Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Parker, John June 2, 1886
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Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com May 2, 2019, 9:51 pm

Ionia Sentinel - Thursday, June 10, 1886

John Parker, who for the last sixteen years has been a victim of that insidious 
disease, consumption, died at his hoe in this city on Wednesday evening, June 
2. Deceased was born in Canada in 1840 and came from Adrian to Ionia in 1867 
and was employed by the firm of Tower & Todd as foreman in their manufacturing 
department. He was subsequently employed by Morris Mills and Nathan Kenyon. For 
the past three years he has been entirely incapacitated for work. For many 
years previous top that he was unable to do a full day's work. He was a member 
of the M. E. church and also of Ionia lodge No. 175, and Relief encampment No. 
53, independent order of oddfellows. He was also a member of Washtenong lodge 
of masons. In 1875 he joined the Ionia light guard as one of the original 
members, and is the third of that organization who has died, the others being 
Willis Kidd and W. E. O'Bryon. In 1861 at the outbreak of the war, he enlisted 
in the First Michigan infantry, three months volunteers, and afterwards entered 
service for three years in the 6th U. S. Cavalry, serving out his time and 
receiving an honorable discharge. He was a member of Wm. H. Borden post G. A. 
R. Mr. Parker was as honorable, industrious, workingman, a good citizen and 
neighbor, and was much esteemed by the large number of personal friends with 
whom he was associated in various ways. Soon after coming here he returned and 
married a lady in Adrian, his former home. She and three children survive him.

The funeral of the late John Parker was held in the M. E. church on Sunday 
afternoon, the services being conducted by Rev. L. Master, assisted by Rev. R. 
S. Groves. The estimation in which deceased was held is shown by the large 
numbers who turned out to show their respect at his obsequies. The grand army 
of the republic, the light guard, the masons and the oddfellows were all out as 
organizations, the latter conducting the services at the grave. Rev. L. Master 
preached a very appropriate sermon, in which he dwelt with emphasis upon the 
patriotic services of the deceased during the war, and upon his tender 
solicitude for his family in the hour of death. There were about sixty comrades 
of the grand army in line. The other bodies were not so large but turned out in 
credible numbers. After the sermon the procession was formed and led by 
Hosford's "kid" band playing a dirge, marched to Highland park cemetery where 
the remains were laid at rest by the oddfellows. The march and the ceremonies 
were solemn and decorous. Those who participated in the long tramp stood the 
fatigue well. Deceased was the first member of Wm. H. Borden post to die since 
its organization and the fourth of the old light guard; Samuel Davy's name 
having been overlooked in the previous note on that subject. The floral 
decorations in the church were beautiful, and the casket was literally buried 
beneath a profusion of flowers. 

John Parker
The first to die, His name shall grace
  Our living roll up more;
In honored ranks he takes his place
  With comrades gone before.

We furl the flag he served so true,
  In peril and in strife;
With solemn march, In flies of blue,
  We close his earthly  life.

A soldier in his country's need,
  A comrade, loyal, brave;
With muffled drums his steps we lead,
  And lay him in the grave.

In that great conflict, in the van,
  He struggled for the right.
In thirty battles, foremost man,
  Where thickest raged the fight.

The toll and pain is ended now,
  His is a sweet repose;
For strife is fled; upon his brow
  The laurels covered by the rose.

Peace to his soul: And let him sleep,
  For he has earned his rest.
He needs no guard his watch to keep,
  He slumbers with the blest.
June 6, 1886              A. B. Morse

John Parker was the first member of Wm. H. Borden post, No. 211 of the grand 
army of the republic, to be buried by his comrades of that post. To them are 
dedicated the above lines. 
                        A. B. M.

Additional Comments:
Age: 43
Funeral: 6 June 1886
Highland Park cemetery #4-107




1st. Mi. Inf. Co. E & 6th Mi Cav. 

b. 1840 Canada, son of John Parker
marr. 16 Dec. 1867 to Etta (Foster)

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