Born: Farmington, Tennessee, 1840.
Died:
When a little child, was taken with his father's family to Tippah County, Mississippi. There he grew to manhood. His father was a Christian preacher, so the son received a good education for that day. He became a Christian in 1858. At seventeen he became a schoolmaster and continued in this work until the Civil War began. He enlisted in the First Alabama Federal Cavalry and was honorably discharged as first lieutenant. He came to Johnson County, Illinois, in 1865. There he has been a farmer, merchant, schoolmaster, singing teacher and preacher. In 1888 he was elected to the House in the General Assembly.
Mr. Parker is a man of fine character. He is modest, cultured and sweet-spirited and devoted to the truth as it is in Jesus. His ministry in southern Illinois has been a blessing to many. He has taught 113 singing-classes and in this way won the hearts of the young people, and then won them to Christ. He has evangelized, established congregations and cared for them. One elder said: "Bro. Parker has completely transformed the character of this community during his ministry." Two of his sons, W. A. and B. E. Parker, are Christian ministers, and also his son-in-law, E. W. Sears.