Umatilla County OR Archives Biographies.....Parker, Benjamin H. January 22, 1827 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carlene Still crstill@oregontrail.net October 23, 2006, 4:19 am

Author:  Colonel William Parsons 

Page 496, 497

Benjamin H. Parker
	Among the early pioneers whose familiar figures are passing away one 
by one, and who were men, without exception, of strength, courage and talent, 
being amiable and generous, there is none in the entire number that is better 
or more favorably known than he of whom we now speak, familiarly spoken of 
throughout this entire section of the state as "Uncle Ben" Parker, being one 
of the most estimable citizens of the county, beloved, respected and confided 
in by all who may have the pleasure of his acquaintance. He is owner of one-
half interest in the Parker & Gleason sawmill, twenty-five miles south from 
Heppner and ten miles southeast from Hardman, on the John Day road, where he 
does a large business, being favored with a profitable patronage that reaches 
to the remote quarters of the county and even beyond.
	Benjamin H. was born in Canada, on January 22, 1827, and came with his 
parents to Ashtabula county, Ohio, in early youth, where they engaged in 
farming, our subject continuing in the same until 1859, at which time he went 
to Colorado and engaged in mining for three years.  In 1862 he came to this 
state and engaged in mining and teaming here and in Idaho until 1876, when he 
settled where he now lives, buying an interest in the mill at that time; he 
has since increased the interest to one-half and is now negotiating for the 
entire property, Mr. Gleason having recently died. He owns twenty-seven 
hundred acres of fine timber land, containing millions of feet of excellent 
timber contiguous to the mill property. His mill has a capacity of ten 
thousand feet per day and is operated by eight hands. He has also twenty head 
of horses and a full equipment of the necessary tools and machinery to 
successfully operate his first-class plant. He has a handsome residence 
adjacent and his entire grounds are wisely and tastefully arranged.
	Mr. Parker was married to Miss Ada M., daughter of John and Lydia 
(James) Jones, on August 28, 1898. Mrs. Parker has spent twenty years in 
teaching school, ten of which time were engaged in this county, where she held 
rank with the leading educators of eastern Oregon. For four years just 
preceding her marriage she was employed in the Heppner schools. She is a 
native of Ohio, and received her education, which is thorough and complete, in 
Bellaire, her native state. Mr. Parker has had many thrilling adventures 
during his long and eventful life, which we regret space forbids to detail in 
this volume. He is noted for his generosity and hospitality, and is one of the 
most popular men in the county to-day, having ever manifested during the many 
years of his residence here both wisdom and integrity, coupled with industry 
and enterprise that have given him the implicit confidence of his fellows and 
won him friends from every walk of life.
 

Additional Comments:
 An Illustrated History of Umatilla County by Colonel William Parsons and of 
Morrow County by W. S. Shiach with a brief outline of the early history of the 
State of Oregon.  W. H. Lever, Publisher  1902.

	Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Oregon Biographies 
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies. 


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