Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889 [page 397-399] EDWARD W. PARKER, M.D., is one of the men now living in Spring Township who came here in the early days and entered Government land. His settlement there dates back to September, 1865, when a company of ten persons migrated from Wisconsin to find homes in this new country. Among them were Mrs. PARKER'S parents, who settled on land adjoining the Doctor's. EDWARD W. PARKER was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1845, and is a son of BRAMEN C. and NANCY (PATTERSON) PARKER. The father is also a physician, and is practicing at Wilber, Nebraska. He was born in the State of New York, of English ancestry. WILSON PARKER, grandfather of our subject, removed to New York from Massachu- setts, where his family had been rooted for generations, having been among the earliest settlers of that commonwealth. Dr. PARKER'S mother was born in the Hoosier State, where she was married to his father. There were three children in the family. JAMES W., the eldest, was a homsteader of 1866 in Cherokee County, but left the following year, and is now a locomotive engineer. The only daughter, MARGARET, died at the age of thirty-two years. EDWARD W. was but four years old when his mother died, and his father afterward reared a large family by a second marriage. At the age of eight years he came West with his father and settled in Dane County, Wisconsin. When he was fourteen years old his father gave him his time and he became his own guardian, and al- though doing for himself he made his home with his father. When the Rebellion in the South arose he responded to the President's call for men to defend the nations's flag. August 16, 1861, at the age of sixteen years, he enlisted in Company A, Seventh Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, and after a service of four years he was discharged July 3, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana. For months he was detailed on special duty as provost guard on General NEWTON'S staff, while he was in command of the First Army Corps. He participated in most of the battles of the Eastern campaign, including Gainesville, Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness, Laurel Hill and Spottsylvania. After the last battle he was taken sick and for eight months lay at Fort Schuyler Hospital. He was fortunate enough to escape being wounded, though he passed through many of the hottest battles. When the battle-flags were furled and peace was declared he returned to his home in Wisconsin. While on a furlough he had been united in marriage to Miss MARY J. CROOKS, October 2, 1864, and on rejoining her the question naturally arose, "Where shall we make our home?" Iowa offering many inducments, they located upon a homestead in Cherokee County, and there they have passed their maturer years. Having for a long time been desirous of studying medicine, our subject embraced the first opportunity and entered the office of R. L. CLEAVES, M.D., in 1872. He then took two courses of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Keokuk, Iowa, graduating in 1876. He began to practice with Dr. CLEAVES, with whom he was connected one year, at the end of which time he returned to his farm. He has since devoted his time to his profession in connection with some agricultural pursuits. His field of work includes Cherokee, O'Brien and Buena Vista counties, and he has been very successful. He has often been solicited to locate in some city, but he is content to remain where he is surrounded with rural comforts, and where he can give some attention to his apiary, in which he is much interested. He also breeds Poland-China hogs, having a fine herd of thirty head. His son has charge of the farm, and he can now enjoy life as only those can who have passed through the hardships of pioneer life and have been successful. Dr. Parker has the respect and confidence of the people of his county, and repeatedly his neighbors have shown their confidence by asking him to attend to the duties connected with the offices of the township in which he resides. He is thoroughly imbued with the principles of the Republican party, and is a stanch and effective supporter of the same. He is of a strong social nature, and numbers his friends among all classes and beliefs. He is a member of the G.A.R., the I.O.O.F. and the K.P. societies, taking a prominent and active part in the deliberations of these bodies. Mrs. PARKER, a most esti- mable person, was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1845. She is a daughter of WILLIAM and JANE CROOKS. The mother died three years ago, and the father is now a resident of Lake Park, Iowa. Dr. and Mrs. PARKER'S family consists of C. AUGUSTUS, born April 26, 1866, and BERTHA, born June 17, 1879. She has the distinction of being the first white child born in Spring Township. She has chosen the pro- fession of teaching, and is fitting herself to do her work well. She is attending the State Normal at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and will soon finish the course of study of that institution. She has taught four terms, and has met with most gratifying success. ===========================================================================