William R. Parker, deceased farmer; born in Anderson Co., Ky., March 27, 1823; he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in Edgar Co., in 1828, where he lived until 18 years of age, when he went to St. Clair, Co., Ill., and engaged in fanning two years, then to Minnesota, where he followed logging, rafting and milling for three years; returning to Illinois, he, with his brother, worked at blacksmithing one year, when, in 1848, he engaged in farming in Edgar Co., which business he followed until 1854, when he removed to Coles Co., and rented land, which he worked until he purchased the old homestead, where he located in 1865, and lived until his decease, which occurred Feb. 14, 1873, at which time he owned 165 acres, upon which he had good buildings, and which he had accumulated by his own hard labor, in which he was nobly assisted by his wife, who survives him, and who continues to live upon the old farm with the most of the family; they have since added to the farm, until it now contains about two hundred and forty acres of prairie and timber land.
He married July 15, 1848, to Rebecca Clark; she was born in Kentucky Sept. 3, 1822; she emigrated with her parents and located in Coles Co. in 1828; they have seven children now living by this union-Francis M., Harvey B., John F., George W., Narcissa R., Charles J. and Mollie L. Mrs. Parker remembers vividly when coming to Illinois; upon arriving at Grand View, the joy of the settlers at that point, was so great at the arrival of Mr. Parker and family, that they turned out and escorted them to where they first located, upon the farm which is now occupied by Mr. Thomas Roberts.