The collection documents the Parker family of Frankfort and Grand Rapids, Michigan, particularly captain and lawyer N.A. Parker, and his daughter, Dora B. Parker, later of Los Angeles, California. Most of the collection consists of various types of family photographs in a variety of media, correspondence, legal documents, genealogical materials, publications, verse and poetry, and other materials. Dora’s life and that of women of her period and education are documented by photographs of activities, such as biking and trips, travel journals, and by the Woman’s Lakeside Literary Club (Frankfort, Michigan), Annual Programs, 1896/1897, 1919/1920-1925/1926, of which she was a member. N.A. Parker’s life is documented mostly in photographs, notably in a fine photograph album of the Civil War, mostly of the 20th Michigan Infantry, with carte de visites of officers of the unit, and one composite image of President Lincoln. Many of the photographs are autographed or have annotations on them concerning the officer’s death. N.A. Parker is also documented in post-war GAR reunion materials and in family genealogical materials. Two published books were retained in the collection because of the additional materials and personal dedications in them to Dora. Copies are separately cataloged in the Clarke. Although Mary E. Parker’s obituary notes her early activities as a suffragette, there is no documentation of these activities or interests within the collection.
Biography:
N.A. (Nelson Augustus) Parker was the fifth son and child of Francis B. and Adilia (Norlois) Parker. He was born July 18, 1840 in Hamburg Township, Erie County, New York. On August 23, 1863 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, N.A. married Mary Elizabeth Parker, who was born May 12, 1845 in Pittsfield, Washtenaw County, Michigan, the second child of Moses and Amanda (Holmes) Wilsey.
During the Civil War, N. A. served in the Michigan 20th Infantry Regiment, Company D, 1862-1865. He was mustered in as a sergeant on July 29, 1862 in Ann Arbor. In the Battle of the Wilderness, on May 12, 1864, he was wounded at Spottsylvania, Virginia. Afterwards, he recovered in the Carver Hospital in Washington, D.C. During the war, N.A. was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant (December 26, 1862), and was commissioned as First Lieutenant (September 10, 1864) and as Captain (October 20, 1864). On May 30, 1865, N.A. was mustered out and honorably discharged from Washington, D.C. After the war, he was involved with regimental reunions and the GAR.
A prominent lawyer, N.A. was able to educate his children well. Most of them work at least part of their young adult lives for him. By the time he died on April 28, 1909 in Frankfort, N.A. had served as master of Frankfort Masonic Lodge, president of the village, and was recognized as a pioneer of Benzie County.
N.A.’s wife, Mary E. Parker, died in March of 1928 in Los Angeles, California, where she lived with her daughter, Dora. During her lifetime she was one of the first women in Michigan to campaign for equal franchise and was a co-worker with Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Cady Stanton, and Carrie Chapman Catt.
Together N.A. and Mary had six children: 1) Mary Josephine Parker (January 12, 1865-April 30, 1885). Mary J. died from shock following a kidney surgery in Ann Arbor.
2) Edwin Joseph (March 9, 1866- October 31, 1943) graduated from the University of Michigan in 1894 and taught school. He married Rose Conway in 1899 and was engaged in the forwarding and commission business with his brother, Byron.
3) Byron Reynolds Parker (August 27, 1869 in Frankfort-January 3, 1936). He attended Ann Arbor High School and read law in his father’s office. He was engaged in the forwarding and commission business with his brother, Edwin, and in disposing of fruit and farm products in the east. He married Wassie Walker in 1899 in Duluth. They lived in Frankfort until her death on March 22, 1901 due to child birth complications. Their new born son died two days later. They were buried together in the family lot in Crystal Lake County. Byron later married Aretta Deehn in 1909. They had three children together, all of whom died as children. One boy lived to be seven years of age, and his parents never recovered from his death. Byron was a Mason of Crystal Lodge, No. 270.
4) Eunice Amanda Parker (November 26, 1871 in Frankfort-) was educated at Frankfort High School and then at Ferris Industrial Institute, later Ferris State University, and graduated from the program of stenography, typewriting and bookkeeping. She worked in Chicago beginning in 1896 at least through 1902. By 1936 she had married a Mr. Spears.
5) Dora Bell Parker (July 8, 1874 in Frankfort-October 12, 1961 in Los Angeles, California) graduated from Frankfort High School and was then employed for two years in her father’s office as a stenographer and typewriter and bookkeeper. In 1891 she moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and worked there as a stenographer and typewriter in the law office of Fletcher Wanty, and other law offices through at least March 1902. She lived with her Aunt Alice A. Parker, a public school teacher, in Grand Rapids. Dora visited California in 1900 and 1907. Sometime between 1901 and 1928, she moved to Los Angeles, California, where she was employed as the secretary at the school for salesmen. Dora collected the family papers and photographs which compose this collection. According to her mother’s obituary, Mary E. Parker died in Los Angeles. According to Byron’s obituary all of his sisters were living in Los Angeles by 1936. She never married.
6) Charlotte Parker (March 6, 1879 in Frankfort-) graduated from Frankfort High School and assisted her father in his law office as a typewriter. Charlotte married William Morr on November 29, 1899. They lived first in Frankfort and in 1902 moved to Munising, Michigan. William worked as a railroad engineer. They later moved to Marquette, Michigan. By 1936 she had married a Mr. Weidenhamar. (This information is from the collection and AncestryLibrary.com accessed October 13, 2010.)
