Charles Coleman Parker

(1823-1906)

Charles Coleman Parker was born on September 12, 1823, in Clermont, Ohio, to Daniel Parker and Priscilla Mulloy. His father was 42 years old at the time of his birth, and his mother was 30.

He married Sarah Maria Lakin on October 4, 1853, in Ohio, beginning a family that would span the years of a rapidly changing America.

Education and Early Career

Dr. Parker pursued his medical education at Starling Medical College in Columbus, Ohio, graduating in 1850. His training prepared him for a life that would blend medicine, education, and public service.

In 1855, he traveled to Fayette, Iowa, where he delivered lectures at Upper Iowa University. His involvement with the institution continued beyond the lecture hall, and he later served as a trustee, contributing to its growth and development.

Frontier and Civil War Service

In the spring of 1860, Dr. Parker joined many Americans seeking opportunity in the West by participating in the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush. Like many who ventured westward, he eventually returned, coming back to Fayette in the fall of that same year.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, he answered the call to serve. Dr. Parker became a surgeon with the 12th Iowa Infantry Regiment, providing medical care during significant engagements, including Fort Donelson and Shiloh. His service placed him among those who bore witness to some of the war’s earliest and most difficult battles.

Family Life

Charles and Sarah Parker raised six children over a period of thirteen years:

• William Lakin Parker (1855–1855)
• Daniel Mason Parker (1856–1934)
• Charles Lucius Parker (1859–1924)
• Sarah Priscilla Parker (1863–1870)
• Caroline Ritchey Parker (1865–1880)
• James Donaldson Parker (1868–1947)

Siblings

Dr. Parker was one of eight children. His siblings included:

• James Kennedy Parker (1817–1894)
• Susanna Everts Parker (1819–1890)
• William Tell Parker (1821–1876)
• Daniel Mulloy Parker (1828–1878)
• Mason Doane Parker (1828–1865)
• Eben Armstrong Parker (1831–1898)
• Mary Priscilla Parker (1837–1880)

Later Years and Legacy

Dr. Charles Coleman Parker spent his later years in Fayette, Iowa, where he remained a respected member of the community. He passed away on January 12, 1906, at the age of 82.

He was laid to rest in Grandview Cemetery in Fayette, leaving behind a legacy shaped by education, service, and steadfast dedication during a formative period in American history.