6