My Genealogy Hound

ALBERT PARKER.
Albert Parker, formerly mayor of Topeka and for many years a very prominent business man and political factor here, is now practically retired from business activity but still continues interested in all that concerns the capital city. Mr. Parker was born at Lisbon, New Hampshire, June 28, 1846, and is a son of Levi P. and Sally (Forsaith) Parker.

The parents of Mr. Parker were farming people of Grafton County, New Hampshire, and their lives were spent in that vicinity. Of their five children, our subject and one sister still survive. The mother died in 1872, but the father survived until 1891. Many residents of Topeka became acquainted with him during several enjoyable visits he made here, finding in him many of the admirable characteristics notable in those of New England birth and residence. Our subject was educated in the common schools of Lisbon. In 1866 he went to Littleton, New Hampshire, and spent seven years there in the drug business. In 1873 he came to Topeka and opened a drug-store at No. 621 Kansas avenue, where he remained for five years. After selling his store, he entered into the real estate and loan business under the firm name of A. Parker & Company and continued to be active in this line for about 10 years. To this day he still continues a slight interest in real estate and oil lands. In 1883 he was elected, on the Democratic ticket, register of deeds, receiving 1,000 more votes than there were Democrats, showing a large measure of personal popularity. He served one term in this office. In 1891 his party chose him as candidate for mayor, the Republican candidate being Col. J. W. F. Hughes, of Topeka. The result of the election was a majority of 11 votes for Mr. Parker. There was a recount ordered on account of suspected irregularity and the result was that Colonel Hughes was declared elected by a majority of nine votes. In order to vindicate his friends, Mr. Parker carried the contest to the District Court and later to the Superior Court, where the latter body, a Republican court with a Republican judge, decided that Mr. Parker was mayor by a majority of 17 votes. He served the remainder of the term of 15 months and was re-nominated but declined to serve again. While always ready to do a citizen’s duty, he has never been eager enough for political rewards to ask a man for a vote. Honors have come to him but they have been through the work of his friends. In addition to the offices mentioned, in 1881 he was appointed city assessor and has served two terms as deputy assessor.

Mr. Parker was married May 24, 1873, to Cyrena Giles, of Topeka, who is a daughter of Nelson and Cyrena (Dean) Giles. Mr. Giles was born in 1815 at Bethlehem, New Hampshire, and is spending the evening of life with Mr. and Mrs. Parker. The latter have one son, Albert G. Parker. He graduated from the Topeka High School and is now a student at Washburn College. He is very fond of athletics as the modern, manly American youth is apt to be, and has won distinction as a very clever pitcher. Mr. and Mrs. Parker reside in a beautiful home at No. 312 West Eighth avenue facing the Capitol Building.