JOHN J. PARKER, residing on section 26, Johnstown Township, is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He is a native of Oneida County, N.Y., where his birth occurred June 10, 1823, and is a son of John and Alvira PARKER. His parents were both natives of Connecticut, the former born in Watertown, and the latter in Litchfield. They had a large family of children. Tryphena, the eldest, is the wife of Peymet MATTOON, a retired farmer of Madison County, N.Y., and unto them have been born five children, three of whom are now living; Virgil W., who wedded Julia E. HYER, a resident of New Jersey, died on the 8th day of January, 1889, in Newark, N.Y.; George Clinton wedded Marietta CLEVELAND, of Oneida County, N.Y., whose death occurred in May, 1882, and on the 17th day of January, 1887 he was called to his final home, leaving one child - a son; Anna Maria, became the wife of Dr. N. S. DAVIS, a native of Chenango County, N.Y., now a leading physician in Chicago, and unto them have been born three children, only one of whom is now living; John J., of this sketch, is the next in order of birth; Wells S. is a resident of Harlem, Winnebago Co., Ill.; Linneus, who wedded Sally SALES, and after her death became the husband of Kate BURROWS, by whom he had three children, died March 12, 1885, in New Orleans; Lucy Elvira is the wife of George JUDD, a native of New York, now living in Springfield, Ill., and to them was born one child, who died July 25, 1865; James Oscar died in infancy; Abiram also died in infancy; Caroline makes her home with her sister, Mrs. DAVIS of Chicago; James Oscar, the second of that name, married Clara KELLY, by whom he has three children, and is now a coal dealer of Chicago; Ellen Josephine is the wife of Sylvanus LOCK, a native of Otsego County, N.Y., now living in Hoosick Falls, of that State, and they have four children, three sons and a daughter. The father of this family died in Johnstown Township, Jan. 31, 1866, and his wife departed this life Sept. 20, 1869.
The education of our subject was received in the common district schools of his native county, where he was reared to manhood. He has followed the occupation of farming throughout his entire life, and is now one of the leading farmers of Johnstown Township. Thinking that the advances afforded young men were better in the growing West than in the older States of the East, he emigrated to Wisconsin, and in 1855 purchased a farm. The following year he settled permanently in the county, becoming a resident in March, and in May was followed by his father's family. He is now the owner of a fine farm, comprising 197 acres of the richest land in Johnstown Township, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. On the 5th day of September, 1866, he was joined in wedlock with Caroline CLEMENT, a daughter of John and Lena Ann (GORDON) CLEMENT, who were natives of Schoharie County, N.Y. They had the following children, of whom Mrs. PARKER, who was born Nov. 16, 1847, is the eldest; Mary who became the wife of M. K. GILBERT, is living in Whitewater, Walworth Co., Wis., and to them have been born five children, four of whom are living; Davis is a resident farmer of Walworth County; Nettie who became the wife of D. C. HOWARD, a citizen of Whitewater, died in July, 1888, leaving one child; Lydia wedded J. McCARN, who also makes his home in Whitewater.
Our subject and his wife began their domestic life upon the farm in Johnstown Township, where they have resided continuously since. In connection with general farming, he engages quite extensively in stock-raising, and in 1878 commenced operating a dairy. He owns at present twenty-five head of cattle, principally of the short-horn breed, and manufactures on an average 100 pounds of butter per week from October until June, and being a first-class article, it finds a ready sale in the market. Mr. PARKER possesses good business ability, and his success in life is due chiefly to his own efforts. In politics he is a supporter of the Democratic party, having cast his ballot with that organization since attaining his majority.
Fine portraits of Mr. and Mrs. PARKER are found upon another page of this work.
From The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis., publ, 1889 - page 453, 454 - Submitted by Carol