Hello and good to meet all of you. I am stuck and I am hoping you can help me out.  I am trying to find the parents and siblings of Bunyan Parker.

My GGG is Bunyan Parker, born Feb 21, 1776 in New Jersey according to Census Records.  I have not been able to locate a birth certificate or any other confirmation otherwise.

He died 22 OCT 1875  Rensselaer, Jasper, Indiana, USA

I was told by a cousin that he died in a farming accident where his leg was cut off, although I do not have any documentation of that.

He was married first to Sarah Asher on May 6, 1818 in Urbana, Ohio.  She was born in 1800  New Jersey, USA, and died  3 AUG 1826  Jefferson, Ohio.  They had three sons:

Solomon Watkins Parker (1820-1881) who married Matilda Ann Noggle (1820-1871)

William Webb Parker (1822-1890) who married Anna Mary Darlington (1829-1895)

John Parker (1824-1881)

After she passed away at the age of 26, he married Mary "Polly" Sharp Haines in on November 2, 1826 (Wow, he did not wait long, now did he?).  They had the following children:

Ezra Parker (1827-1866) who married Sarah Peterson (died in 1867)

Rebecca Parker (1829-1908) who married William C. Clouse (1830-1914)

**Nathan Allen Parker (1831-1883) who married **Amelia Flemming Henkle (1833-1925)

          (** these are my GG Grandparents)

Elmira Parker (1833-1866) married John Clouse (1824-1899)

Sarah Elizabeth Parker (1835-1875)

Isaac Newton Parker (1837-1890) who married Sarah C Morgan (1832 -?)

Mary Haines Parker (1839-1902) married Issac Newton McCurtain (1836-1905)

Henry Jackson Parker (1841-1910)

Francis Marion Parker (1843-1927) married Mahala Jane Walker (1841-1913)

and

Jasper Dewitt Parker (1846-1867)

Here is what I know about him, however I have nothing else to go on:

Bunyan Parker

Posted 1916 by GigiHudnall

FRANCIS MARION PARKER.It is now nearly seventy years since the Parker family became identified with Jasper County. They were pioneers in the true sense of the word. When a consideration is had of the effective forces which brought about the county of the present time, a large share of credit must be given to such families as the Parkers. They were here in the log cabin stage of development. There were few roads when they came, and they helped to make highways, develop cultivated tracts of land, build better homes, establish schools and churches, and in every way they used their influence to promote what is good and uplifting in a community.

Bunyan Parker, who was the leader of this family into the wilderness of Jasper County, arrived during the late fall of the year 1847 and settled in Gillam Township. With him came his wife and five sons and four daughters. One son had died in infancy in Ohio. Bunyan Parker and wife were both natives of Pennsylvania, were substantial farming people, and had come from the vicinity of Urbana, Ohio, to Indiana. Bunyan Parker was born February 21, 1796, and about 1825 he married Mary Haines, who was born July 27, 1805. When still a boy Bunyan Parker enlisted and served as a soldier in the War of 1812.

After spending one winter in Gillam Township the family moved in the spring of 1848 to Barkley Township, where Bunyan Parker spent the rest of his days until his death on October 22, 1875. He and his family had accomplished the journey from Ohio to Jasper County by horses and wagons. He had always lived in a wooded country, and like many of the early settlers he could not believe that the prairie land was equal in fertility and other advantages to that which was covered by a heavy forest growth. Therefore on settling in Barkley Township he located in the midst of the woods, and cleared off many acres to convert it into a farm. He was a typical pioneer, hard working and thrifty. He had an inherent horror of debt, and what he could not buy he usually did without. Honest to the cent, as was the usual case of most of the early settlers, he commanded universal respect. He was in ideal neighbor and was helpful in every form of individual distress in the community. Of his children only one is now living. One of the sons, Henry Jackson, served in the Union Army during the Civil War and was fatally wounded at Chickamauga. He was in Company A of the 87th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.

Francis Marion Parker, of Rensselaer, the only surviving child of the late Bunyan Parker and wife, has spent his active career as a prosperous farmer, and has a range of recollection and experience in Jasper County such as is possessed by few living citizens. He was born in Ohio October 20, 1843, and was only four years of age when the family moved to Jasper County. His boyhood days were spent in an intermittent attendance at such public schools as were kept up in this county during the decade of the '50s, but he developed his capacity for hard work by helping to grub, clear, plant and harvest. At the age of twenty-one he started out for himself as a farm hand, but after about a year he returned home owing to the advanced age of his father, and assumed most of the responsibilities about the old homestead.

He continued in that way until he was twenty-five, and then on November 23, 1868, he married Mahala J. Walker. She was born September 20, 1841, daughter of Samuel Walker. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Parker began farming on his own responsibility. That has been his steady vocation down to the present time, though his prosperity and the fruits of many years of well directed labor have enable him to take life somewhat leisurely. He now owns 413 acres of Jasper County lands, divided into two separate farms. In 1893 Mr. Parker moved to the northern suburbs of Rensselaer, and has since lived there, enjoying the comforts and conveniences of town life and at the same time supervising his farming interests.

Mrs. Parker died December 14, 1913. She was a member of the Christian Church. To their marriage were born five children: Laura, who died in infancy; Korah A., who died April 11, 1906, married Miss Bessie Makeever and had two children; Oren F., a merchant at Rensselaer; Clara E. is the widow of John Andrus, who died November 29, 1912, and their only son, John Francis, died March 14, 1913; and Wayne Dee died February 27, 1906, when still a young man and while pursuing his studies preparatory to a professional career. Mr. Parker is a member of the Christian Church and in politics is stanchly aligned with the prohibition cause.

A Standard History of Jasper and Newton Counties Indiana
The Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago and New York - 1916

Any information you can give me would be appreciated!!!!

Thanks, Sincerely,

Gigi Parker Hudnall

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  • Also, I have a little different information on Sarah Asher, aka Sallie Asher. A history of her father and family may be found at http://www.heritagepursuit.com/Union/Untp9.htm:
    "William Asher was a native of Culpeper County, Va., where he married Betsey Sharp. In 1800, he emigrated with his family to Ohio and settled in Ross County; thence about 1803-4, removed into Logan an County; thence removed to Champaign County, and finally, about 1823, located in Union County, Allen Township, on the same place where his son now resides, and remained in the same neighborhood till his death, in 1847. He and his son John constituted two of the thirteen voters at the first election. His children were as follows: Polly, married William Austin; he died, and she married Joseph Stokes, she died in Logan County; Sallie, married Bunyan Parker, and died in Champaign County, Ohio; John, married Deborah Ray in 1826, and resides on the old home place, where he and his companion have now resided fifty-six years; Malinda, married John P. Reed, a native of Maryland, who, with his father, Samuel Reed, settled in Union Township, this county, in 1802; John P. Reed and wife settled on Buck Run, on land now owned by Thomas Stillings, about 1825. About 1848, they removed to Iowa, where Mr. Reed died; subsequently she married Israel Reed; he is deceased, and she is now a widow residing in Colorado. Jeremiah married Rachel Austin and settled at West Liberty, Logan County, where he was a merchant many years and where he died. David married Jane McClung, a daughter of Isaac McClung, who came from Pennsylvania and settled in this township about 1835 - 38. David and wife settled on the Darby on the Snuffin farm, but subsequently removed to Auglaize County, where his wife died; he again returned to this township, and about 1868 married Maria McClung, and is now residing on the old McClung farm. Harriet married Alvin Gano, and in now residing in Iowa. William died in childhood."
    UNION COUNTY, OHIO - 1883 HISTORY - CHAPTER IX - ALLEN TOWNSHIP
  • Gigi:
    My wife is Patricia "Marie" Parker and the 5th granddaughter of Bunyan. We have been researching the Parker line for a few decades now. I have also found the census records which indicate he was born in NJ, however, to muddy up the waters even more, family history indicates he was born in PA. We have found NOTHING to indicate parentage and arrived at the same brick wall as yourself many years ago.
    As you know, the 1800 census is listed by county and each county must be searched to attempt to find this family.
    Any additional info you may find please share and I will do the same.
    I do have extensive information on Bunyan's descendants and would be more than happy to share with you what I have. Marie's lineage goes, Bunyan, Solomon Watkins Parker, John Silas Parker, William Watkins Parker, Joseph William Parker, Thomas William Parker, Patricia Marie Parker.
    Jack Feldman
  • I'm also a 3rd cousin descending from Nathan Allen Parker - William Henry Parker - Hazel Iva Martindale - Hosea Sinclaire Martindale - Herschel LeRoy Martindale - Stephen Lee Martindale - me! I'm following in case other shave information or pictures!!
    • So I am attached to Bunyan Parker >>>Nathan Allen Parker >>>Charles Marion Parker >>>Guy Allen Parker, Sr. >>> Guy Allen Parker, Jr. >>> Me! My brother is Guy Allen Parker III, then my nephew, his son, is Guy Allen Parker IV, and now finally I have a great-nephew who just turned 3 who is Guy Allen Parker V - they call him Quintus, the latin word for 5. So Nathan Allen' s middle name lives on!

      You can attach on to my tree at Ancestry.com and see what I have come up with. I have most everything public. I have a small private tree that I am just keeping private until I verify things. As it stands, I am looking for the Bunyan Parker from New Jersey who may or may not be our Bunyan's father or relative. I will keep you all posted!
    • Very cool Shawnee! Looks like a lot of us came from Nathan's line! Great to find another cousin! I am working on this with a geneologist I met through Ancestry.com. I have not paid her, she is just helping me know where to look.

      The cool thing is that we found another Bunyan Parker who lived in New Jersey and looks like he got married just one year before our
      Bunyan was born! I feel confident that he is related, but he could be an uncle or a cousin instead of his father, as we have seen so many nephews named after uncles, etc. I will keep you updated!!
  • Wish I could help, but I have hit the same brick wall as you have. I worked a fair amount on this family until about 2000, when I shelved my research in favor of marriage and kids.
    • LOL, Daniel! I totally understand! It can consume you! I guess we are related, then? How are you connected to Bunyan?
      • Gr-gr-gr-gr-grandfather. Bunyan -> Nathan Allen Parker -> Margaret Elizabeth Parker -> Frank Knaack (Kenneck) -> Francis Joseph Kenneck -> Donald Lee Kenneck (McManis) -> Me.

        Yeah, a few name changes in there because of divorce, remarriage & adoption.
        • Whew! Well I finally found you in Ancestry.com - You are my 3rd Cousin 1x removed! Very cool! Nathan Allen Parker is also my Great, Great Grandfather. Elizabeth's brother, Charles Marion Parker is my Great Grandfather, then Guy Allen Parker, Sr. is my Grandfather, and my father is Guy Allen Parker, Jr. Then there is me! I currently live in Texas and it looks like you are in the WA state area, but if you ever come down this way it would be great to meet you and your family. I will let you know if I solve our family riddle.... ;-)
  • Thanks so much! I will check out James! !!!
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