Search billions of records on Ancestry.com
   

 

Page content last modified: January 26, 2009, added detail on Emma E. Parker.
November 10, 2008, added detail on the sons, David and Samuel.

MAJORVILLE
FAMILIES         NEWS         MEMORABILIA

 

SAMUEL PARKER ca. 1846-1879
MARY HUMPHREY (nee COOLEY)

 

Samuel Parker, son of Charles Washington Parker and Rebecca Oakes Trowell, was born circa 1846, the year in which his parents were said to have left Tennessee and traveled by covered wagon to Hancock County, Illinois, arriving on November 1.

The 1850 census, the only census in which Samuel was counted with his family, indicated he had been born in Illinois - but it also showed Illinois for elder brother John's birth state, and John had actually been born in Tennessee.  Samuel was not listed in any other local household in 1860, nor have we been able to find him in the 1870 census when he was living in California.

His obituary stated he was 32 years old when he died on April 22, 1879, which jibes with a birth year of 1846, and that he had been born in Hancock County, Illinois.  Samuel Parker was listed in the Great Register of voters for Siskiyou County in 1879, age - 32, nativity - Illinois, occupation - teamster, local residence - Fort Jones.  In the 1880 census, listings for his children also reported that their father had been born in Illinois.

In the absence of anything to the contrary, we will simply state that Samuel was apparently born in late 1846, and marvel at the fortitude of pioneer women like Rebecca, who made that long trip on the hard seat of a covered wagon in the last months of her pregnancy.

Samuel reportedly went to California in 1865 with the Wright brothers, probably Seborn and Seneca Wright who made one of their trips to California that year.  From what has been written, Samuel never returned to Illinois, never again saw his parents or any of his siblings.

Samuel married Mary Humphrey on May 4, 1872, in Siskiyou County.

It appears that she was the former Mary Cooley, daughter of Squire and Almira (or Elmira) Cooley, originally from Massachusetts and New York.  In 1850 Squire Cooley and family were living in Hebron, McHenry County, Illinois, where Squire was a blacksmith.  By 1860 they were living in Nebraska Territory, and shortly after they moved on to Scott Valley, Siskiyou County.  In 1870 Squire, apparently widowed, and two of his sons, Merrick and Frederick, were living in Scott Valley, all three in the blacksmith trade.

In the meantime Mary had married Constantine Humphrey, a native of Illinois, on December 28, 1862, in Siskiyou County.  Several children were born to them before either Constantine died or he and Mary were divorced.

Samuel's obituary reported he left a widow and seven children, but three of the children were those of Mary and Constantine.

The following item was published in a Siskiyou County newspaper, perhaps the Scott Valley News:

October 24, 1878

FREIGHT MATTERS

Conover arrived at Etna yesterday loaded with iron and hardware.

West Evans arrived Monday with freight for R. D. Stone at Scott Bar.

I. N. Evans arrived Monday with freight for R. D. Stone, and pulled out for Reading yesterday.

Fickel arrived at Etna Monday loaded with Black Bear freight and departed for Reading yesterday.

Sam Parker arrived Monday loaded with merchandise for Co_ Worster, and departed for bolo__ yesterday.

Benton arrived Monday with 10,000 pounds freight for Black Bear and departed for Reading yesterday loaded with flour for Trinity Center.

A brief death notice: DIED - At Fort Jones, April 22nd, 1879, Samuel Parker, aged 82 years

Scott Valley News
Fort Jones, Siskiyou County, California
April 1879

April 1879

Su Mo Tu We Th  Fr  Sa 
       1  2  3   4   5 
 6  7  8  9 10  11  12 
13 14 15 16 17  18  19 
20 21 22 23 24  25  26 
27 28 29 30
      
Obituary.

On Tuesday morning of this week Samuel Parker closed his eyes in that everlasting sleep from which no mortal ever wakes.  Mr. Parker was a victim of heart disease and the monster has for years been slowly tightening its coil and claimin its victim.  His demise was not unexpected, as for some days he has been lying at the verge of death, hourly expecting the summons of his God.  Mr. Parker was a young man, 32 years

of age at the time of his death.  He was a native of Hancock county, Illinois, and came to California in 1865, passing most of the time since his arrival in Scott Valley.  He leaves a wife and seven children and an army of friends to mourn his untimely end; he was known as a strictly honorable and upright man, ever battling for the right, and those with whom he had dealings praise his marked honesty and straight-forwardness.  He was a member of both Fort Jones Lodge, I. O. O. F. and Scott Valley Encampment, and he was buried by these organizations on Wednesday afternoon, a large number of friends and acquaintances being in attendance.

IN MEMORIAM.

To the N. G. V. G., officers and members of Fort Jones Lodge No. 15, I. O. O. F.--Dear sirs, and Brothers: Your committee appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the feelings of this lodge in the loss sustained by the death of our much esteemed brother Samuel Parker, do most respectfully submit the following:

WHEREAS, by the dispensation of Almighty God, death has removed from his labors among us our worthy brother Samuel Parker, therefore,

Resolved, That in the death of brother Samuel Parker, this lodge has lost one of its truest and most zealous members and his family a loving and faithful husband and father, and the community a good neighbor and true man.

Resolved, That we will ever cherish the memory of his many virtues and trust that by his practice on earth of Friendship, Love and Truth he may be admitted into the Grand Lodge above.

Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved wife, family and friends of our departed brother.

Resolved, That as a token of our esteen for his memory that the officers and members wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days and the charter be draped in mourning for the same space of time.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be entered upon the records of this lodge and also sent to the widow of brother Samuel Parker, and published in the Scott Valley News.

All of which is most respectfully submitted in Friendship, Love and Truth.

ISAAC A. REYNOLDS,    }
ROBT S. GREEN,              } Committee
HENRY J. DIGGLES,        }
FORT JONES, May 12, 1879

All of the above documentation shared by
Cora R. Swift

The known children of Samuel Parker and Mary Cooley were:

i. David Horn Parker, born September 9, 1873, in Siskiyou County.  In 1900 David was boarding in the town of Yreka, Siskiyou County.  The census entry showed he was 26, born Sept 1873 in California, both parents born Illinois, working as a laborer, unemployed for 1 month, could read, write and speak English.

In 1910 he was living in Fort Jones, 36, still unmarried, working as a laborer.  When he registered for Selective Service in 1918, he named his sister, Emma Hopper, of Kennett, California, as his nearest relative.  The registrar described him as being tall, medium build, with grey eyes and grey hair.
 

ii. Emma E. Parker, born about 1875 in Siskiyou County.  She married Charles W. Hopper (born about 1867 in California) about 1893.

In 1900 Charles was reported as a saloon keeper, thereafter as a barber who owned his own shop.  Emma and Charles died after January 1, 1920.

They had two daughters:

--Gussie Mildred Hopper, born December 31, 1894, in California; died December 26, 1955, in San Francisco County, California.  In the census of 1930, Gussie was listed with her husband, David Myers, in San Francisco.  It's a rather odd listing, showing no age or age at first marriage for David, only U.S. for his and his parents' states of birth.

--Thelma A. Hopper, born November 17, 1896, in California; died November 25, 1997, in Marin County, California, at the age of 101.  Her married name at the time of her death was Palmquist.
 

iii. Bennett Parker, born about 1876 in Siskiyou County.
 
iv. Samuel Parker, born October 22, 1878, in Siskiyou County.  When Samuel registered for Selective Service in 1918, he named D. H. Parker of Fort Jones, California, as his nearest relative.  His physical description was: tall, medium build, blue eyes, gray hair.
 

1850 Illinois Census, Hancock County, page 298B
enumerated September 19, 1850, dwelling #414
[immediately following the household of Laban Oaks]

Charles W Parker, 38, male, farmer, value of real estate 175, born VA
Rebecca, 30, female, born TN
James W, 9, male, born TN, attended school within the year
John, 7, male, born IL
Samuel, 4, male, born IL
Zechariah, 1, male, born IL
C W Hacwith, 24, male, laborer, born TN

1850 Illinois Census, McHenry County, Hebron Township, Hebron, page 466A
enumerated December 4, 1850, dwelling #102

John Welbon, 34, male, value of real estate 550, born England
Ann, 29, female, born England
Ann E, 9, female, born NY, attended school within the year
Peter, J, 7, male, born NY, attended school within the year
Evelena, 5, female, born IL, attended school within the year
John W, 2, male, born IL
Squire Cooly, 30, mael, b l smith, value of real estate 500, born MA
Almira, 24, female, born NY
Merrick, 3, male, born IL, attended school within the year ?
[continued on next page]
Mary A Cooley, 1, female, born IL

1860 Illinois Census, Hancock County, Hancock Township, page 723
enumerated July 24, 1860, dwelling #3270

Charles Parker, 48, male, farmer, value of real estate 1000, value of personal estate 440, born VA
Rebecca, 42, female, born VA
James, 19, male, farmer, born TN, attended school within the year
John, 17, male, farmer, born TN, attended school within the year
William, 11, male, born IL, attended school within the year  [Charles Zachariah Parker]
Labon, 9, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Ann, 6, female, born IL
Emanuel, 3, male, born IL   [Lemuel]

Samuel is missing from this listing.


1870 listings for Samuel Parker and Mary Cooley Humphrey not found

1880 California Census, Siskiyou County, Scott Valley, page 226A
enumerated June 14, 1880, dwelling #215

Parker, Mary A, white, female, 32, widow, keeping house, born IL, both parents born MA

Humphry [or Humphrey], Chas H, white, male, 17, son, single, laborer, unemployed for 5 months during the census year, born CA, [father born - no entry], mother born IL

Nancy, white, female, 15, daughter, single, born CA, both parents born IL

Addie, white, female, 11, daughter, single, born CA, both parents born IL, attended school within the year

Parker, David H, white, male, 7, son, single, born CA, both parents born IL, attended school within the year

Emma E, white, female, 5, daughter, single, born CA, both parents born IL, attended school within the year

Bennett, white, male, 4, son, single, born CA, both parents born IL

Samuel, white, male, 1, son, single, born CA, both parents born IL

 

Majorville Families
News, Memorabilia
Census
Transcriptions