Mt. Vernon Register
Wednesday, October 6, 1886

Mrs. Mary PARKER, wife of Nathaniel PARKER, departed this life at the residence of Mr. Wesley BAYLES, in Wayne County, Ill., on the 29th of September, aged 86 yrs. 11 mos. and 18 days.

The immediate cause of her death was a cancer upon the side of her face and neck, which developed itself about eight months ago. Up to that time her strength and activity were remarkable; she had but recently returned from a visit to relatives in Kansas. The honored remains were brought to Pleasant Grove for interment at 10 a.m., Saturday morning, October 2nd, Rev. BROWDER officiating at the funeral service.

Mrs. PARKER's most prominent trait was purity. For 70 years she had been a member of the M. E. Church. She and her husband were active workers in the first society that was organized at Short's camp-ground and acted well their part in the religious work of that neighborhood till his death about 16 years ago.

Born in Wilson County, Tenn., October 11th, 1799. She was married to Nathaniel PARKER in 1813, and after a few years residence in Allen County, Ky., came out with the little colony of MAXEYS and JOHNSONS to
Moore's Prairie, May 1818. After one season spent there, dissatisfied, they returned to Ky., and remained there till 1827, when they came out and, after living for a time near Old Union, settled on the farm near the camp ground where they lived so long.

Ten children grew up around them there, of whom only three survive. They were Jack, who went to Ark., and died there in 1842; Harriet, wife of Geo. LEONARD, mother of  G. B., of this city, Mrs. LAIRD, etc; Sarah, wife of Wm. VICK; Samantha, who died in youth; James M., married to Miss Michy HUTCHINSON, father of Dr. PARKER, of Field township, etc; Elizabeth, wife of J. Stephen McAVICH; Franklin S., married to a Miss MAXEY, father of Mrs. KNOLE, of this city, etc., and now living in St. Louis; Parmelia, married first to Thos. HAILS, now deceased, now the wife of Wesley BAYLES, of Wayne County; Mary, first wife of Johnson HUTCHINSON, of this city; and Salina who died at the age of twelve.

The three surviving are Mrs. LEONARD, Mrs. BAYLES and F. D. PARKER.

Mrs. PARKER was the last survivor of 13 children. Her mother was a sister to Mrs. Emily MAXEY the mother of the Elder MAXEYS of this county, and also to Rev. Rhodam ALLEN; and had five children by Mr. THOMAS, her first husband. The five were James and Wilson, who remained in Tenn., William, who came out during the war and died at Thad MOSS's; Mrs. Edward WILKINSON, mother of Mrs. STOCKARD, of this city; and Mrs. PARKER. Mrs. THOMAS's second husband was John WILKINSON with whom she came to this county in 1818. The 8 WILKINSON children were Mastin, John Ransom, Betsy, wife of Ben WEBBER, mother of Jas. WEBBER of this city, etc.; Sally, wife of Littleton DANIEL, mother of W. F. DANIEL, of this city, etc.; Jane and Emily, who married James and Jessie HILL; and Martha or Patsy, wife of W. H. LYNCH.