Harry C. Parker
Harry C. Parker - Whose portrait appears in this work, was born on Staten Island, of English parents, January 9,1816. During his infancy his father was engaged in the Mint at Philadelphia; and while he was yet a child they moved, to New York City, and resided there until he was twelve years of age, when his father and mother died within one year of each other, leaving him an orphan without a relation whom he had ever seen. Mr. Gibson, being a friend of his parents, cared for him by taking him to his home, which was located where Brooklyn now stands. Here he remained one year. At the age of twelve he began the seafaring life, and followed it until his eighteenth year. He then went to New Orleans, and was employed until the winter of 1837. In this year he began the study of the navigation of the river as pilot, and subsequently followed this occupation for twelve years. In June, 1849, he left New Orleans on the bark "Seneca" for Chagres. Arrived in Panama July 1st, and celebrated our seventy-third national birthday in that city. Left Panama in this month on the hark " Wilhelmina," and landed in San Francisco September 11,1849. Pitched his tent in " Happy Valley," near where is now Mission and First streets. After a few days he proceeded with his traveling companion, Alex McKenzie, to the mines, halting at Woods Creek, near Sonora. They found that the Mormons had been there before them, and after consultation they took their departure for Indian Bar, Tuolumne River, and commenced operations with rocker and bowl (first experience in rocking the cradle), which they followed till November, when the river rose and floated off their entire mining outfit. Mr. Parker then returned to San Francisco and remained till February, 1850. Having shipped merchandise from New Orleans on the bark " Madonna " previous to leaving there, and which then arriving, he took his goods to Stockton and commenced a mercantile business, in which he continued till December, 1852, having suffered loss by the customary casualty of being burned out in May, 1851. In 1853 he went to San Francisco and entered as a partner in the firm of J. Y. Halleck & Co., in which he continued until 1864. In that year he retired from business. The following year he purchased his present home, four miles north of Napa, and has since been engaged in farming.
History of Napa and Lake Counties,: San Francisco, Cal.: Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers, 1881
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, February, 2007 Pages 542-543
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