MORGAN COUNTY, INDIANA

THE VENERABLE WILLIAM PARKER AND WIFE, OF MORGAN

Will the citizens of Indiana ever forget or cease to take an interest in those unique characters, the pioneers? Will they assign them an unmarked grave? Will they leave their page in history unwritten and their heroism unsung because they, as a class, were a plain, unlettered people?

While the State is building monuments to statesmen and military heroes its people are forgetting the men and women who made statesmanship possible, they who with one hand held back the forest savage and wild beast while with the other they "cleared the road" along the line of which "the course of empire takes its way." We seem to forget that the men and boys who "wore the blue" and cemented the Union with their blood caught their inspiration from those brave old men and women, fathers and grandfathers and mothers, who said, "Boys, we hate to see you go. It almost breaks our hearts. We are old and broken down; hardly see how we can do without you, but go and lend the helping hand, and we will work on, in pain and sorrow though it will be, and send your supplies. It is all we can do now. Yes, go, and God's blessing go with you, for if it must be so we would rather part with you for this life than see that flag trailed in the dust, for we are for the Union first, last, and all the time."

This was and is the sentiment of the Indiana pioneers. Leastwise it was so with those with whom the writer had acquaintance during those dark and dreary days of death. I ask, shall they be forgotten in our memorial services, giving them nothing but an ephemeral obituary notice? Or shall we plant a rough-hewed shaft of the Indiana quarries, fit companion of our grand Soldiers' Monument, and let them go hand in hand along the ages to come to perpetuate the memory of the soldier and his inspiration, the pioneer, as well?

It is quite refreshing in passing through those thin and wasted Indiana forests to see some sturdy old oak, which has been rocked by the storms of four or five centuries and escaped the tornadoes and thunderbolts of years, and the more murderous saw and ax (for we have become a sort of forest vandal, and the "ax is laid at the root of every tree" that will bring four or five dollars). It is good to look at one of those old forest giants and to think of the events which have taken place since the falling of the acorn from which it grew. It is also interesting to see and talk with some such old people as are sketched in this column, who began life in the very first year of this century, and, for anything we know, may live to its close, for they are quite strong for people in the ninetieth year.

We have here in Morgan county a very remarkable couple of pioneers in several respects. There is only fourteen days' difference in their ages. They have been married sixty six years and have been apart only three consecutive days and two nights since their marriage. There were born to them twenty six children (single births), thirteen girls and thirteen boys. Seven of these lived to adult age; the others all died in infancy. Only three of the twenty six are living, two sons and one daughter. Three sons went into the army. One was captured near Vicksburg and died in a Rebel prison. One died in the Union Hospital at Nashville. The other one came home and died of consumption not long afterward. The old father and mother are quite sad when speaking of the deaths of their sons, particularly of the one who was made a prisoner, for, like Benjamin, he was the youngest, the one who was to have been the staff of their old age.

William Parker was born within sixteen miles of Fayettesville, North Carolina, on the 16th day of October, 1800. Mrs. Parker, whose maiden name was Delilah Ray, was born in Crab Orchard, Kentucky, the 1st of November, 1800. Mr. Parker came to Indiana in 1819, stopping near Madison a short time.

Miss Ray came with her parents to Indiana in 1822. She became acquainted with Mr. Parker the same year. The acquaintance ripened into love, and on Christmas Day, 1823, they were married. They have been well and truly married ever since, and have never regarded married life a failure, that the writer is aware of. There are those who would do well to study this man and wife, that they might learn the art of keeping married, as well as the art of getting married.

Mr. Parker in early life was tall and slender, as he is now; a tough, wiry man, with the powers of endurance to sustain him at hard work from dawn to dark. He was a great axman, and cleared year after year acres of land in the White river bottoms. He is of light complexion and sanguine temperament, and always has the courage of his convictions, though a man of peace and unusual prudence. He never was given to profane or vulgar language or intemperate habits. He and his wife have been members of the Christian church since 1845, and their toils and trials have but increased their faith. He has resided in this county the last sixty four years, excepting six months, and at his present home thirty four years. Until the thirty third year of his life he was poor indeed. But fortune favored him at this time, and the toils of himself and wife were well rewarded the next twenty years. He is now, and has for years been in very comfortable circumstances. Mr. Parker never went into debt, never had a suit in court, or held office in church or State. He is what the world calls a peculiar man. His strictness and regular habits were not always well pleasing to his neighbors. Mrs. Parker is a brunette, and in her younger days was accounted very handsome; a fine form of medium height, with soft brown eyes and hair. She is quite lively now at ninety, and can laugh heartily at a good joke. She enjoys the company of old acquaintances and likes to talk of the good old days before the spinning wheel and loom gave place to the organ and piano. She retains all her faculties and is wonderfully bright; even memory, the first to forsake us in age, still abides with Aunt Lilah. She does much of the housework (for those old folks live to themselves) with her own hands, and the day we were there last she was piecing quilt blocks, while Mr. Parker was out feeding the pigs.

Their son, Moses Parker, and his estimable wife and family live just across the highway and see attentively to any wants they may have. They are very patient and kind to the old folks. The thoughtful reader will ask, "What has contributed most to their length of days?" We would say probably, most of all, it is regular habits. Next, the complete acquiescence in the providence's of God. They have had their full share of trouble, but they have borne it all in the faith and belief that all will be well in the end.

They live in the plain, old fashioned manner of the pioneers of sixty years ago. Their wants are few, and, with these satisfied, they are content. The old lady is particularly free from fret and worry. They both talk very sensibly of the time when the race will be ended , "only waiting till the shadows are a little longer grown," and their greatest concern seems to be for the one who shall be left. When I see or think of this couple, whom I have known for fifty seven years, who were born to toil and hardships, who were deprived of an education, and hence of the solace of good books, so good in declining years for those who love to read, I am reminded of the words, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Yes, and heaven too, we hope, after the earth.

The reader will not be surprised to learn that this old couple have never been aboard the cars. The steamer, railway train, telegraph, telephone, electric light and motor, cotton gin and spinning jenny, power looms, reaping machines, sewing machines, etc., have all been born since our old friends first saw the light. Twenty- two presidential elections have been held and twenty- five States have been added to the Union since their birth, and the population has increased from five millions to sixty millions. They have lived through a decade of mechanical improvements such as the world never saw before, and have seen the Western wilds transformed into happy homes for millions.