JOHN DONOVAN PARKER, deceased, was born in Mason County, Ky., December 7,
1815, and died in Parkersburgh, Ill., May 9, 1883. His parents were James and
Susan (Donovan) Parker. The family removed from Kentucky to Illinois in the fall
of 1818, and became pioneer settlers of Lawrence, now Richland, County. There
were then but three families on the present site of Parkersburgh, and besides a
small settlement at Calhoun, there were probably no other residents in the
county at that time. James Parker bought a squatter's claim, and upon that farm
made his home until his death in 1868, at the age of eighty-nine years. When the
family came, a tribe of Indians were encamped on Sugar Creek, but after a few
months they removed to a reservation further westward. The nearest grist-mill to
the Parker home was eighteen miles distant, and the nearest store was at Albion,
sixteen miles away. The settlers depended largely upon game for their food. For
a number of years Mr. Parker made annual trips to New Orleans, building
flatboats at Mt. Carmel, which he loaded with corn and floated to market down
the river. On the return trip, which was made on foot, he would bring dry goods
and other supplies.
John D. Parker, whose name heads this sketch,
attended a private school in Albion and thus acquired his education. He
succeeded to the ownership of his father's farm of two hundred acres, which he
carried on until his death. He also dealt in live stock and was a successful
business man. For many years he kept a tavern, and the business is still carried
on by his widow. His hospitality was extended to all, the penniless as well as
the affluent, and his house was a popular resort in the days when all traveling
was done by team or on horseback.
On the 13th of September, 1838, Mr.
Parker married Miss Eliza J. Woods, a daughter of Andrew and Cassandra Woods, of
Richland County. She was born in Kentucky, near the mouth of Licking River. They
became the parents of eleven children: George W., of Arnold, Neb.; Mrs. Mary
Cassandra Jenners; Susanna, wife of F. Althouse, of Chicago; James A., deceased;
Eliza J., wife of A. Althouse; John G., of Harper City, Kan.; Clara C., wife of
E. S. Whittaker; Charles W., of Mt. Erie, Ill.; Edgar R., of Springfield, Mo.;
Arthur M. and Ulysses G.
About 1860, Mr. Parker planted the village of
Parkersburgh. He was always prominently identified with the history of this
county, and did much toward its growth and upbuilding. In politics he was
formerly a Whig, but later was a Democrat. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity
and held membership with the Methodist Church. He was a kind and affectionate
husband and father, was very seldom from home, and always kept his children near
him until his death. He was very charitable and free-hearted, a friend to the
poor and needy, and an upright and respected citizen, and no man in Richland
County had fewer enemies.
Extracted 12 Apr 2020 by Norma Hass from 1893 Portrait and Biographical Record of Effingham, Jasper and Richland Counties, Illinois, pages 240-241.
| Jasper | Crawford | |
| Clay |
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Lawrence |
| Wayne | Edwards | Wabash |
