F 70 
 .P23 
 Copy 1 
 
^faA/]C£^f--^ 
 
MEMOIR 
 
 OF 
 
 FRANCIS JEWETT PARKER 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM CARVER BATES 
 
 BOSTON 
 PRESS OF DAVID CLAPP & SON 
 
 19 9 
 

 Reprinted from the 
 
 New England Historical and Genealogical Register 
 
 for July, 1909 
 
 '? 
 
r\ 
 
 i 
 
 FKANCIS JEWETT PARKER 
 
 Francis Jewett Parkee was bom in Boston March 3, 1825, 
 and died there January 20, 1909. He was descended from Abraham' 
 Parker, one of the original settlers of Chelmsford, Mass., and a free- 
 man in 1645, tlu-ongh Moses,^ Samuel,' Aaron," Isaac,* Abel," and 
 Isaac\ His grandfather Judge Abel Parker of Jaflfrey, N. H., mar- 
 ried Edith, daughter of Jedediah Jewett of Pepperell, Mass., and 
 granddaughter of Joseph Jewett of Groton, Mass. Francis Jewett 
 Parker was the son of Isaac and Sarah (Ainsworth) Parker of JafFrey, 
 
 Isaac Parker, who had declined " to go to college " as tlu-ee of Iiis 
 brothers had gone, came to Boston from Keene, N. H., in 1817, 
 estabhshed liimself in business,. and early took up with "store keep- 
 ing." Selling manufactures of wool and cotton "by the piece" was 
 the beginning of the commission and mill agency business which has 
 been continued by successors of the firm of Isaac Parker and Com- 
 pany to the present time. 
 
 Francis Parker's education was mainly pursued through the public 
 schools of Boston, enchng at the Enghsh High School, with one year 
 at the Latin School. Judging by some notes made by Col. Parker 
 quite late m life, he did not specially endear hunself to Masters Dilla- 
 way, Oliver, or Sherwin by his proficiency in any of the branches 
 taught; indeed there was one year's enforced absence M'hich was 
 spent at a private school. 
 
 He married, April 28, 1846, Anna Wliitney, daughter of Josiah 
 Dwight Lyiuan of Northfield, Mass. Three children Avere born to 
 them, Frank Vose Parker, Clara V. Parker, and Elizabeth Lpnan 
 Parker. Frank V. Parker married Mary Codman, and theu- daugh- 
 ter, Gertrude Codman Parker, manned, March 23, 1903, Sh Gilbert 
 Thomas Carter, then Governor of the Bahama Islands, and now 
 Governor of Barbadoes. Frank V. Parker died in 1903. Elizabeth 
 Lyman Parker married William Brooks Cabot, now residing at Dub- 
 Im, N. H. Clara V. Parker resides at JafFrey, N. H. 
 
 Col. Parker's career in mercantile life was most honorable, as was 
 that of all his forbears. He was long associated with the business of 
 cotton manufacturmg and the sale of mill products. At one time he 
 was a member of the fii'm of Parker, Wilder, Parker and Company, 
 and was also treasurer for a time of the Monadnock Manufacturing 
 Company. 
 
Mr. Parker pursued his mercantile vocation, finding in it that 
 training in practical affairs which enabled him to become a good citi- 
 zen, a brave soldier, and a Christian gentleman, and by studious 
 reading qualifying for the society of scholars, which is usually reserved 
 to the recipient of academic degrees. Civic affairs also received his 
 attention, and he served the City of Boston in its Common Council 
 in 1856, in the Senate of Massachusetts in 1858, and as Representa- 
 tive to the General Court from Boston in 1861. 
 
 On the breaking ouf of the Civil War, Governor Andrew ap- 
 pointed Mr. Parker Major of the Fkst Battalion, Massachusetts In- 
 fantry. In November, 1861, the battalion was sent to Fort Warren 
 where Mason and Slidel and some eight hundred Confederate soldiers 
 were confined. Major Parker was advanced to Lieutenant Colonel 
 in May, 1862, and the battalion was ordered to Washington to join 
 the Army of the Potomac. Col. Parker's army experience has been 
 told in his "Histoiy of the 32d Massachusetts Infantry." 
 
 In 1877 Col. Parker went to live in Newton. His mature judg- 
 ment and experience in affairs made him a force in this progressive 
 suburban city. He was drafted into the service of his townsmen as 
 one of three commissioners for the introduction of water in 1874-5, 
 and remained until February, 1878, by which time the water system 
 had been well established. 
 
 Though a Democrat, he was chosen Senator from the 4th Mid- 
 dlesex District, being elected in a Republican stronghold over liis 
 contestant. He recalled that in 1858 he was the youngest, and 
 in 1876 the oldest, member of the Senate. In 1881-2 Col. Parker 
 was one of a commission for the revision of the city charter of New- 
 ton, advocating in a minority report the adoption of one board of 
 aldermen with the mayor. 
 
 On coming to Newton, he identified himself with Grace Church 
 (Episcopal) Parish, and was an active member of the building 
 committee for the construction of the new church building in 
 1871-2. An appreciative criticism of Col. Parker's churchmanship 
 at this period comes to us from the rector. Rev. George Wolfe 
 Shinn, D.D., who says: "It would be impossible to understand 
 Col. Parker and the work he did unless we take account of the fact 
 that he was not only a religious man, but intensely so. He was 
 brought up in the Congregational faith, but came into the Episcopal 
 Church bringing with him what he had learned of religion as the 
 source of personal integrity and then taking hold most eagerly of the 
 doctrine of the corporate life of Cln-istians in the Church of Clu-ist. 
 It makes a good combination — downright old Puritanism and staunch 
 Episcopacy. We saw both in him, for he carried his religion into 
 everyday life and he rejoiced to be in the fellowship of a religious 
 body which he believed, with all his heart, to be a branch of the his- 
 toric Church. He was not a demonstrative religious man in the 
 sense of speaking freely to others of his personal religious experiences. 
 
He preferred to put liis faith into deeds and by uprightness of life 
 and by the rectitude of his aiFairs, whatever he did, carry out the 
 teachings of our Lord. It would be hard to overstate the intensity 
 of liis affection for the Episcopal Chiu-ch and the enjoyment he gained 
 from participating in its services and usages. He became so strong 
 a Churchman that some who were less ardent could not always under- 
 stand his position. Many friends will long cherish the memory of a 
 kindly, gracious presence, almost always cheerful, sometimes brilliant 
 with humor, ready to express condemnation of what he thought was 
 wrong and equally ready to advocate what he believed to be rioht. 
 The world would be better and society and business life would be 
 purer if there were more men like Col. Parker." 
 
 Col. Parker in middle life was widely interested in public affau's, 
 and his printed papers, criticisms, and discussions cover a wide 
 range of subjects. He expressed himself with vigor and, though 
 often in the minority, was imdeterred by opposition. The Tuesday 
 Club at Newton furnished a favorite opportunity for the expression 
 of his views, and its records show the following titles of essays by 
 him : Towns and Then- Government Works, The Liquor Question, 
 Smith's History of Newton, The Pilgrim and Puritan, Trial by Jury 
 and Courts of Law, Disestablishment. Col. Parker compiled the 
 Genealogy of the Ainsworth Families of America. He wi'ote in 
 reviews The Huguenots, The Holy Eastern Church, The Mexican 
 Empu-e (Maximilian), and the American Union. 
 
 Mr. Samuel B. Eindge, of the firm of Parker, Wilder and Com- 
 pany, dymg intestate. Col. Parker was appointed one of the admin- 
 istrators, and he was for many years associated with Mr. Frederick 
 H. Rindge as agent and advisor in the direction of the benefactions 
 of this large estate. It was in this latter position that tliis man of 
 aflfairs, of sound business judgment, was able to influence the moral 
 and material interests of a large neighboring city with a self-effacino- 
 zeal none the less beneficent because not generally recognized by 
 the public. 
 
 Col. Parker furnished to volume three of the New England Historic 
 Genealogical Society's Memorial Biographies a sketch of Isaac Par- 
 ker, his father, a notable man, as was his grandfather. Judge Abel 
 Parker. Col. Parker wrote of his grandfather, "Judge Abel Par- 
 ker, the fiither of Isaac, was a man of commanding presence, at once 
 dignified and courteous, one with whom intimacy would seem to 
 have been difficult, and trifling impossible. His ideas of personal 
 integrity and individual honor were of the strictest, and he possessed 
 a marvellous self-reliance, both in thought and action. What he 
 once decided to be right was the thing to be done, and so far as his 
 influence went, it was done. Military taste and patriotic impulse 
 had made him a soldier in early manhood ; faithful service with dili- 
 gent study had raised him in rank, first in the army, and afterward 
 in civil life, and it was his cherished boast that of the many honors 
 
and offices which he had received or occupied not one had been the 
 result of his own solicitation or request. The contrast between the 
 Judge and his wife [Edith (Jewett) Parker of Pepperell] was a 
 marked one. She was active and impulsive, quick to sympatliize 
 with all about her ; gifted with a keen perception of the humorous 
 and with a gladsome and kindly spirit which enabled her at all times 
 to bring cheer and courage to the despondent or the timid. Straight- 
 forward performance of duty was the first principle with the Judge 
 and earnest sympathy was the leading characteristic of the Judge's 
 wife. Theu' household was a busy one. In it old time family dis- 
 cipline was maintained, religious duties were honored by observance, 
 and its members were bound each to the other by ties of love and 
 by respect for duty. Under such home influences the character of 
 Isaac Parker was formed and moulded. In him were blended the 
 characteristics of both his parents and to such effect that Judge Jere- 
 miah Smith, a man not given to unnecessary compliment, said of 
 him that ' Isaac Parker was the only young man that he ever saw 
 who did not need to be made over.' " 
 
 Of Isaac Parker the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, a business asso- 
 ciate for many years, wrote : " As a merchant and citizen of Boston, 
 the memory of Isaac Parker will be cherished by all who knew him. 
 In all the relations of life, whether public or private, he had the 
 reputation of a high sense of honor and unbending integrity. His 
 moral, political, and religious sentiments were matters of fixed and 
 controlling conviction. He was always anxious to do right and to 
 be just. He was very considerate, conservative, and cautious, but 
 having come to a conclusion, he was as immovable as the granite 
 hills of his native state. He was very industrious, systematic, and 
 punctual, and dispatched business with facility but never without 
 deliberation. He had at heart the best interests of humanity, and 
 was ever ready to bestow his influence for the improvement of those 
 around him. He was eminently a peacemaker, never having con- 
 troversies, if possible to avoid them, and was anxious to do to others 
 as he would have them do to him. Mr. Parker Avas remarkable for 
 the uniformity of his character, and he will long be remembered in 
 the annals of Boston as one of her distinguished merchants, as one 
 of her pioneers in the traffic of domestic fabrics, and as one notable 
 for his integrity, firmness, and good judgment, — in short as an en- 
 lightened merchant and a Christian gentleman." 
 
 In contemplating the career and character of these tlu-ee genera- 
 tions of the Parker family, we come to a new appreciation of and 
 pride in the sterling values of the New England civilization, a pro- 
 duct of Puritan and Pilgrim inheritance. 
 
LIBRARY OF C°N^''^,^,J,, 
 0014 069 074