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From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 366-368
DWIGHT TIMOTHY PARKER, SR., who throughout his active life was a prominent business man of Grant county, died while still a young man, but probably no man in the list of the early settlers of the county contributed in as great a degree as did he to its material growth and development when the limited number of years of his business life proper is considered, and the comparatively early age at which he passed away.
Dwight Timothy PARKER, Sr., was born in the village of Malone, Franklin Co., N.Y., Dec. 21, 1821. His parents, Enos and Mary (TODD) PARKER, both belong to old New England families. Investigation into the ancestry of the PARKER family discloses the fact that it is descended directly from Catherine COLE, one of the pilgrim band that landed from the "Mayflower" on Plymouth Rock in December, 1620. Mary TODD PARKER belonged to a well-known New England famliy that was well represented in the war of the Revolution, and she was a sister of Rev. John TODD, a famous New England divine. This estimable woman possessed many of the characteristic traits that rendered her family so noted. Unfortunately her children were deprived of her love and care when still very small, she dying when Dwight T. PARKER was but a child, leaving behind her two sons and one daughter who attained to mature years. Of these children, (1) Dwight T. was the eldest. (2) Arunah came to Grant county, Wis., after his brother, and studied law with J. Allen BARBER of Lancaster, Wis., with whom he practiced until 1848, when he was elected county clerk. Later he took a trip through the South, and finally became identified with copper mining interests in Pennsylvania, and at the same time had a law office in New York city. His death occurred in 1855, when he was aged thirty. (3) Mary, named after her mother, married John NEWTON, a prominent citizen of Prairie du Chien; she died in the autumn of 1871.
Enos PARKER was twice married after the death of his first wife. To the second union four children were born: George W., who came to Grant county in 1856, was for a time employed as clerk by his brother Dwight, and for many years was a member of the firm of PARKER, HILDEBRAND & Co., of Boscobel, of which concern Dwight T. PARKER was the senior partner; John J., also associated with his brother Dwight for some time, finally went to South Dakota, and died at Spearfish, that State, where he was engaged in mining; William W. is now a resident of Spearfish, S. Dak.; Catherine became the wife of Owen GIBBS, of Portland, Maine, in January, 1870, in his seventy-sixth year, his death being the result of a cold contracted at the wharf in Portland while viewing with thousands of others the coming into the harbor of the vessel bearing the remains of the famous philanthropist, Peabody, from Europe.
The PARKER family were long residents of the State of Connecticut, but prior to the birth of Dwight T. PARKER they removed to New York, and thence to Georgia, Franklin Co., Vt., when the latter was but two years old. Dwight T. PARKER was named for Timothy Dwight, Sr., long president of Yale College, whom his father greatly admired. At the paternal home in Vermont our subject grew to manhood, working on the farm, assisting his father, and attending the country school of his neighborhood in the winter. Reared in the characteristic New England manner, habits of perseverance, industry and frugality were early instilled into his nature, and formed the keynote of his after success. About the time he attained his majority Mr. PARKER decided to seek his fortune in the West, and in 1843 he started toward the setting sun, his objective point being the then Territory of Wisconsin. The first stop he made was at Watertown, Wis., for the purpose of obtaining work of some kind to replenish his depleted purse. From that place he journeyed to Lancaster, Grant Co., Wis., most of the way on foot, having but a few dollars in his pocket, but a super abundance of good health, energy and determination. Working at whatever honorable employment he could find, no matter how humble, Mr. PARKER tried mining and other kinds of manual toil, by which he accumulated enough money to commence his active business career in 1847. Prior to this he had also taught several terms of country school, but after engaging in business for himself he continued thus until his death. His first venture was in the mercantile line, at Lancaster, with N. W. KENDALL, who was sheriff of Grant county in 1844-46, under the firm name of KENDALL & PARKER. Two years later Mr. PARKER bought out the interest of Mr. KENDALL, and for about ten years conducted a large and prosperous business.
In 1856, on the coming of the railroad to Boscobel, Mr. PARKER saw increased facilities for business, and, with his usual foresight, established there what was known as the "People's Store." This proved so successful that he established branch stores at Fennimore and Wauzeka. While his mercantile interests were extensive, various other enterprises received a share of his attention, and in February, 1871, only a few months prior to his death, he established the First National Bank of Boscobel, of which he was president and principal owner. This bank was continued until 1879, when its business was succeeded to by A. J. PIPKIN. Mr. PARKER was the owner of a fine stock farm in the town of Fennimore, on which he resided from 1865 until 1870, taking a great deal of interest in his stock and the development of the place. This farm was the largest and finest in Grant county, comprising about one thousand acres under cultivation and many more of timber and unbroken land. In time Mr. PARKER also became the largest real estate owner in Boscobel, and in 1869 he erected, in that city, the largest and finest store building in Grant county, which is now, and has been continuously, occupied by the firm of PARKER, HILDEBRAND & Co. The death of Mr. PARKER occurred at Boscobel May 21, 1871, the result of a tumor, caused by an injury received two years previously.
The character and career of Dwight Timothy PARKER are well worth the emulation of the youth of today. Beginning life a poor boy, with no advantages other than those given to an ordinary farmer boy, by his own industry and determination to succeed, and the exercise of a well-balanced judgment, he secured wealth and a position in the business world which few men attain in the limited number of years that covered Mr. PARKER's business career. While he was essentially a business man, and the leading one of Grant county, he was public-spirited, and always prompt to assist with his influence and means any enterprise whose object was the promotion of the best interests of the community. A member of no church, he recognized the value of religious teachings, and gave liberally to the establishment of churches and their support. Mr. PARKER was also interested in educational matters, and to the worthy poor he ever lent a helping hand. Notwithstanding his large business interests, which ever demanded much of his time, he found opportunity for reading, and possessed a well-stored mind. Among his favorite authors were Burns and Saxe, and he would repeat many of the finest quotations of the Scottish poet in native dialect in a most delightful manner. Mr. PARKER's home was a most beautiful one, and he was a generous and liberal entertainer. The home circle was ever a happy one, and his domestic relations were the most pleasant. When Dwight T. PARKER died Grant county lost of its ablest financiers, the community one of its most useful citizens, and his immediate family a kind, generous, loving husband and father.
On Dec. 27, 1848, Mr. PARKER was married, at Lancaster, Wis., to Mary E. SHRADER, born at Vandalia, Ill., Dec. 17, 1829, a daughter of Lenhart O. SHRADER, a prominent citizen of Lancaster, who was clerk of Grant county from 1843 to 1846. A sister of Mr. SHRADER, Mary E., became the wife of Hon. Charles DUNN, first Chief Justice of the Territory of Wisconsin Circuit; their daughter became the wife of Nelson DEWEY, the first governor of Wisconsin. Mrs. PARKER when a child lost her mother, and was reared in the home of Hon. Charles DUNN; she is still living, residing at the old home at Boscobel. To Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Timothy, Frank Arunah and Charles Dewey. The first mentioned was born in Lancaster June 13, 1851, and secured an excellent education, graduating in music at the Rockford Female Seminary in 1870, and in literature at the Milwaukee Female College in 1873. She was married Feb. 23, 1875, to Andrew J. PIPKIN, a prominent citizen and banker of Boscobel. They have no children.
Dwight T. PARKER, Jr., a president of the State Bank of Fennimore, was born in Lancaster June 30, 1836, and was educated at Beloit college and at the Wisconsin State University. In 1878 Mr. PARKER became vice-president of the First National Bank of Boscobel, an institution founded by his father, remaining as such until the business was transferred to A. J. PIPKIN. For sixteen years prior to the organization of the bank at Fennimore, Mr. PARKER occupied and conducted his large stock farm in Fennimore, which is one of the finest in the State of Wisconsin, comprising 500 acres of choice land. In 1895 Mr. PARKER moved into the village of Fennimore, and in 1896 established the State Bank there, of which he has since been president. This gentleman inherits many of the qualities of his father, whom he ever holds in fond remembrance, by whose teachings he endeavors to be governed, and whose example he emulates. The banking institution of which he is the head is conducted on sound business principles. Its business has increased rapidly year by year, and at the beginning of 1901, only four and a half years from the date of its organization its deposits were $150,000, which demonstrates the confidence the institution inspires in the community. Mr. PARKER is public-spirited, an ardent Republican, though in no sense a politician, and is ambitious for the success of the principles of his party, although he has no desire for public office. Mr. PARKER is a member and treasurer of the Republican State Central Committee, and chairman of the Grant County Republican Central Committee; also chairman of the Special Jury Commission for Grant county, and auditor of the Southwestern Wisconsin Mutual Fire Insurance Co. However, as president and chief stockholder of the State Bank of Fennimore, Mr. PARKER's energies are chiefly occupied; and in addition to his business interests he in 1895 served as chairman of the town of Fennimore and as member of the finance committee of the county board. At the present time he is one of the trustees of the village of Fennimore. He is a member of the Order of K. P., and is treasurer of the lodge of Fennimore.
On Oct. 13, 1880, Mr. PARKER was married to Miss Cora B. ANDERSON, of Ripon, Wis., born at Fairview, Penn., April 3, 1858, daughter of Robert and Alice ANDERSON, who came to Boscobel about 1868. Mrs. PARKER graduated from the Boscobel high school, and was a successful teacher for many years. Later the family removed to Ripon, Wis., where she was married to Mr. PARKER. This lady is a member of the M. E. Church, is president of the Grant County W.C.T.U., and an ardent and faithful worker in the cause of temperance. Mr. and Mrs.PARKER have five daughters: Ethel and Marie (twins), Amy, Eleanor, and Gladys.
Frank A. PARKER, the second son of Dwight T. PARKER, Sr., was born at Boscobel Jan. 20, 1859, and was educated at Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Later, for some time, he was in Denver and New Orleans on account of his health, and in 1882 located in Minneapolis, and engaged in the real-estate business. There he was married to Miss Genevieve Marian DE GOSSELINE, who died in that city Nov. 24, 1895, leaving five children, Arunah F., D. Charles, Genevieve I., Paul I., and Mary Louise. At this time (1901) Frank A. PARKER is a traveling salesman.
Charles Dewey PARKER, the youngest in the family of Dwight T. PARKER, Sr., was born in Boscobel April 9, 1862, and was educated in the schools of his native town. For some time he was associated in business with his brother Frank, at Minneapolis, but is now a resident of Chicago. On Sept. 18, 1889, Charles Dewey PARKER married Miss Rose GRANDELMYER, of Brainerd, Minn. They have no children.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck