Parkinson, G. W. 1850-1931

PARKINSON, WISE

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 11/18/2011 at 14:04:48

LeMars Globe-Post, March 9, 1931

G. W. PARKINSON DIED ON SUNDAY
Father of the Musical Family Was One of Early American Pioneers

George Washington Parkinson, an early pioneer of this western section, a
recent resident of LeMars, lately of Sioux City, passed away with the set of
the sun Sunday evening, March 6, 1931, at LeMars, Iowa, where he was being
cared for for the last two months.

Mr. Parkinson was born in Williow, Ill., Jo Davis county, near Stockton, May
8, 1850. He reached a ripe old age. He would have been 81 on his next
birthday. For several years his health has been on the decline. Death was
caused merely by old age. He passed away quietly without much suffering.

Mr. Parkinson was the son of parents who were very early settlers in Jo
Davis county, Ill., having worked their way up the Mississippi river and
homesteaded in that then new section of the country. In early days he
became interested in music and was a pioneer in that field. He studied with
a noted evangelist singer and hymn writer of the early days, P. P. Bliss.
He became his ideal and named his first child, William Bliss Parkinson of
LeMars, after this man. Mr. Parkinson did more for the music of the youth
of his day than any other one person, for he was greatly interested in
helping young people in this opportunity.

Mr. Parkinson was an instructor of many bands in the vicinity of Stockton
and Savannah, Ill. In 1881, he pioneered westward and organized one of the
first bands west of the Mississippi river at York, Neb., 50 years ago. He
brought the first parlor organ to be seen west of the Mississippi. In 1909
he came to Iowa locating at Rock Rapids where he was engaged in his musical
career. He had bands in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota and continued in
this work until 1925.

He moved to LeMars in 1917 residing here until 1929 when he moved to Sioux
City where he has since made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Reuben
Schneider.

Mr. Parkinson was united in marriage with Julia Anne Wise of Jo Davies
county, Ill., on Dec. 8, 1873. They celebrated their 50th wedding
anniversary Dec. 8, 1923. Mrs. Parkinson has been a constant and faithful
attendant of her husband during his sickness.

Besides his wife, the following living children mourn the departure of their
father: W. B. Parkinson and Fred J. Parkinson, of LeMars, Iowa; Mrs. Irvin
Machamer of Merrill, Iowa; Albert Parkinson, of Coleta, Illinois; and Mrs.
Reuben Schneider of Sioux City, Iowa. One son, Joseph, died in 1918, when
27 years of age. Two children, Richard and Helen, died in infancy. There are
21 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Mr. Parkinson has been connected with the church since his youth and was
received into the membership of the Hildreth Memorial Evangelical church in
LeMars, when Rev. J. J. DeWall was pastor.

The funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon, March 10, in LeMars, at
2 o’clock at the W. B. Parkinson home at 314 Third Ave. SE, in charge of
Rev. R. H. Aurand, pastor of the Hildreth church, husband of a granddaughter
of Mr. Parkinson. Pallbearers will be six grandsons, Kenneth and George,
sons of Fred J. Parkinson, Donald, a son of Albert Parkinson, Schubert, son
of W. B. Parkinson, and Ivan and Lynn Machamer, sons of Mrs. Irvin Machamer.