JOEL M. PARKER was born 1822 in Kentucky, and died July 22, 1887 in Villisca, Montgomery County, Iowa.  He married SUSANNA (SUSAN) BAKER March 08, 1848 in Shelby County, Indiana, daughter of WILLIAM BAKER and SARAH CASTATOR.  She was born August 08, 1829 in Pendleton Co., Kentucky, and died January 01, 1899 in Villisca, Montgomery County, Iowa.

They were in Shelby County, Indiana in 1850, but moved to Iowa when the rest of her family went there. They lived briefly in Taylor County, then moved to Page. Joel Parker,  05 Oct 1855 entered 40 acres in Taylor Co., Iowa.

Susan filed for a Civil War pension on Joel twice.

On 8 June 1885 as the wife of an invalid former soldier.

On  2 Nov. 1887 as a widow.

Parker, Joel, died Villisca; interred Villisca. Clarinda Herald 27 Jul 1887

Clarinda Herald 27 July, 1887 (Page Co., IA) Fairview Twp.

Joel Parker one of the pioneer residents of this neighborhood, but for the

past year a resident of Villisca, died at his home on Friday last. The

funeral occurred on Sunday and the remains were interred in the Villisca

cemetery.

Friday, July 29th Red Oak Express. (Montgomery Co., IA)

Joel Parker an Old Vet was called from this world at 4 p.m. last Friday. The

remains were buried Sunday a.m. the G. A. R.  Post of this place taking

charge of funeral arrangements and marched at the head of the procession to

the cemetery all in morning for the one passed away.

The Villisca Review         July 28, 1887

 Thanks. - At a meeting of Wm. Lundy Post G.A.R. held after returning from the funeral of our deceased comrade, Joel Parker, resolutions of thanks to the following persons were unanimously adopted:

    To the members of the Drum Corps for the music for the occasion, to the Sons of Veterans for their assistance and to the members of Company B for the use of their rifles.

    It was also resolved to drape our Post room in mourning for the space of 30 days and to have the resolutions published in the Review.

The Villisca Review               August 11, 1887

 Resolutions

Passed by the Wm. Lundy Post, G.A.R.:

Whereas our comrade Joel Parker, after a long and weary march, has halted, and using his burden for a pillow, laid himself down to sleep the sleep of death - has "crossed over the river to rest under the shade of the trees" while we are left to fight life's battles for a short time, when we to will "bivouac with the dead, to sleep until awakened by the last reville" and join in the grand review on judgement day.

    Resolved, that we tender our sympathies to the bereaved families of our

                    comrade, in their deep affliction.

    Resolved, that our Post room be draped in mourning for the space of

                    30 days.

    Resolved, that a copy of these resolutions be published in the Review.

                                                            Com.    John Patton

                                                                        W. S. Alger

                                                                        C. N. Stoddard

Pension Record:

13th Iowa Infantry

   Parker, Joel. Age 41. Residence Page County, nativity Kentucky. Enlisted May 17, 1864. Mustered Nov. 17, 1864. Mustered out July 21, 1865, Louisville, Ky. Substitute for Nathan Crain.

Affadavits: W. S. Victor, Milton Cowgill (lived 2 miles from Joel), D. W. Jackson, M.D.

Friends and witnesses mentioned:

Albert Chase (lived 1 1/2  to 2 miles from Joel), Henry Dyke, B. F. Cowgill, G. (?) W. Burch,

C. J. West, D. Whitmyer, J. E. Hill, F. W. Camss (?)

His attorney: E. C. Gibbs

-

Joel lived on the river, apparently on the Page Co. (Valley Twp.) and Montgomery Co. line.

His mailing address was Villisca, Montgomery Co., but his close neighbors' addresses were Hepburn, in Page Co.

He was in a military hospital in Jeffersonville, Indiana in 1865, was very weak and ill when he arrived at his home and never fully recovered.

His pension record says he was dropped off on one side of the river and a neighbor picked him up in a “molasses barrel” and took him across the river to his home. A little research shows that molasses was hauled across country in large tanker wagons. When they were old, they were cut into and made into boats.

Grave Records of Montgomery County, Iowa

Page: 169 Name: Joel Parker Cemetery: Villisca Town: Villisca

Comment: (No dates); (Co. D., 13th Iowa Inf.) (G. A. R.)

Villisca Review Jan. 5, 1899 Page 2.

Grandma Susan Parker died at her home in this city, Jan. 1, 1899. She was

born in Pendleton Co. O., Aug. 8 1828. Married to Joel Parker in Shelby

County Ind. Mar. 8, 1848. She was the mother of eleven children, six of whom

survive her. Her husband died several years ago. The funeral services were

held at the house Tuesday, conducted by Rev. Hohonshelt?

Children of JOEL PARKER and SUSANNA BAKER are:

              i.     BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (FRANK)³ PARKER, b. 1849, Shelby County, Indiana; m. ADALINE; b. Abt. 1851, Indiana.

             ii.     SAMUEL W. PARKER, b. 1851, Shelby County, Indiana; m. MATILDA ANN DALTON, November 06, 1878, Montgomery County, Iowa; b. Abt. 1858, Illinois.

            iii.     JAMES M. PARKER, b. 1853, Shelby County, Indiana.

           iv.      WILLIAM A. PARKER, b. 1855, Iowa.

            v.     ANNELIZA (ANNA) S. PARKER, b. 1860, Iowa  (2 months old on the 1860 census); d. April 25, 1887, Villisca, Montgomery County, Iowa; m. (1) UNKNOWN RUSH; m. (2) SAMUEL ELIAS MOYER, March 1886, Villisca, Montgomery County, Iowa; b. September 16, 1857, Centre, Bellfonte, PA; d. November 17, 1923, Fremont county, Iowa.

          vi.     EDWARD PARKER, b. 1864, Iowa.

         vii.      JOEL DAVID PARKER, b. February 1865, Page County, Iowa; m. ISABEL, Abt. 1893, Iowa; b. Abt. 1874, Iowa. Lived in Cass County, Nebraska.

          viii.     CHARLES J. PARKER, b. 1868, Iowa.

          ix.        SUSAN A. PARKER, b. 1871.