Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Parker, Cyrus J. March 25, 1879 - December 12, 1927 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 19, 2007, 3:24 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company CYRUS J. PARKER. A notably successful career was that of Cyrus J. Parker, a Portland business man, who did much important work as a city builder and also achieved prominence as a manufacturer. Deprived of many advantages in his youth, he was trained in that practical school which develops aggressive, self-reliant manhood and earned the right to the distinctive title of “self- made man,” also winning the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. He was born March 25, 1879, in Nevada, Missouri, and was one of the six children of B. G. and Sarah Parker, of whom the former has lived in Portland for several years. C. J. Parker attended the public schools of his native state and at the age of fifteen years became self-supporting. Going to Kansas City, he obtained work in the plant of the Armour Packing Company and remained with them until the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, when he enlisted in Company M of the Third Missouri Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered out in the spring of 1899 and afterward was in Oklahoma and other states. While in Louisiana he was connected with the lumber industry and in 1903 he came to Oregon. When he arrived in Portland he had but two and a half dollars and knew no one in the city. Mr. Parker was an experienced carpenter and here followed his trade for about seven years. While in the employ of the Stokes-Zeller Company he formed the acquaintance of Thomas H. Banfield, who became his partner in 1910. The contracting firm of Parker & Banfield forged rapidly to the front and was rated among the largest concerns of the kind in Portland. They erected the extension to the Gasco plant; the warehouse of the Northwestern Electric Company; the Washington high school and other school buildings; the Vista Avenue bridge in Portland; the Clackamas bridge in Gladstone; Temple Beth Israel in Portland; the Elks Temple at Salem; one unit of the Tuberculosis Hospital near Salem; the Oregon Agricultural College memorial and also executed other important commissions in the line of construction, contributing substantially toward the upbuilding and improvement of the city and state. Mr. Banfield had charge of the contracting department and Mr. Parker managed the business, of which he was president. In 1918 he assumed control of the Grand Sheet Metal Works, at that time a small concern, and fostered its growth by carefully matured plans and judicious management, successfully guiding the destiny of the enterprise until May, 1927. It was in January, 1923, that he took over the Portland Wire & Iron Works, of which he became the executive head, and this business he likewise rehabilitated, possessing a genius for organization and administrative power. In 1924 a new company was formed for manufacture and marketing the Iron Fireman coal burner. At the time he acquired the industry the wire works had an automatic coal burner for firing boilers. This was a crude device, which Mr. Parker improved and patented, building up a selling organization that now covers the entire country, with branches in Cleveland and St. Louis. Through district representatives local dealers are appointed and in this way the Iron Fireman is marketed. The plant furnishes work to many persons and the Iron Fireman Manufacturing Company also has a large force of traveling salesmen. Mr. Parker served as its president until his death, which occurred December 12, 1927, as the result of an aeroplane accident near Montpelier, Ohio, where he and his partner were visiting. They left Portland on November 26th in company with L. R. Teeple, a business associate, and had intended making the complete trip by rail, but while in Detroit they were joined by George Malcolmson, an aeroplane enthusiast, Mr. Parker gave his best efforts to each task that he undertook and was endowed with the poise, vision and wisdom of the man of large affairs. Mr. Parker was married December 16, 1914, to Miss Mary Evans, a daughter of Ralph S. and Harriett (Dailey) Evans of Portland. To Mr. and Mrs. Parker were born three children: Ralph Evans, Dorothy Parker and Lois Parker, aged respectively eleven, nine and seven years, Mrs. Parker occupies the family home at No. 964 Woodstock avenue and has continued the business established by her husband, ably managing her affairs. Mr. Parker was identified with the Masonic order, the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. The spirit of progress actuated him at all points in his career and his efforts were manifestly resultant in every direction in which his inclination led him. He was an admirable character and in the larger life of the city he filled an important place. When in the full flush of his powers he was removed from his sphere of usefulness and his tragic death occasioned deep and widespread regret. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Pages 280-283 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/photos/bios/parker348gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/parker348gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb