Abraham X. Parker (November 14, 1831 – August 9, 1909) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was most notable for his service in the New York State Assembly (1863-1864), the New York State Senate (1867-1871), and the United States House of Representatives (1881-1889).
Abraham X. Parker | |
|---|---|
 Abraham X. Parker, New York Congressman | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York | |
| In office 1881–1889 | |
| Preceded by | Amaziah B. James |
| Succeeded by | Frederick Lansing |
| Constituency | 19th district (1881–85) 22nd district (1885–89) |
| Member of the New York State Senate from the 17th district | |
| In office 1868–1871 | |
| Preceded by | Abel Godard |
| Succeeded by | Wells S. Dickinson |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the St. Lawrence County, 3rd District district | |
| In office 1863–1864 | |
| Preceded by | Calvin T. Hulburd |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Shaw |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 14, 1831 Granville, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | August 9, 1909 (aged 77) Potsdam, New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Bayside Cemetery, Potsdam, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
Life
editParker was born in Granville, Vermont on November 14, 1831. He attended St. Lawrence Academy in Potsdam, New York and studied law with Henry L. Knowles.[1] He then attended lectures at Albany Law School to complete his legal training, and was admitted to the bar in 1854.[1]
After becoming an attorney, Parker practiced in Buffalo with the firm of Eli Cook and Freeman J. Fithian.[1] He then practiced briefly in Syracuse before returning to Potsdam in 1856 to establish a firm in partnership with John G. McIntyre.[1]
He was a member of the New York State Assembly (St. Lawrence Co., 3rd D.) in 1863 and 1864.[2] Parker served as chairman of the Committee on Claims in his first term, and the committee on Commerce and Navigation in his second.[2]
He was Postmaster of Potsdam from 1865 to 1866, and also served as a justice of the peace and as president of the Village of Potsdam.[2] He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1868 to 1871.[2] In the Senate, Parker served as chairman of the Committee on Insurance and Public Health.[2] In 1876, Parker was a candidate to be one of New York's presidential electors, but Democratic nominee Samuel Tilden carried the state and received its electoral votes.[3]
Parker was elected as a Republican to the 47th and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1889).[3] He was appointed by President Grover Cleveland as a member of the first labor investigation commission.[3] He served as a delegate to the 1892 Republican National Convention and as First Assistant Attorney General from September 8, 1890, to March 4, 1893.[3]
After leaving the Justice Department, Parker resumed the practice of law in Potsdam. A civic activist, he was the longtime chief engineer of Potsdam's volunteer fire department and a trustee of St. Lawrence Academy.[1] In addition, he served as He served as president of the board of trustees for the Thomas S. Clarkson Memorial School of Technology and a member of the board of managers for the State Normal School in Potsdam.[4]
Parker died in Potsdam on August 9, 1909.[5] He was interred at Bayside Cemetery in Potsdam.[6]
Family
editIn 1857, Parker married Jenny Wright (1836-1919).[5] Their children included Mabel, Thurlow, Jennie, Kittie, Harriet (Hattie), Alice and Bessie.[5][7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Life Sketches, p. 116.
- ^ a b c d e Life Sketches, p. 117.
- ^ a b c d Genealogical and Family History of Northern New York, p. 190.
- ^ Life Sketches, pp. 116–117.
- ^ a b c "Death Notice, Abraham X. Parker", p. 165.
- ^ Where They're Buried, p. 248.
- ^ Genealogical and Family History of Northern New York, pp. 189, 191.
Sources
editBooks
edit- Boone, H. H.; Cook, Theodore P. (1870). Life Sketches of Executive Officers and Members of the Legislature of the State of New York. Vol. III. Albany, NY: Weed, Parsons and Company.
- Cutter, William R. (1910). Genealogical and Family History of Northern New York. Vol. I. New York, NY: Lewis Historical Publishing Company – via HathiTrust.
- Spencer, Thomas E. (1998). Where They're Buried. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield Company. p. 248. ISBN 978-0-8063-4823-0.
Magazines
edit- "Death Notice, Abraham X. Parker". Clarkson Bulletin. Vol. 6. Potsdam, NY: Clarkson College of Technology. 1909.
External links
edit- United States Congress. "Abraham X. Parker (id: P000053)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Abraham X. Parker at Find a Grave
- Abraham X. Parker at The Political Graveyard