Frank F. Parker

PARKER

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 9/6/2014 at 12:01:59

FRANK PARKER OF RAPIDS CITY DIES ON FEDERAL BOAT

Frank F. Parker, 59, of Rapids City, dropped dead at 5 p. m., yesterday in the engine room of a Untied States government boat near St. Louis. At an inquest which was held today it was determined that death was caused by cerebral apoplexy.

Mr. Parker left his home Tuesday evening for St. Louis to resume employment on one of the government boats on the lower Mississippi. His wife learned of his death last evening at her home in Rapids City.

He was born April 17, 1875 in LeClaire, Ia., being the son of Charles and Sarah Gordon Parker. He was educated at the schools in LeClaire and was a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Parker married Miss Lucy Moore of Port Bryon in Canton, Ia., June 28, 1906. They resided in Port Bryon until 1914 when they moved to Rapids City where Mr. Parker was engaged as a blacksmith. For the last 15 years he had been employed on government boats.

Surviving are the widow; three sisters, Mrs. George Cewe of LeClaire, Mrs. Clayton Collister of Davenport and Mrs. Wm. Rohlff of Idaho, and two brothers, Gordon Parker of Muland, Ihaho and Carl Parker of Portland, Ore.

Mr. Parker severed several times as president and trustee of the Rapids City village board. The body will be brought to the Wendt Brothers funeral home. Funeral services will be held at the Parker home in Rapids City, with burial in LeClaire.

Source: The Daily Times, Davenport, Ia., 16 Mar 1934, p. 23.

RESCUED FROM WATERY GRAVES.

The Narrow Escape From Drowning Through which Two Young Men Passed Near LeClaire.

Capt. Sam Van Sant, who came down from LeClaire yesterday, brought with him an account of what came near being a bad fatality at that place night before last. About 8 o’clock in the evening cries of “help! Help!” were heard out in the middle of the river, nearly opposite the foundry in LeClaire. A great crowd assembled on the bank, and as the cries for help grew louder and more frantic. Immense excitement prevailed, and the crowd seemed paralyzed, as it were, with fear. It was at least some twenty minutes before a skiff and oars could be procured. The wind at the time was blowing a gale, and only experienced riverman could man a boat to go to the rescue. Two such men were found in the persons of Capt. Isaac Wasson and Mr. Zach Suiter. By the time Capt. Wasson and Mr. Suiter reached the persons in the water and darkness, the latter was half frozen and nearly exhausted; every wave would dash over them, and they were very near death’s door. They were soon aboard the rescuing boat, but were unable to move without help, being almost stiff with cold. At the nearest house every care and attention was given them. The two men who escaped so narrowly from death in the icy water proved to be two of LeClaire’s well known young men -- Messrs. William Gault and Orrin Smith. They had been upon the Wapsie, and on their return down the river their skiff was overturned, near the point mentioned above, by the heavy swells in the river. They were saved only by clinging to the skiff which was bottom side up. As it was they lost a fine gun which cost $120, all their ammunition, a fine tent stove, and in fact a complete hunter’s outfit. “While the boys are much poorer in guns, tents, etc,” added Capt. Van Sant, with a smile, “they are very glad that they are still around and can eat Thanksgiving dinner. They will probably find ordinary turkey very good eating, though they will have to let wild goose go until some other occasion. It was a mighty close call for them, however, and great credit is due Capt. Wasson and Mr. Suiter for their heroic efforts in saving the lives of the young men.”

Source: Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Ia., 29 Nov 1883, p. 6.

*Frank Parker was born in LeClaire to Charles and Sarah Parker in 1879.