BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Page 555.

OLIVER C. PARKER, a well-known citizen of Martin's Ferry, was born in
Pease township, Belmont county, March 24, 1829. His father, Joseph
Parker, one of the early settlers of eastern Ohio, was a native of
North Carolina, and a son of Jacob Parker, who was born in the same
state, and passed his life there. Joseph Parker was a farmer by
occupation, and in 1805, crossed the Ohio and settled in Jefferson
county, near Harrisville, whence he removed several years later
and settled near Martin's Ferry, where he lived the remainder of his
days, dying in 1855, at the age of seventy-seven years. He was
married October 21, 1801, to Mary, daughter of James Judkins, of North
Carolina, and by this union, had ten chlldren, of whom but two are now
living. His wife died in 1871, at the age of eighty-four years. The
subject of this paragraph, received his boyhood education in the then
limited schools of Pease township, and then engaged in farming, which
he carried on successfully, until he was compelled by a sunstroke,
received in 1872, to retire from active.affairs. He was one of the
most enterprising and thorough farmers of the county, and is now a
prosperous and highly esteemed citizen. During the term of four years,
he served the people of the township acceptably as trustee. In politics
he is a republican. Mr. Parker was married in 1864, to Martha J. Van
Pelt, who died in 1877, and in 1879, he re-married, his bride being
Mary K., daughter of Dr. S. B. West, elsewhere mentioned. She is a
member of the Presbyterian church. To this marriage there is one child,
Simon W.