LIFE AND TIMES OF ROBERT RAYMOND HANSEN
    Chapter 22
    Parker Family Line History

    My maternal grandmother was a Parker. Known and remembered as Rose, her birth name was Harriet Rosetta Parker. Rose was born in Iowa January 1, 1889, daughter of William Edward Parker and Frances Adeline Ogburn. She was raised in the Corning area of Adams county, Iowa. She had two sisters, Coral and Susan, and a brother, Charlie. In about 1908 she married Howard Johnston, who also grew to manhood in Adams county. They moved to Council Bluffs and together they had three children: Laverne, Maxine, and Lyle. They later separated and about 1926 she married Rolla Stevenson. They had two children, Rollie and Norma. Rose died June 30, 1933 of cancer at the young age of 44. She is buried with the Stevenson’s in Council Bluffs.

    I have only been able to trace this family line back to my third great grandfather, Archibald Parker. He was born in North Carolina in 1795. His father may have been Isaac Parker. Archibald was married five times in this order: Elizabeth Patton, Anne Sadkerson, Mary Bever, Dolly Langley and Kissiah Sutton. He had seven children while living in Indiana, the second being my second great grandfather, Ira parker. Archibald served on the Indiana frontier during the War of 1812. He died June 18, 1877 and is buried in Viney cemetery in Madison county, Iowa.
    Ira Parker was born January 3, 1835 in Delaware county, Indiana, first son of Archibald and Dolly. November 13, 1855 he married Margaret Shacklee in Winterset, Madison county, Iowa, where he lived out his life. Ira Parker died May 31, 1917 and is buried at Kings cemetery in St Charles, Iowa.

    Ira was a civil war veteran, having enlisted August 22, 1862 as a private in the Iowa Infantry, company F, 39th Regiment. He served until the end of the civil war. The 39th was in the division with Corse in Sherman’s march to Savannah and participated in that campaign to the end. It was in the grand review at Washington, D. C. At the close of the war. He was mustered out of the service in that city on June 5, 1865. Ira’s brother Isaac also served in the 39th. He was killed at the Battle of Allatoona, Gerogia on October 5, 1864. Ira’s younger brother, Milton, was also a civil war veteran, serving with the 10th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment. In September his regiment participated with Rosecrans’ army in the bloody Battle of Inka, where it repulsed two separate charges of Texas regiments and won special commendation of the commanding general. In the desperate two days’ Battle of Corinth which soon followed, the Tenth, under Major McCalla, in General Sullivan’s Brigade, made a most gallant fight. The regiment lost three killed and thirty-seven wounded, among the latter was Captain Albert Head. Among the wounded was Milton Parker. Ira’s other brother, Jonathan Parker was in service from Indiana. He was a prisoner in andersonville.

    Ira’s fourth child, my great grandfather, William Edward Parker, son of Ira and Margaret Parker was born in Madison county, Iowa March 25, 1862 and died at his home south of Mt Etna Thursday January 23, 1936 at the age of 73 years 9 months and 28 days. He grew to manhood in Madison county. He was married to Frances A Ogburn September 10, 1885 who proceeded him in death. Four of the five children born to this union died before he did.. These are: Ernest who died in infancy, Charlie, Rose Stevenson and Susan Finch. He was survived by one daughter, Cora Maye Hough of Phoenix, Arizona; two brothers, Jonathon of Harlan, Iowa; Charles of Winterset, Iowa; also one sister, Mrs Coral Harrickson of Los Angeles, California. Four grandchildren  made their home with him after the death of their mother, Mrs Susan Finch. They are Gerald, Evelyn, Lyle and Donald Finch. He is also survived by a large number of relatives and close friends, among them his sister in law, Mrs William Ogburn, who was with him and the children when the end came, and who had been so loyal in her care. He was also survived by 15 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Mr Parker was a very loving husband, father and grandfather and was loved by everyone who knew him. No sacrifice was too great, and one of his greatest pleasures was helping others. Funeral services were held Saturday, January 25, 1936 at Mt Etna at 2 PM conducted by Harry K rogers. Burial was made in the Massena cemetery.

    The first child of William and Frances, Harriet Rosetta (Rose) was my maternal grandmother. She died before I was born, so I only knew of her from stories my mother told. Rose was born in Floyd county, but grew up in Adams county when her parents moved there. After her three children were born, she left my grandfather Howard and married Rolla Lee Stevenson. They lived variously in Sioux City, Iowa and Lincoln and Hastings, Nebraska. Eventually, they ended up back in Council Bluffs. After separating from her family, she kept in touch by letters and occasional visits. Rolla and Rose had two children; Rolla, Jr. and Norma.