Portrait and biographical album of Ingham and Livingston counties, Michigan, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties ... the governors of the state and of all the presidents of the United States.

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PORTRAIT AND BI(

A lady of large intellectuality and the highest
moral and spiritual aspirations, she is loved andl
respected by all. Her holme is the abode of tenderness, gentleness and mercy to tle unfortunate
and tried little ones of the Master. Martin Van
Van. Buren was in politics a Democrat. His decease occurred Septemberl 21, 1885.... 1/RANK PARKER. LDeath chose a shining
m! lmark in taking for its target he wlose
' -, name is above, and one which is a synoniym in the neighborhood in which lie for so
many years lived for all that is genial, enterprising
and progressive. The regards tllat were showln ilim
at interment prove how greatly his loss was felt in
the community. Iosts of friends followed him to
his last resting place, and many were the kindly
words sp)oken of his past life and incidents retold
that redound to his credit and honor. I-e left a
widow who still lives on the farm on section,9 of
Howell Township, Livingstoin Coulnty. There she
conducts most successfully the agricultural work
tlat her husband began.
Mr. Frank Parker was born in Iamburg, Mich.,
in 1852, and was reared a farmer boy. IHe attended
school in the city of Howell, remaining at home
with his parents until he was fifteen years of
age. His parents were Edward dand artha (Holt)
Parker, natives of tlhe Eastern States. Thev were
early settlers in Oceola Township, where they
are now living, owning one of the finest farms
in the township. They have a family of five clhildren, our subject being second in order of birth.
On leaving home tlhe original of this sketch
worked out on farms, continuing to be thus employed until his marriage to Miss Maria Riddle of
()ceola Township. Then lie rented a place which
he worked on shares for one yea'r after which lie
lurchased the farm now owned by his widow. It
comprises forty-two acres and is, considering its
size, one of the most productive tracts in the vicinity. They moved upon the place in 1875, and
continued to farm until 1884. when he went to

)GRAPHICAL ALBUM. 511
work for his father-in-law in Oceola Township.
'rlhey had been there onlv three months and three
days when the terrible calamity that caused his
death occurred. Ile was out in tie field plowing
on the 24th of June, 1884, when a terrific shower
and thunder storm came up. He took his team
from the:plow and went to the edge of the woods
and while standing under a tree was struck by
lightning and almost instantly killed.
In his ideas of Governmental right and justice,
IMr. Parker was a follower of the lRepublican party.
lie was a most worthy man and is greatly missed
by his bereaved family. Ir. Parker's widow lived
prior to her mlarriage in Osceola Township, where
slie was b)orn April 11, 1853. She was a daughter
of Andrew alnd Marglaret (Stuart) Riddle, both
natives of Scotland, where they were also married.
|Ier fatlier was by trade a blacksmitlh and was engaged il work at his trade in his native land before coming to America. Mr. Riddle's father liad
preceded him to this country having settled some
time before his coming hither in Oceola Township
and being among the very early settlers there. He
afterward sent for his wife and two children, they
making the journey across the Atlantic alone.
That was in the day of sailing vessels and the voyage was a very long and tedious one, but they
finally reached this county safe and well. Andrew Riddle Sr. remained in this county until his
death and was regarded as one of the prominent
men of his day. lie had a large family who attained honorable positions in life. Andrew Riddle,.Jr. is still living in Oceola Township and is the
proprietor of a large farm. He has there a blacksmith shop and carried on blacksmithing and farming together until too old to have so great care
and responsibility. He is now retired from active
labor and at the age of seventy-six is comfortably
situated.
Mrs. Parker and her brother William are the
only children of her father's family who are now
living. The latter is a farmer in Oceola Township.
After her husband's death Mrs. Parker returned to
her home in Howell Township where she conducts
her farm of forty-two acres and is engaged in
raising horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. She has a
family of four clildren whose names are as follows: