John Parker

As printed in 1900

JOHN PARKER.

One of the most enterprising and progressive business men of Preble county is John Parker, who resides in Jackson township, where he is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was born on the 15th of April, 1858, in the township which is still his home, his parents being Asher and Harriet (Larsh) Parker. The father was born in Monmouth county. New Jersey, on the 24th of March, 1828, and when six years of age came with his parents to Ohio, the family locating in Butler county, where they remained for a year, and then removed to Sommers township, just west of Camden, in Preble county, where the grandparents, Lewis and Mary (Smith) Parker, spent their remaining days. They were both natives of Monmouth county. New Jersey, and the former was a son of William and Mary (Smith) Parker. They, too, were natives of the same state, and the Parkers were originally from Ireland, the first American emigrants reaching this country at an early period in its development. The maternal grandparents of our subject were John and Lydia (Truax) Larsh. The former was of French descent, became one of the pioneer settlers of Preble county and was a well-known farmer of Dixon township.

Asher Parker was reared upon the home farm and was married on the 2d of March, 1852, to Miss Harriet Larsh, who was born in Dixon township, August xo, 1828. They began their domestic life on a farm on sec- I tion 20, Jackson township, where Mr. Parker operated one hundred and e'ghtv acres belonging to his father. T here he rej mained for twelve years, after which he purchased one hundred and sixty-three acres on section 26, Jackson township, making his home thereon until 1886, when he disposed of that property and purchased his present farm of two hundred and sixty acres on sections 35 and 36, of the same township. Here he has since resided and has been very successful in his business undertakings. He is now living retired, having acquired a competence which enables him to put aside all the more arduous duties of life. In his political views he is a Republican, but has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to devote his time and attention to his business interests, in which he has won a very creditable degree of prosperity. In his family were five children, four of whom are yet living: William, who resides on the home farm, where he was born; John; Lewis, proprietor of a meat market in Eaton; and Ida, wife of Everet Nearon, a farmer of Jackson township.

On the home farm John Parker spent the days of his boyhood and youth and in the common schools of the neighborhood acquired his education. On attaining his majority he began operating a portion of his father’s land upon shares, and about 1895 his father retired from the management of the farm and our subject assumed charge. He displays excellent business ability in the conduct of the place, and the well tilled fields, the buildings kept in good repair and improvements in good condition, all indicate the careful supervision of a painstaking and progressive manager.

Mr. Parker is a valued member of Eaton Lodge No. 30, and Preble Encampment, No. 45, I. O. O. F., and has filled all the chairs of the lodge. He also belongs to Waverly Lodge, No. 143, K. P., of Eaton; Dakota Tribe, No. 73, I. O. R. M., of Eaton, of which he is the prophet. In his political affiliations he is a stalwart Republican. He is recognized as one of the progressive young business men of the county, a favorite of his friends and esteemed by all with whom he has come in contact.

As printed in A Biographical history of Preble County, Ohio : compendium of national biography (1900). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.