PARKER, James Beet

BEET, PARKER, RICHMOND, BATY, EMERICK, ANDERSON, PLUMB

Posted By: L Logue (email)
Date: 2/17/2013 at 11:24:03

The Malvern Leader, March 16, 1922

THE PASSING OF JAMES B. PARKER

Former Pioneer Resident Of Mills County Dies in Colorado; Funeral At Wesley Chapel

As noted in last week's Leader, James B. Parker, a former well known resident of Mills County passed away at the home of his son Claude at Wellington, Colo., March 7, 1922.

The remains were brought to Malvern Thursday evening accompanied by his sons Claude and Ed and Friday afternoon were taken to Wesley Chapel where the funeral sevices were held, conducted by Rev. Floyd A. Smith, pastor of the Methodist church at Hastings and a former pastor of the deceased.

The remains were laid to rest in the Wesley Chapel Cemetery by the side of the wife who preceded him a number of years ago. Six of his sons - Charles, Ed, Cliff, Ralph, Roscoe and Hosmer acted as pall bearers.

The following obituary was written and read by the pastor who was his pastor for several years:

As I say the name of James B. Parker I am calling the name of one who was my friend. And while no words that I can say today will in any way add or detract from the high esteem in which he was held by a large circle of friends, I want to here place on record my tribute of affection and esteem.

James B. Parker was born in Barrowby, Lincolnshire, England on January 26th, 1843. He was the son of George and Elizabeth Beet Parker and one of a family of eleven children.

He came with his brother John from England in the year 1857 when Mr. Parker was 14 years old. They crossed the ocean on a sailing vessel which consumed five weeks in making the trip from Liverpool to New York. The two brothers settled in Wyandot County, Ohio, where he continued to live as one of the pioneers and where he was married to Mary A. Richmond on December 12, 1865. In the year 1883, Mr. Parker moved with his family to Mills County, Iowa, settling near Wesley Chapel and about six miles north of Hastings. He lived in that vicinity until the year 1898 when he moved onto the Otha Wearing farm northwest of Hastings and with the exception of two years he resided there continuously for twenty-five years. (correct number of years was fifteen) In May 1920 he went to Colorado and has since resided with his son Claude at Wellington, Colo.

Mr. and Mrs. Parker established and maintained a real home. They reared a family of thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters. Aside from their own family, this early pioneer home was a gathering place for many a neighborhood dinner and visit. The young people always were happy to go home with the Parker young folks. One young man of that day, now a prosperous farmer with his own family, expressed it to me in these words. 'I would have died of lonesomeness and home sickness if it had not been for their home and friendship.'

The wife and mother died February 10, 1911. Three of the daughters also preceded their father in death. Mrs. Clara M. Baty in the fall of 1900; Mrs. Grace D. Emerick in January, 1907 and Mrs. Ellen E. Anderson in January, 1915. The living children are Frank of Winside, Nebr; Claude and Edward of Wellington, Colo.; Charles of Silver City, Iowa; Ray and Roscoe of Emerson, Iowa; Ralph and Hosmer of Malvern, Iowa; and Clifford of Sidney, Iowa, with the one daughter Mrs. F.J. Plumb of Hillsdale. There are 57 grandchildren and a large number of great grandchildren.

He was the son of a Wesleyan minister, who being a zealous preacher of the word, and a man of mental and moral worth, trained his children in the Christian faith. Mr. Jas Parker was converted and joined the Wesley Chapel Methodist Church January 21, 1897 and became one of it's most faithful and useful members. He served in many of the Official relations in his church, was the Sunday School Sup't at Wesley Chapel for a number of years. He also served as Sunday School Sup't at Hastings. For 19 years he taught a Bible Class at Wesley Chapel and during that period he was seldom absent or tardy. He made a record of being present, on time every Sunday for over ten years continuously, such a record is seldom if ever equalled.

When he came to Hastings he continued his faithful and efficient service in both Sunday School and Church. He was a good listener and was an inspiration in the congregation. When the minister spoke his message Grandpa Parker was always among the first to appreciate the thought and by his keen eyes and alert expression encouraged the speaker with an uspoken yet decided Amen to the truth. While his educational advantages were very limited, (I think he told me he attended school only a few weeks before he was six years old, never after that.) he was conversant upon almost any ordinary subject, and was a remarkable student of the Bible, and an ardent reader of the best literature he could buy. He thought his questions through and when he arrived at his conclusions he was not easily changed. His convictions were decided and what he thought was right he sought to promote with all his faculties. What he considered wrong he condemned but always tried to help remedy the wrong as far as he possibly could. While sickness has hindered his active work in the church for a few years he never lost interest in the church's affairs and his prayers and best wishes have been with the church continuoulsy.

He died at the home of his son Claude in Colorado March 7, 1922, being in his eightieth year.

"Servant of God, well done!
Thy glorious warfare's past,
The battle's fought, the race is won,
And thou art crowned at last:
In condescending love,
Thy ceaseless prayer he heard;
And bade thee suddenly remove
To thy complete reward.
With saints enthroned on high,
Thou dost they Lord proclaim,
And still to God salvation cry,
Salvation to the Lamb!
O happy happy soul!
In ecstasies of praise,
Long as eternal ages roll,
Thou seest thy Savior's face
Redeemed from earth and pain.
Oh! when shall we ascend,
And all in Jesus' presence reign
With our translater friend?"

-- Chas Wesley