| OCR Text |
Show and General and Governor Cox and others whose names are well known. She afterwards taught with excellent success in the seminary at Castleton, Vermont, where she had been a student, and at Willoughby Seminary in Willoughby, Ohio. In her later days it was a pleasure to her to meet these former pupils and to hear them express their gratitude and affection for her. In 1853 she was married to Professor L. P. Parker, in the more recent home near Oberlin, Ohio. It was an ideal wedding, on a pleasant summer's day-with little tables spread for refreshments placed on the lawn. The young couple went at once to Brownsville, Pennsylvania, where they taught in the public schools, and wherever they resided Mrs. Parker taught with her husband and sometimes in his place, as when at Iowa City she taught his history class during his absence in Europe. She also taught history in Iowa College, and for seven years was Lady Principal. It was no perfunctory service with her. She put the best of herself into it, and strove to awaken and develop in the minds of the young women-and young men also-of the college ideals and purposes that should elevate their own lives and benefit others. She was a true friend to each individual, taking them into her home, helping them physically and practically, but her chief purpose was to bring out of mind and spirit the best that was within them. Mrs. Parker loved the beautiful in nature and in art, and her trip to Europe as well as other visits to the mountains and seashore were enjoyed by her to a very unusual degree. "She had a calm exterior. Comparative strangers may have thought her precise and reserved. Instead of this, she possessed a wealth of love, and among special friends she delighted in giving and receiving tokens of affection. We can easily trace her love of missions to that early home training, and while all her life was truly a missionary life in its service to others, yet her distinctive work for the Bohemians in Iowa City and her years of strong and efficient service as Iowa State Secretary of Woman's Work for woman in foreign lands, began twenty-four years ago. I t is a tender and sacred thing of which to speak, but it must be helpful to know that when her two children, Cora and Leonard, were drowned in the Iowa River, her stricken heart would ask, "Why has the Heavenly Father permitted this?" she resolved to take up some work and do it for Him and trust Him for the reason. It was thus no abstract cause or theory, but a living, vital, glorious work that she could help do for her God and the least of His children. Into it she put ability, enthueiaem, faithfulness and love. She would have been glad to have rounded out twenty-five years of this service, but she expressed herself willing to suffer rather than to work, if He willed it so. Later in her sickness she chose to go now. The women of the Woman's Board of Missions are raising a twentieth century fund for Foreign Missions. The State Executive Committee voted to make this fund raised in Iowa a tribute of affection to Mrs. Parker. This made her very happy. One day she said, "Oh, if their kind words make me so happy, how shall I feel if the Master should say 'Well done!' " She loved the church and what it represented, saying to her husband one of the last Sundays, "Go to church and help the minister." She bore her pain patiently, her mind was bright, her character strong and her faith clear to the last. She enjoyed the many flowers sent her and the songs so kindly sung for her by Miss Stella Bartlett and Professor Emery. She had a distinct and loving thought for each friend. The Master doubtless has said "Well done!" to his faithful follower, for on June 5th, after a long suffering, she entered peacefully into rest. Of her frmily there remain but two-Professor Parker, her husband, honored and beloved among us; and one daughter, Mrs. John Campbell of Denver, Colo., who has given to her mother in these sorrowful weeks, the most tender, personal care that love and skill could suggest. It. was suggested by many that the funeral services should fittingly be postponed until Baccalaureate Sunday. They therefore occurred at 3 p. m. on that day in the Congregational church, after a brief service at the home. Those jwho spoke were the pastor, Mr. Vittum.Prof. Buck, a long time friend, and Mrs. A. L. Frisbie of Des Moines, president of the Iowa branch of the Woman's Board of Missions of the Interior. The beautiful music was "The Lord is my Shepherd," sung by the Iowa College Glee Club, "The Palms," a solo sung by Professor Emery, an anthem well known to Mrs. Parker in early days and selected by her, sung by Mrs. Vittum, Mrs. Mack, Mr. Parish and Prof. Emery. The entire service-amidst many friends and lovely flowers-was impressive, helpful and true. The life of this cultivated, intellectual, christian woman, whose many activities were ail in the line of service to others, has been an inspiration to many who have hastened to acknowledge the influence. The bearers were chosen from representative groups of her special friends. The two from the senior class in college were C. E. Quaife and J, A. Meade, two professors were Mr. Allen Johnson and Mr. J. S. Nollen, and two of the members of her family in Iowa City, W. D. Evans of Hampton, and D. W. Evans of Pipestone, Minn. |
