Representative John Parker View All Years

HON. JOHN PARKER.

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to prepare and present suitable resolutions respecting the life, character and public services of the Hon. John Parker, who represented Mills county in the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh General Assemblies, beg leave to report the following:

The Hon. John Parker, who represented Mills county in the House in the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh General Assemblies, died at his home in Malvern, Iowa, April 7, 1915, aged seventy-seven years, three months and twenty days.

Mr. Parker was born at Barrowby, Lincolnshire, England, December 18, 1837. He graduated from the schools at the tender age of seven years, and went out into the field to help in the support of the family. Thus his opportunities for acquiring an education were limited to rare fragments of time which he wisely made the most of; finding in them in the course of the years, twelve full baskets of golden knowledge. In the spring of 1857, he decided to come to the land of opportunities, settling in Marion county, Ohio. On September 18, 1861, he was united in marriage to Mary Louisa Johnson. He was converted at the age of thirty-two and united with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he remained an earnest influential member until the time of his passing away.

Mr. Parker was one of Mills county’s best and most representative men. He came there in 1867, locating a few years later on his fine farm east of Silver City, where he made his home until a couple of years ago. He was a progressive and up-to-date farmer and always took an active part in farmers’ institutes and other means of elevating the farming business, and he was likewise a very successful farmer and stockman.

With all his busy life he never neglected his church and the higher things in life for which it stood. He was strong in Sunday school work and an active member of the county association, and spent freely of his time and money advancing this great work.

Politically he was a life-long republican and while he was staunch for the principles he believed right, he was always fair-minded with his opponents and always held their respect and honor. He was twice elected a member of the state legislature from his county and served his constituents honorably and well, and was recognized as one of the strong conservative members of the House.

We need not speak of his potential influence upon men from an industrial, political, social or spiritual standpoint. Whether men could agree with him or not, they at least believed in him. They never were obliged to question in their minds as to where to find him on any moral issue; they knew where he stood. His life has spoken; the impress for good will live.

Resolved, That the House of Representatives, while mourning the loss of such a man, cannot but feel a measure of gratification that the moral interests of the state have had the helpful constructive work of one who, in the words of another, always was sure he was right and then went ahead.

Resolved, That this memorial be entered on the Journal of this House as an expression of our appreciation and of Iowa, for one who was of so much service to her moral interests and that a copy hereof, duly attested, be transmitted to the family of Mr. Parker.

I. J. SWAIN,

HERBERT C. RING,

DOUGLAS ROGERS,

Committee.

Adopted unanimously.