D. A. Parker, farmer; P. O. Westfield, Clark Co.; is one of the pioneers of this county, and was born in Butler Co., Ohio, April 27, 1815; in the year 1817, his parents moved to Crawford Co., Ill., ten miles south of Palestine, and, after remaining there eight years, moved to Hutton Tp., Coles Co., and settled on what was afterward known as ” Parker Prairie,” in the year 1825, where his parents died, , his mother on the 11th day of December, 1830, and his father on the 18th day of March, 1862; they were among the first settlers, and entered the first land in this county. Mr. Parker remained with his parents until he was 21 years of age, when he went to farming for himself, and, on the 29th day of March, 1837, married Miss Mary J. Flint, daughter of Thomas Flint, of Kentucky; she was born in Virginia March 30, 1819. Mr. Parker settled on his present farm in the year 1840, having entered the land, and has resided there ever since, now containing sixty-four acres. His family consisted of nine children, five living – two boys, George W., born Feb. 8, 1839, and Allen D.. born May 17, 1852, and one deceased-Leroy, born April 19, 1850, died in 1854; six girls, three living – Sallie M. (now Mrs. J. B. Redmon, of Hutton Tp.), born Oct. 15, 1844; Ellen, Sept. 5, 1854, and Emma, born March 20, 1860, and three deceased– Elizabeth, born July 8, 1841, died Aug. 11, 1852; Martha J., born May 27, 1846, died in the fall of 1855, and Frances A., born Sept. 20, 1856, and died May 20, 1860.
