G. Russell Parker Biography, Genesee County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 995


This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.


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G. RUSSELL PARKER. Prominent in social and agricultural circles is the 
family represented by the name at the head of this paragraph. This 
well-known farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 28, Grand Blanc 
Township, Genesee County, is a native of Oakland County, and was born 
November 6, 1839. He is a son of Jonathan D. and Abigail (Case) Parker, 
the latter being a native of Connecticut and the former of 
Massachusetts. Jonathan Parker emigrated with his family to Oakland 
County, Mich., in 1837, and buying land from the Government at $1.25 
per acre, established himself here, carrying on the farm until his 
death in June, 1888. Five of the six children survive, namely: Sarah, 
wife of H. H. Cook; G. Russell, Willis, Abigail, wife of Edward 
Parsons; and Henry. The family made its home in a log cabin and 
undertook pioneer work and here our subject was reared to manhood and 
received his early education in the district schools supplementing his 
studies there by a short course in the High School at Flint, after 
which he taught school for several winters. For four years he engaged 
in buying and shipping grain at Grand Blanc, previous to which he had 
carried on mercantile business in that village, and somewhat later he 
was also in the grain business at Fenton.

   In the spring of 1877 Mr. Parker settled upon a farm on section 17, 
Grand Blanc Township, where his son, Walter, now lives, and it was in 
the spring of 1890 that he established himself where he now resides 
upon a property of one hundred and twenty-five acres. His first 
marriage brought him a true helpmate in the person of Helen King, and 
by her he had one son-Walter. After her death he married Almira 
Parsons, to whom have been granted four children, one of whom has 
passed away. The three who are living are James W., Clare H., and Sarah 
A.

   The original of our sketch has served the township of Grand Blanc as 
Clerk and for several years was Justice of the Peace. He is earnestly 
in favor of all movements for the purification of society and the 
elevation of the commonwealth, and in his political views is in 
sympathy and in work with the Prohibition party. He is a member of the 
Farmers' Alliance, and the Congregational Church counts both him and 
his family among its prominent members. In the work of the Sunday-
school he is unusually efficient and has acted as Superintendent. He is 
considered as among the leading and prosperous agriculturists of 
Genesee County.



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