GEORGE PARKIN
George Parkin was educated largely in Pennsylvania and
in 1878, when nineteen years of age, came with his parents to
Union township, Lucas county, where they located on April 12th,
and has resided here ever since. While in Pennsylvania members of the
family had found employment in the woolen mills but since
coming to Iowa they have ever been engaged in farming and
stock-raising and it is this occupation which has brought Mr.
Parkin success. Although
his educational advantages in his native state were meager he
has learned much by reading and studied deeply in the
university of life. Applying
himself industriously to his purpose, he brought his one
hundred and sixty acres farm on section 21 to a high state of
cultivation and now also own forty acres on section 19 and ten
acres on section 5, all in Union township. His buildings are
substantial and his residence is comfortable, while the most
modern machinery can be found upon the place. He engaged in
general farming and also give considerable attention to
stock-raising.
In November, 1881, Mr. Parkin was united in marriage to
Miss Laura Sprott, who was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, on
January 28, 1858. Her
parents were Joseph and Frances (Brown) Sprott, natives of
Pennsylvania, where they were born July 30, 1826, and April
24, 1830, respectively.
The father was attending Rush Medical College of
Chicago when the news of the California boom struck that city
and he left his studies and traveled overland to California
but later returned by way of Panama over the same route where
now the Panama canal is being constructed. On his second trip
west he located in Union township, near the old Westfall
homestead, and there remained successfully engaged in
agriculture until his death.
He passed away in Derby in August, 1903, and his wife
survived him for about two years, her demise occurring in
Union township on April 23, 1905. In their family were six children, as
follows: Mrs.
Elizabeth Mitchell, residing south of Chariton; Mrs. Joan
Chapman, of Derby; Mrs. George Parkin; Mrs. Kate Robinson,
whose home is in White Breast township; Mrs. Alice Washburn,
of Union township; and Thomas, deceased. The three older
children were born in Van Buren county and the three younger
in Union township, Lucas county. The Sprott family is one of the oldest
and most prominent in Union township and the name has ever
been held in high esteem.
Mr. and Mrs. Parkin have become the parents of seven
children: Joseph,
born September 5, 1882, who resides in Union township; Mrs.
Grace Thorne, born August 30, 1884, who also resides in Union
township; Mrs. Annie Barger, born October 15, 1888, who also
makes her home in this township; Nellie, born December 4,
1891, who resides with her parents; Mabel, born October 18,
1894; Frances, born September 30, 1897; and Gerald, whose
natal day was May 6, 1903.
These children were all born on the old home farm in
Union township.
His political convictions lead Mr. Parkin to support
the republican party and he has always taken a deep interest
in public affairs, having for eleven years served as township
trustee and for ten years as treasurer of the school board. Fraternally he is a
member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Odd Fellows of
Derby. A
successful man along material lines and a factor in public
life, his true achievement lies in the esteem and respect
accorded him on account of those manly qualities of mind and
character which have made possible his prosperity.