A native of Scotland, and the eldest of a family of ten children, sons and daughters of William and Mary (Boyd) Parker, was born January 13, 1828.  At an early age Alexander was compelled to labor in the mines and on the farm.  At the age of ten his parents emigrated to Nova Scotia, where they resided three and half years, from there going to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where his father had come to mine.  In three years they again moved to near St. Louis, working at mining; and again, in 1847, this time to Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where they were engaged i farming.  In the spring of 1854 the family started overland to California, with ox and mule-teams.  When about half way across the plains Alexander separated from the family and took the northern route, entering Shasta Valley at Sheep Rock, and going at once to Scott Valley, where he located the place on which H. C. Cory now lives, during October, 1854.  In 1855 he purchased the claim of Young & Redford, and in 1858 the place where he now resides.  This is one of the finest stock ranges in northern California.  Mr. Parker has been extensively engaged in cattle raising, carrying as high as 3,000 head at one time.  In November, 1872, he sold 2,000 head of stock in Big Valley for $40,000.  At that time cattle commanded good prices.  The buyers were Withington & Speedy, of White Pine, Nevada.  It had been thought he would not sell this stock, but acting upon the advice of his son James, he let them go at the figure offered.  One thousand head were left on the home place, where he has since continued to grow stock, turning off from 150 to 200 head of fat cattle annually.  In addition to stock he is extensively interested in mining and merchandising, being the owner, in company with his sons James and John, and R. H. Campbell, of the famous Montezuma gravel or placer mine, on the south fork of Scott River.  He also owns three-tenths of the Last Chance mine; a claim on Wild Cat, which he rents, and another mine known as the Rim Diggings, on the side of a hill near Last Chance.  He is also connected with the commercial house of Parker, Campbell & Co., at Etna, which occupies the spacious brick building erected by Mr. Parker in November, 1880, at an expense of $12,000.  When Mr. Parker landed in Scott Valley he was not possessed of much of this world's goods.  He then had a wife, one child, a few cattle, and $100.  Foremost among the progressive and enterprising people who live here, he has by his own efforts raised himself to the front rank in wealth and affluence.  He was married at St. Louis, December 3, 1852, to Miss Susanna Durand, daughter of Thomas and Grace Durand, of English birth.  His wife died September 24, 1870.  There were born to them nine children, as follows: William, born at St. Louis January 3, 1853, died in Plowman Valley April 18, 1873; James Boyd, born January 18, 1855; Alexander, born October 24, 1856; John, born June 16, 1858; Jennie born August 7, 1860; Charles B., born February 23, 1864; Brice B., born February 28, 1866; Robert Thomas, born March 7, 1868; George S., born September 10, 1870, died December 28, 1871.  Mr. Parker was again married, to Miss Maggie Taylor, daughter of James and Rebecca Taylor of Callahan's ranch.  Mrs. Parker is a native of Siskiyou county, being born on the south fork.  By this union there is one son, born February 12, 1881.  Mr. Parker is a staunch democrat.  His religion is Presbyterian.  His father died at the age of sixty-seven.  His mother is still living, and at the advanced age of seventy-two is hale and hearty.  Mr. Parker has lived to raise a large family of boys, not one of whom drinks, smokes, or plays cards.  In the interim between his first wife's death and his second marriage his house was in charge of his daughter and Mrs. Grace Griffin.  he is a member of the Eastern Star Lodge, No. 186, Free and Accepted Masons, at Etna.

The above picture and text are from: History of Siskiyou County, Harry L. Wells, D. J. Stewart & Co., 1881; pp. 12A, 196C

Alexander Parker is buried in Callahan Cemetery

Copyright February 16, 2002

Siskiyou Cemeteries Online

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