Born August 3, 1825. in Arcade, New York. His education was obtained in the common schools, at Arcade Academy and in Oberlin College, Ohio. He began teaching in Ohio in 1841 and followed that profession in the States of New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Iowa up to the year 1899. Professor Parker was a member of the faculty of Iowa College from 1859 to 1870, when he was called to the chair of Greek in the State University, and afterwards to that of History. He was lieutenant of Company B, Forty-sixth Iowa Volunteers in the Civil War in the "hundred days' service" and every college boy of Grinnell accompanied him into the service. At the time of the draft riots in Poweshiek County, when two deputy marshals were assassinated, Lieutenant Parker was placed in command of a company of militia and ordered to arrest the outlaws. He was active in organizing Union Leagues during the war. In 1868-70 he was a member of the House of the General Assembly, serving as chairman of the committee on schools. In 1888 Professor Parker resumed his work in Iowa College as Professor of History, serving until 1899 when he retired as Professor Emeritus. He has delivered many public lectures on educational subjects and is the author of a volume on "Higher Education in Iowa," which was published by the National Bureau of Education. His article correcting a misrepresentation in General Grant's famous Des Moines speech had a circulation throughout the entire country in newspapers and magazines.