Ira P. Parker
16 Aug 1843-28 May 1905

 
Vitals

Ira P. Parker was born 16 Aug 1843 or 1844 or 1847 in Clarkson, Monroe County, NY. He was the son of Ira Edison and Philena (Peat) Parker. The family settled in Montcalm County in 1869. He married Lura L. Lane on 5 Dec 1875 in Orleans, MI. She was born 1 Jan 1857 in Portland, Ionia County, MI. Lurey was the daughter of Jedadiah and Electra (Brewer) Lane. They had four children: Mortimer E. (1878-1900); Ira Ellwood (1882-?) husband of Mattie E. Jones; Mabel (1884-1904) wife of Harry Thurston Reynolds; and Roy L. (1887-1942).

On the widow's pension the wife's name is listed as Elura Parker. The pension was increased to $12/month April 19, 1908. She died 20 Jul 1935 of liver cancer in McBride Township, Montcalm County, MI. Her death certificate indicates burial in Fairplain Township. Obituary states Fairplains cemetery.

Mr. Parker was a farmer and lived in Chadwick, Montcalm County, Michigan in 1890. His death is listed in the Montcalm County Death Book B, page 255. Cause of death was asthma and heart disease.
Service Ira Parker enlisted 16 Aug 1862 from Jackson, MI for 3 years. He was only 15 or 16 years old, though he claimed to be 20. He was a private in Company D, 3d Michigan Cavalry. He joined the regiment at Tuscumbia, AL in September of 1862. During that fall he was injured by a horse falling on him and he was given a furlough of 30 days. He rejoined his command at Kalamazoo, MI. In April of 1864 he was in the hospital at St. Louis with typhoid fever, and was given an honorable discharge at Baton Rouge, LA, 2 Jun 1865. He participated in the battles at Corinth, Coffeeville, and Jackson, TN. Distinguished service. He was pensioned.
GAR  
Siblings A brother, William Parker, served in the 8th Michigan Volunteer Infantry. William H. Lane, a half-brother of Mrs. Parker, went out in a New York Regiment.
Records 1850 Census Henrietta Township, Jackson County, MI  
  1860 Census Henrietta Township, Jackson County, MI listed as Philander
  1870 Census    
  1880 Census Fairplain Township, Montcalm County, MI listed as Philander
  1884 MI Census Fairplain Township, Montcalm County, MI  
  1890 Veteran Census Fairplain Township, Montcalm County, MI Chadwick
  1894 MI Census Fairplain Township, Montcalm County, MI  
  1900 Census Fairplain Township, Montcalm County, MI gives birth as August 1847
Obit Greenville Independent, Wednesday, June 7, 1905
Ira P. Parker was born in Monroe Co., N.Y., Aug. 16, 1844. He enlisted from Jackson County, Mich., in 1862 in the 3rd Michigan Cavalry and served three years. He moved to Fairplain, Montcalm County, in 1866, settling on a new peice of land, where he resided until his death. He died May 29, 1905, after suffering for years with asthma and other diseases. He was always cheerful and patient until the last. Mr. Parker was an honorable and upright man, and a kind father and husband. He leaves a wife and two sons to mourn his loss.
Death
Burial


Fairplains Cemetery, Montcalm County, MI
Find A Grave #187184555
  Some biographical information from Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen Vol II, 1892.