This community was subjected to another shock last Friday morning
(March 2, 1917) when it became a noised upon the streets that Albert M.
Parker had suddenly expired in his place of business. Mr. Parker
had for some days been having some heart trouble which had been diagnosed
as angina pectoris (pain of the heart) but had continued to do his work
at the store. Friday morning he got up early as was his custom and started
in to the day's work. About 7:40 o'clock he went out of the store and shortly
after returned by the rear entrance. He leaned over the counter, placing
his elbows theron and buried his face in his hands. His son and partner,
Arthur F. Parker, noticing him in this position inquired if he were sick.
He made no reply but nodded affirmatively. He then raised up and staggered
to a stool on the opposite side of the room. Arthur, fearing he would fall,
called to his wife who was also in the room, to catch him. They both hurried
to his side to support him but the vital spark was extinguished just as
he sat down on the stool, the time being about eight o'clock. He was carried
into the house which was part of the building and laid upon a couch.
Mr. Parker was the son of Robert and Mary Robley Parker and was
born in Germany Valley, Huntingdon county, July 3, 1845. At the time of
his death having attained the age of 71 years, 7 months and 29 days. During
the early boyhood of Albert Parker his parent's moved to Greenbriar
Valley, near Atkinson's Mills in Wayne township, Mifflin county. While
he was but a lad, his uncle, the late Elliot Robley, had bought and moved
to the Vandevander farm north of Mapelton, and put up a crude sand crushing
plant. The youth found employment with his uncle when unemployed on his
father's farm. June 29, 1863, when the invasion of Pennsylvania by the
confederates had begun he enlisted in Company F, 46th Regiment Pennsylvania
Militia. He was then under eighteen years of age. This regiment was discharged
by order of Governor Curtin, August 18, 1863. Mr. Parker returned home
and September 1, 1864, re-enlisted as a private in Co. K, 9th Regiment,
Pennsylvania Cavalry, and participated in the "March to the Sea," and in
the Grand Review at Washington. In May, 1865, he received his discharge
and soon afterward resumed emplouyment with his uncle who in the meantime
had added a brick yard to the industries on the Vandevander farm. Mr. Parker
assisted in making the brick for the Robley house on the farm and for the
house belonging to the A.W. Swope Estate situate just across Sherman street
from where he died.
November 22, 1860, Mr. Parker was united in marriage to Miss
Emma B. Himes, daughter of the late William Himes, who lived at the lock
north of Mapleton. They commenced housekeeping and continued to reside
there for a couple years when they moved to Mapleton. Five children were
born to them all of whom are living. They are: William, a foreman in the
Juniata shops; Effie, wife of John G. Gillam, Huntingdon, L. Lloyd, publisher
of the Mapleton Item; Arthur F., partner of his father in the mercantile
business, Mapleton, and Alda, wife of Charles Moore. Mrs. Parker died [
].
[ ] Arthur. He is survived besides his children by two brothers and
one sister: David E. parker, president of the First National Bank, of Juniata;
Oliver Parker, of Cresson, and Mrs. Laura Smith, of Erie.
Mr. Parker continued in Mr. Robley's employ for some time after moving
to Mapleton and then accepted a position in the Mapleton tannery, which
at that time was not the large industry it became in later years but as
it grew his advancement was rapid and he soon came into full charge of
the rolling room which position he held until about 1880 when he was chosen
as a clerk in the W. H. Rex's store. He later clerked for Phillips
and Son and following his employment with this firm was employed in the
store of J.G. Gillam. When Mr. Gillam moved to Huntingdon in 1905 Mr. Parker
purchased the store and in 1908 associated his son, Arthur, in the business
with him, which partnership continued until his death.
Mr. Parker took a keen interest in civic affairs, and particularly
in school affairs. He served as a school director for about thirty-six
years and for at least twenty-five years prior to 1907 was secretary of
the board. In 1908 he was chosen president of the board in which position
he was continued until 1915. In November, 1916, he was elected to the borough
council of which body he was a member at the time of his death.
About forty-five years ago while employed at the tannery, Mr. Parker
was impressed with the enkindlings of Infinite Love. For some years prior
that he had been active in church and Sunday School work but was not satisified
that he was a Christian. He decided to fully accept Christ as his saviour
and he dedicated his life to Christ and joined the United Brethren church.
He has ever since been active, in the fullest sense, in the church and
Sunday school. For thirty-five years past he has been a teacher of the
young men's Bible class and has won many to his saviour. Nowhere will he
be more missed than in the active and official affairs of the church and
Sunday school.
In October 1912, he was awarded a medal by the Pennsylvania State Sabbath
School Association for fifty years of service in the Sabbath School work.
May 20, 1913, Mr. Parker had an attack of vertigo or a slight stroke
of paralysis but this caused but a temporary cessation in his activities
and he rapidly recovered therefrom. He was a man of marvelous memory and
cherished associations with veterans of the Civil War. In August 1914,
he and his comrades, B.F. Isenberg and John McCahan, of Huntingdon, were
taken by F.M. Bollinger of Huntingdon in an automobile to the southland
and over the scenes where they had participated in the Civil War. He also
had enjoyed the previous year the great reunion of the Blue and Grey at
Gettysburg. He was always very actively interested in a proper observance
of Memorial Day and in seeing that the graves of his fallen comrades were
strewn with the choicest flowers.
Mr. Parker was a charter member of Mapleton Lodge, No. 468, I.O.O.F.;
of Washington Camp, No. 69 P.O. S. of A.; Maple Glen Rebekah Lodge No 392,
I.O.O.F.; Mapleton Camp No. 171, P.O. of A.; and the Grand Army of the
Republic, and was treasurer of Washington Camp and of Maple Glen LOdge
at the time of his death. He was also a past officer in the first two named
organizations.
Mr. Parker was one of Mapleton's foremost citizens and it falls to
few men to be as great an influence in the uplift of humanity as was he.
He was decidedly a practical man, a man of almost enerring judgement and
of quick perception. Having discerned a cause or an issue his mind was
settled and nothing could swerve him from what he believed to be just.
He was of a calm and cool-headed demeanor and discountenanted strife.
[ ] Sunday morning at 10 o'clock a memorial service was
held in the United Brethren church and was largely attended. Appropriate
remarks, eulogistic of the deceased were made by Rev. Ritter, Rev. Covert,
Rev. Boardman, Rev G.A. Sparks, a former pastor, and by B.F. Godard, long
a friend, neighbor and business associate. At four o'clock Sunday afternoon
the lodge of Odd Fellows and camp of the Sons of America assembled at the
home and read, the last sad rites of these orders over the body of their
departed brother.
There were many beautiful floral offerings, presented by his church
and Sunday School Class, the Lodges to which he belonged, Mercantile
Firms, from Smith Shop No. 2 of Juniata, wherein his eldest son is
employed, and from numerous friends.
Public funeral services were held at the home at 2:15 o'clock Monday
afternoon. The services were conducted by his pastor Rev. H.B. Ritter,
assisted by Rev. H.T. Covert, of the M.E. church and Rev. W.P. Boardman,
of the Presbyterian church. The body was then conveyed to Mountain View
cemetary where it interred in the family burial plot.
The sons and daughters of A.M. Parker in this manner desire to thank
all the neighbors and friends whose sympathy and help were so loyal offered
them at the death and burial of their father.