1833- December 17, 1914
McPherson Post 33 - joined February 18, 1883
John served with Company H 3rd Missouri Cavalry in the Union Army. He saw considerable active fighting as well as field duty while serving in the Department of the Northwest and assisted in driving the rebels out of Missouri. During the winter of 1864 he crossed the Arkansas River on the ice at Little Rock, where he was later mustered out, after having spent three years and nine months in the service. Although he never sustained any wounds on the field of battle, he was left quite deaf as the result of exposure. John was born in Langton, England, March 16, 1833, and immigrated to Canada in 1857 before settling in Dixon, Illinois. He moved to Manning in 1879 with his wife (Mary Levan) and children.
OLD SOLDIER CALLED.
Many people of Manning and vicinity were pained to learn last Thursday, that John Parker, one of the pioneers of Manning had died. John Parker was born, in Langton, near Wragley, Lincolnshire England, March 16, 1833 and died at his home adjoining Manning on Dec. 17th, 1913, aged 81
years 9 months and 1 day. He was the eldest son of John and Elizabeth (Taylor) Parker. His youth and early manhood was spent in England. In 1857 he came to
America locating in Canada. On June 1st, 1860 he came to Dixon, Illinois. In the early part of 1861 he enlisted in Co., H. Third Missouri Calvary and spent three Years and nine months in
the defense of the Union. After the war he returned to Dixon, Illinois and engaged in farming and blacksmithing. On March 1st 1866 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Levan. To this union were born six children, five daughters and one son. In order of their birth they are as follows: Jennie M., who is living on the old homestead; Ida, wife of
Charles Rocksien, of Manning, Iowa; Clara, also at home, Grace, widow of Homer Waugh, of Drain, Oregon; Minnie, who is on the old homestead, and Charles W.
Parker of Draper, South Dakota. Mrs. Parker passed from this life at the homestead, on the 13th day of October, 1907. The deceased is survived by his six children, ten grand children, and one brother. Since his early manhood he was an active member of the M. E. church: and
died with the noble thought that the ending of this life on earth is the beginning of a grander and nobler life beyond the grave. He was a member and took an active interest in McPherson Post No. 33, G.A.R. of Manning, Iowa, serving as its chaplain for many years. John Parker was a
man in every sense of the word. In February 1879 he and his wife came to Manning and settled on a farm just northeast of Manning. They were pioneers here and
suffered all the privations of the pioneer. Their fine home is but a monument of their labors and savings. In his death the world loses a man whose living in it made the world better. The funeral was held Monday from the M. E. church, Rev. Lyles and. Rev. Harvey, a former pastor, conducting the services. Following the services, kind hands
laid the body to rest in the Manning cemetery. The many friends of the deceased sympathize deeply with the bereaved in their loss of their father.
December 24, 1914 - Manning Monitor
Too, his army comrades were much grieved to lose one of their active members.
A highly respected citizen of Carroll county who donned the blue for three years and valiantly
fought in defense of the stars and stripes on the battle fields of the south is John Parker, a
retired agriculturist of Warren township. He was born in Langton, England, on the 16th of
March, 1833, being a son of John and Elizabeth (Taylor) Parker, also natives of Langton.
John Parker spent the first twentyfour years of his life in the mother Country, acquiring his
education in the common schools, after the completion of which he learned the blacksmith's
trade.
In 1857 he took passage for America, locating in Canada, where he remained for three
years. On the 1st of June, 1860, he crossed into the United States, settling in Dixon, Illinois,
where he continued to follow his trade.
When the call came for troops in the 1860s, he responded, going to the front with Company H, Third Missouri Cavalry. He saw considerable active fighting as well as field duty while serving in the Department of the Northwest and assisted in driving the rebels out of Missouri. During the winter of 1864 he crossed the Arkansas on the ice at Little Rock, where he was later mustered out, after having spent three years and nine months in the service. Although he never sustained any wounds on the field of battle, Mr. Parker was left quite deaf as the result of exposure, but aside from this affliction, which naturally has grown more pronounced with the passing of time, he enjoys most excellent health at seventyeight.
After receiving his discharge he returned to Dixon, Illinois, where he was subsequently married, following which he located on a farm which he cultivated until 1879. In the latter year he moved to Iowa, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land in Warren Township, Carroll County, upon which he has ever since continued to reside. Success following his efforts he was later able to add to his tract, which was located on section 16, a quarter of section 17. He has since disposed of one hundred acres of the latter, investing the proceeds in one hundred and sixty acres in South Dakota. In 1909, Mr. Parker divided up his property among his children, giving the old homestead to his three unmarried daughters, who rent out the land. He continues to make his home on the farm where he has resided for over thirtytwo years.
On the 1st of March, 1866, Mr. Parker was united in marriage to Miss Mary Levan, of Dixon, Illinois. Mrs. Parker was born in the district of Trier, Prussia, Germany, on the 13th of December, 1842, and was a daughter of Matthias and Anna Mary (Mischel) Levan, the mother having passed away when her daughter was six weeks of age. Matthias Levan was also a native of Trier on the river Mosel, his natal day being the 13th of November, 1813. At the age of twentyone he entered the German army, serving for four years in the Ninth Regiment of Hussars. After his period of service had expired he was married to Anna Mary Mischel, their union being solemnized in 1839. Mr. Levan emigrated to the United States with his four yearold daughter in 1846, locating in Pennsylvania. In 1857 he removed to Dixon, Illinois, and there he passed away on the 15th of May, 1893. To Mr. and Mrs. Parker there were born five daughters and one son, the order of their birth being as follows: Jennie M., who is living on the old homestead; Ida, the wife of Charles Rocksien, of Manning, who has two children, Pearl and Lee; Clara, also at home; Grace, the widow of Homer Waugh, of Zion City, Illinois; Minnie, who is on the old homestead; and Charles W., of Draper, South Dakota, who married Mildred George, of Coon Rapids, Iowa, to whom has been born one daughter, Mabel. Mrs. Parker is deceased, having passed away on the old homestead on the 13th of October, 1907.
The entire family affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Parker was also a member. Mr. Parker maintains relations with his old comrades of the field through the medium of his membership in McPherson Post, NO. 33, G. A. R., of Manning, Iowa, of which body he was chaplain for many years. Ever since he was granted the right of suffrage through naturalization Mr. Parker has voted with the republican party. He was the first school director in the Manning district, which at that time had the supervision over three schools, continuing in this capacity for several years. Mr. Parker has made many friends, whose regard has grown with the passing of time, during the long period of his residence in Warren township.
I'm occasionally adding the actual scanned image of the obituary I make using my VERY expensive - large commercial scanner,
and/or also other articles about the deceased person that were published in the Manning Monitor.
I want to also comment about people who are taking my obituaries, pictures, and/or other articles about a person/family and posting them on other websites.
You do NOT have permission or the right to do this - you are stealing my historical work.
Buy your own scanning equipment, pay for memberships to other commercial websites,
and spend decades working on your local history like I have - then you'll understand why I'm making these comments!
Thank you for your attention to this matter - Dave Kusel
