Rev. Seth C. Parker
The subject of this sketch died at his residence in Greenfield
township,
Huron County Ohio, October 19th, 1868.
He was born in Brutus, Cayuga county, New York, July 7, 1802. From
thence
he emigrated February 3, 1820, to Ohio, arriving at Norwalk on the
28th, in
company with his father, Thomas Parker, and his brother-in-law, Luther
Hodges, and their families. They at once commenced pioneer life in
earnest
on the Parker tract, in the 4th section of Peru, Aug. 14, 1823. He was
married to Jane Ammerman, daughter of Simon Ammerman, one of the early
settlers of Bronson.
In 1828 he and his wife made a public profession of religion and joined
the
Free Will Baptist Church of Greenfield, of which he remained a worthy
member
for about forty years, until his Savior called him home. In May, 1838,
he
was licensed to preach, and was ordained in December, 1838. In 1835 he
was
a deligate to the General Conference at Byron, New York, and again in
1839
to the one at Conneaut, Ohio. His labors in the ministry were mostly
within
the bounds of Huron and Seneca Quarterly Meetings, and of course
witnessed
great changes in the life and prosperity of churches within that time.
He taught the first district school in District No. 3, Peru, in the
winter
of 1828-9. In March, 1850, he was elected by the General Assembly of
Ohio
as one of the Associate Judges of Huron County. In 1835 he was elected
as a
Trustee of the Free Will Baptist Publication Society, located in Dover,
New
Hampshire.
As a public man he was compelled to meet the moral questions of the
day,
and, to his honor be it said, he was always for the right. The fields
of
Freedom, Temperance, Sabbath Schools, the Bible cause and Missions of
all
denominations always found in him a zealous and hearty co-laborer. But
in
connection with the Firelands Historical Society was he best known.
In
truth, he was its projector. March 30, 1857, the following article
appeared
in the Sandusky Daily Register, then edited by Henry D. Cooke, Esq:
A County Historical
Society
The Pioneers -- the trappers and the hunters who but little over half a
century ago divided their game with the Indians, in the unbroken
forests of
Northern Ohio, have passed away. The earlier settlers, too, who
followed
close upon their footsteps with their families and their implements of
husbandry and handicraft, have left among the more recent growth of the
population only an occasional remnant of their hardy band. One of
their
number, the Rev. Seth C.Parker, of Steuben, Huron County, has written a
letter, calling our attention to a project which will especially
interest
all of this class in Huron and Erie Counties -- the organization of a
Joint
County Historical Society.
He says: "Such societies exist in all, or
nearly
all the counties in the eastern part of the Reserve, and it is due to
us who
reside in the two western counties, to meet as soon as convenient, --
say
about the middle of May next -- to take the preliminary steps for a
similar
organization. As Huron and Erie counties were for a long time embraced
in
the limits of a single county, it is thought by many that it would be
best
to have them unite -- at least for a time--in the proposed historical
society. The history of the "Fire Lands," the sufferings the early
settlers
before and during the war of 1812, together with the history and
settlement
of the several townships by the earnest and bold pioneers, are subjects
of
which but little is known by thousands of those who now reside in our
pleasant towns and ambitious cities, and who reap anually in the rich
fields
which their fathers cleared from the forest."
Mr. Parker adds: "Will you please give the matter such notice as you
think
it deserves? I would suggest that at our first meeting the Township
Clerks
of both counties, with as many of the old settlers as can be found, who
have
lived longest in the several townships, be earnestly invited to attend,
and
that Hon. E. Cooke of Sandusky, and James Williams, Esq., of Norwalk,
be
invited to be present and give each an address, or "talk" to their
friends
of "Old Lang Syne;" and that others having in their possession any
information of historical interest connected with the settlement of the
two
counties, come prepared to furnish a transcript thereof, to be
incorporated
in the records of the Society."
Our correspondent has stated the case so well that it was superflous to
add
to his valuable suggestions. That they will be adopted by those who
yet
remain of the energetic men who subdued a wilderness we have no doubt.
The
record of their sufferings, their privations, their labors and their
triumphs should not be allowed to die with them. Such an organization
as is
suggested is due no less to the future than to the past, no less to the
present generation than to that which is passing away. It will be the
means
of reminding us of our obligations to the early settlers, and will help
us
to keep in remembrance their noble and self-sacrificing example."
The suggestion there made was persistently presented by him to leading
pioneers and friends, and resulted in the meeting for organization May
20th,
1857, at Norwalk. Platt Benedict was chosen President of the Society
then
organized, and Judge Parker one of the Vice Presidents. In that
capacity or
as Biographer he continued his active efforts for the Society till
death.
In season and out of season, untiring and unflagging, it may be said no
one
did more than he to stir up and keep alive an interest in its work. In
his
own language written in view of his not distant end: "In laboring with
others to create an interest in the organization of our Historical
Society,
I look back with pleasure to the pleasant hours spent with the noble
and
true who were fellow laborers in accomplishing the end already attained
in
the formation and perpetuation of one of the most successful Historical
Societies in the State. May the blessing of Providence rest upon it
and its
officers and members together with all its numerous friends. May they
toil
on in their labor of love until their earthly labors are closed is the
ardent and sincere desire of one who had lobored from the beginning for
the
prosperity of our beloved Society, and that it may prosper and be a
blessing
to others when myself and others of the early friends have passed away.
Which may God grant for his Son's sake. Amen!"
"Steuben, Huron County, Ohio, April 8, 1868."
His last contribution to the Society was made May 1, 1868, and closes
with
these words:
"My health is failing, and I am admonished that I have little longer to
stay
in this vale of tears. The Lord's wii be done. My trust is in the
Blessed
Savior. Yes, I can say with Paul; 'It is better to depart and be with
Christ.' Amen!"
His last sickness and death are best described in the following,
written by
the surviving partner of his joys and sorrows:
"His death was occasioned by a cancer which first made its appearance
in the
winter of 1859 It was the left side of his upper lip, and at first had
the
appearnce of a slight blister. In the course of the year it grew
harder and
looked more like a wart, and continued to slowly increase in size until
the
summer of 1866, when it began to be painful and discharge. He visited
several physicians, but all to no purpose. His disease began to
develop
internally, and the last months of his life was a scene of almost
unintermitting suffering.
"At the burial of another of our Pioneers (Erastus Smith) while
standing at
the open grave in company with Elder Laird, of Fairfield, who remarked
to
him that for all the knowledge of the 'Glorious beyond,' the grave was
still
a gloomy-looking place, 'Not so to me,' he replied,'for to me it looks
like
a place of rest.'
"Owing to the paralysis of one side of his head and tongue, for some
weeks
before his death his speech was often unintelligible. On the night
preceding
his death our eldest son and I were watching with him. During the
night he
was very restless and in great pain until about 3 0'clock in the
morning,
when he sank into a seeming sleep, which lasted about an hour, when he
aroused and exclaimed; "Oh, what beautiful things I have seen. I want
to
try and tell you!" And he did so with great earnestness, but we could
understand so little that I got pencil and paper, on which he wrote the
following words; "I saw twelve beautiful white oxen; they shone like
silver!" then pointing upward, said they were all moving overhead. He
tried
to say much more, but we could not understand enough to know what.
Those
words were the last he ever wrote. He then lay quietly for some time,
when
his pain began to increase and he continued a great sufferer until his
death, which took place about 12 M. His mind did not fail him until
the
last moment. Even after he could no longer speak he answered the
questions
of his children and friends by signs.
"Two days after his death his funeral was held in the F.W. Baptist
Church at
Greenfield, and was attended by a large concourse of people. Fifty
four
relatives and friends walked as mourners, and I know I may truly say
there
were many mourning hearts in the assembly."
He was a great student of history, and indefatigable in the collection
of
books. At the time of his death, his was probably the largest private
library in Huron County, and one of the largest of any minister's in
the
denomination. His decease makes a chasm in the ranks of his favorite
Society which no one else can fill. With Platt Benedict, George
Woodruff,
Elijah Bemiss and many other "mighty men" among the pioneers of the
Fire
Lands, he has gone to his rest.
"We live in deeds, not years -- in thoughts,
not breaths --
In feelings, not in fugures or a dial;
We should count time by heart throbs.
He most lives
Who thinks most -- feels the noblest --acts
the best."
D.H.P.
The above article is from the June, 1870 issue of FIRELANDS PIONEER (submitted for
the
Huron County Chapter OGS website
by Kristi Wheeler, ggg-grandaughter of Reverend Seth Parker)If anyone knows of a picture of Rev. Parker, please email Kristi. Thank You!