Thomas Parker

Thomas Parker rests on the top of the highest point in Evergreen Cemetery, Menomonie, Wisconsin. One solitary Civil War marker: Lieut Thos Parker Co D 20 USC Inf. is all it says. A non-descript standard issue War Department headstone with nothing more than the basics of a mans life. Lieutenant Thomas Parker does not rest here alone, three of his children lie near his side. His fourth child rests elsewhere as does his wife Susan. The three children that rest here have only the fathers headstone to speak for them in a family plot that contains no other markers.

Lieutenant Parker has a marker that begins to tells his extraordinary tale but falls far short of his amazing brilliance and outstanding service. There are numerous holes in his life's story but what I can fill in is quite a tale. Thomas was born in Maine 1832 and his next 30 years of growing up are yet a mystery to be solved. In 1862, he was living in Red Cedar Township, Dunn County, Wisconsin and on August 14th, 1862 he signed on to fight for his country in the war between the states.

Thomas Parker signed onto the second wave of volunteers from Dunn County, assigned to Company K of the 5th Wisconsin Infantry. He was transferred to companies C and D before being released July 20, 1864 to accept a commission into the United States Colored Infantry at Rikers Island, New York. He was assigned as a 2nd Lieutenant to Company D of the newly formed USC 20th Infantry. The USC 20th went on to be assigned along the eastern coast, south to the department of the Gulf and on into Alabama where Parker developed a later disability. The USC 20th was finally discharged and mustered out October 7, 1865 at Louisiana.

The United States Colored Infantry was almost exclusively led by white officers. The infantrymen fought valiantly, exceeded where allowed and the camaraderie between the enlisted and officer ranks was one of mutual respect. The 20th Infantry lost a total of 285 men in their time of service, 2 officers and 283 enlisted. All officers were volunteers coming to the formation of the 20th and their history is a good read if you are interested.

Thomas Parker returned to Dunn County following the war and settled in Sherman Township where he was listed as working in the sawmill in 1870. Thomas is listed as a surveyor for Knapp Stout and Company in 1871, likely a skill he learned as an officer in the 20th USC. A brief day note in the diary of John Holy Knapp for Wednesday March 19, 1871 reads: "Snow fell last night - surveyed today in company with Capt. Tom Parker trying to find the corner of Sec 26 just north of my stable 100/ or 200 yards.".

The 1870 census shows Thomas age 36 married to Susan L Parker (born Canada) age 34, George Parker age 8 and Dottie Parker age 5 months. He had claimed a land patent of 160 acres. By 1875 Thomas and Susan had increased their family by two more, William Parker age 3 and Thomas born 1875. In the publication 'American Sketch Book' of 1875, Thomas is listed as County Surveyor as well as Chief Surveyor for Knapp Stout and Co. Both positions would have carried quote a bit of responsibility and prominence in the county. For unknown reasons, likely opportunity to improve his well being, Thomas left sometime after 1875.

Jackson County, Minnesota was looking to be settled and the government offered land grants for new settlers. A large population of German immigrants seized on the opportunity bringing their families, turning the land, building communities and drawing the railroad into the county. Here, Thomas Parker brought his family and in 1880 was working as a carpenter likely helping to build the new and promising town of Lakefield. Thomas also had two land grants, 160 acres for himself and another 80 adjoining aces in the name of his eldest, a 13 year old son. Times turned very hard in southern Minnesota then and several weather anomalies caused many to fail leaving only the few to continue on.

Thomas gave up on his dreams at Rost Township, Jackson County and returned to the home he knew he could survive in. In 1885, he found himself back living in the City of Menomonie although he still owned his Minnesota property until at least 1887. His hard work and enterprise must have served him decently enough to return and stay off a farm and to have an Irish house maid or servant when he returned to Menomonie. Times were looking up for the Parker household and Thomas was surrounded by his entire family.

In 1887, Thomas Parker filed a patent for a lesser known invention to come out of Menomonie, the 'Parker Gate'. This invention was an improvement on the earlier 'bear trap' gate used to release water quickly from a pond, lake or river and to create or prevent floods. The mechanics of his improvement greatly increased the viability and mechanics of the 'bear trap' style gate and it was quickly put to use. In 1890 his patent was finally granted and his name was forever set in history. Thomas Parker, soldier, sawmill worker, surveyor, carpenter, engineer, inventor had made his mark.

Short lived glory came the way of the Parker family, tragedy struck and hit hard. Consumption visited the household, perhaps from the Irish servant or some other entry. Consumption is the old name for Tuberculosis and it causes a wasting away of the body, a horrible and deadly disease of the time. In 1892 George was the first to succumb and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery. William had a promising career, a Civil Engineer and a candidate for County Surveyor on the 1892 Republican ticket. William was the next to feel the effects of the disease's ravage to his lungs and he left Wisconsin for the cleaner, clearer air of Colorado hoping for a cure. On July 27, 1893, just before his mother, brother and sister could arrive, William died and was buried at the Delta Cemetery at Delta, Colorado.

Thomas must have been too ill to travel with the rest of his family and on March 7, 1894 he too succumbed to the horrific disease and was buried at Evergreen with his eldest son. Thomas, the youngest, then felt the grip of Consumption, time grew short and on December 31, 1894 he joined his father and brothers, being laid to rest at Evergreen. Dorothy lived on, became a stenographer, living with her mother in comfort until, Nov 1901 when she also died of the same disease.

Susan J. Parker, wife and mother who suffered such losses, had exhausted whatever monies she may have had and ended up rooming with others in Menomonie. David R. Rogers of Stevens Point, Wisconsin lost his wife, a Menomonie native and while here for her burial and her family, he connected with Susan. They were married in Menomonie in October of 1906 and they moved directly to his home in Stevens Point. The pair end up living at the poor farm for the last several years of their lives and once again, Susan lost another love in 1914. David Rogers was buried at the poor farm cemetery without marker and I can only assume Susan was laid to rest at the same place, but records are all too often lost or forgotten at poor farms, much as they were here in Menomonie.

Thus is the tragic tale of a Menomonie veteran, a man who served along the United States Colored Infantry, worked the lands, the timbers and exposed his genius to the world. There are plenty of side stories to be told about this man, but the purpose here is to bring him to light enough for others to search if they choose. I need to thank the wonderful Carolyn Ohnstad for bringing this man to my attention and thanks to the incredible historian, Frank Kennett for his insights and pointing me to places and things I didn't know about Thomas Parker.