Thomas J. PARKER, a prominent and much respected resident of Howard county, was born in Ringgold county, Iowa, on the sixth day of July, 1862, and lived there with his parents until he was ten years of age, at which time he came into Howard county with them, his education being received in the common schools here.

John M. PARKER, father of our subject, was born in New York state, on October 4, 1829. He was married to Elizabeth MERRITT, and to them were born seven children, six of whom are living, as follows: William M., Thomas J., Edmund D., Lemuel A. and Irene P., all married and living in Howard county, while another daughter, Annah, lives in Wyoming, the wife of Warren R. HOLMES.

When a boy of about eight years, John M. PARKER settled in Illinois with his mother, one brother and a sister, and remained in that state up to 1850, at that time going to California with others who had the "gold fever," crossing the western plains in wagon trains, etc. He spent four years in California, then returned to Illinois and was engaged in the general merchandise business at Shelbyville in partnership with his brother, carrying on the same up to 1854. After two years he went to Iowa, following farming there for several years. He enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry in March, 1862, serving to the end of the war, and received an honorable discharge, having taken part in various engagements and seen all sides of the horrors of war.

After leaving the army he returned to Iowa, again took up farming and remained there until 1872, coming at that time into Howard county, where he filed on a homestead on section thirty-five, township sixteen, range eleven, his family joining him in the fall of that year. He went through all the sufferings and privations of the earliest settlers of the region, experiencing all sorts of discouragements in getting started on his farm, but stuck to it and gradually succeeded in building up a good farm and home, finally locating on section twenty-four, township sixteen, range twelve, as a timber claim, which he occupied up to the time of his death, which occurred December 9, 1895.

Mrs. Elizabeth PARKER was born in Belmont county, Ohio, on June 7, 1853, and moved to Iowa with her parents when a child, and there grew to womanhood. She was a woman of charming personality, and most noble character, and with her husband was beloved by all who knew them. Her death occurred in Cotesfield, November 30, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. PARKER were active members of the Methodist church of that city.

Thomas J. PARKER, the second son of John M. PARKER, began his career as a business man in 1882, starting as a farmer on land which he purchased from the railroad, and went through a regular pioneer existence during the early years. For a number of years he owned and operated a threshing outfit through his vicinity, and in this way managed to make a pretty fair income. He lived on the original farm up to 1899, and then moved to section thirteen, township sixteen, range twelve, where he has one hundred and twenty acres of good land, improved with good buildings, etc., and is engaged in stock and grain raising.

On April 11, 1889, Mr. PARKER married Dora HANSEN, the ceremony taking place in Cotesfield, at the home of her parents. Mrs. PARKER was born in Denmark, and settled in Howard county in 1882, coming here with her parents, who are well known pioneers in the region. To them have been born the following children: Elizabeth M., Ida I., Ethel L., Cora Myrtle, Alvin J., Sylvia E., Ira L., Eldon, and a baby boy, all living at home and forming a most interesting family group.

Mr. PARKER is now serving as pastor of the Summit church. He was licensed to preach in the United Brethren church in 1897, and was ordained as a Free Will Baptist in 1900, serving in the same charge as Father Whitney. He has always done all in his power to advance the best interests of his locality, and is known far and near as a man of sterling character and broad mind, also having the honor of being one of Howard county's prominent early pioneers.

Source:
Compendium of History, Reminiscence and Biography of Nebraska  Pp. 753 - 754. Alden Publ. Co., Chicago. 1912.