Parker was born in November 14, 1831, in Granville, Vermont, He studied law with Henry L. Knowles,[1] and completed his legal education at Albany Law School, becoming a lawyer in 1854.[1]
He practiced law in Buffalo with Eli Cook and Freeman J. Fithian before briefly working in Syracuse.[1] In 1856, he partnered with John G. McIntyre in Potsdam.[1]
Parker served in the New York State Assembly in 1863 and 1864,[2] chairing the Committee on Claims and later the Committee on Commerce and Navigation. He was also Postmaster of Potsdam, a justice of the peace, and the Village of Potsdam's president.[2]
From 1868 to 1871, he was a member of the New York State Senate, chairing the Committee on Insurance and Public Health.[2] In 1876, he ran as a presidential elector but was not successful.[3]
Parker served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1881 to 1889 and was appointed to the first labor investigation commission by President Grover Cleveland.[3] He was also a delegate to the 1892 Republican National Convention and served as First Assistant Attorney General from 1890 to 1893.[3]
After his government service, Parker returned to law practice in Potsdam and was active in civic roles, including chief engineer of the volunteer fire department and trustee of St. Lawrence Academy.[1] He was also involved in educational institutions.[4]
Parker died in Potsdam on 9 August 1909, and was buried at Bayside Cemetery.[5][6]
Personal life
In 1857, Parker married Jenny Wright,[5] and they have childrens, Mabel, Thurlow, Jennie, Kittie, Harriet (Hattie), Alice and Bessie.[5][7]
