William Clinton Parker

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

William Clinton PARKER , of Morristown, New Jersey, a leading photographer of Morristown, the State of New Jersey, and the United States, has made for himself an enviable name in his chosen line of life work in the establishment with his brother L. C. PARKER , of the unique photographic studio in Morristown.

Charles Nelson PARKER , father of the brothers constituting the PARKER firm, was born in Auburn, New York, in 1846, and died in Saranac Lake, New York, in 1898. He was a veteran of the Civil War, enlisting in the 72^nd New York Regiment when seventeen years old, and served continuously three years, being honorably mustered out in 1865. He returned to his native state and lived some years on his father’s estate at Perry, New York, and in the meantime studied the photographic profession in Rochester. He married Miss Julia KING, of Auburn, New York, who is now living in Morristown; and her mother, Mrs. Maria KING, is also living at Perry, New York, at the age of ninety. Three children were born to Charles Nelson PARKER and his wife: William Clinton, Lewis Charles, and Alice M.

William Clinton PARKER was born in Perry, New York, January 8, 1872. He received his education in the schools of the town, and graduated from the Perry High School in 1888. His father move from Perry to Morristown, New Jersey, in 1889, and established on a small scale the present photographic business. He had with him two sons, and together the three bent all their energies and brains toward making it one of the finest concerns in New Jersey. Since the death of Mr. PARKER Sr., the business has been conducted with signal success by the brothers. They have made it one of the finest in the United States, and ranks as one of the best equipped, in every department, in the world. The construction of the studio is absolutely unique and is original with the Messrs. PARKER . It is handsomely furnished and has the latest appliances that are to be found in the studios abroad and in this country. It now occupies the old Young Men’s Christian Association Building, purchased by the brothers in 1911 and remodeled to suit their needs and is known as the PARKER Studio Building. While both own much property in and around Perry, their greatest interests lies in Morristown. William Clinton PARKER is a Mason in high standing. He is a member of the New England, the New York, the New Jersey, the Pennsylvania and the National Association of Photographers. He married in Chatham, June 1, 1898, Miss Harriet BUDD, the daughter of Marsena A. BUDD, retired and prominent farmer of Chatham, who lives there with his wife. The living children of Mr. PARKER are: Courtland Budd, born July 10, 1901; and William Herbert, born February 22, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. PARKER are members of the Methodist church. Both brothers are stockholders in the Citizens’ Bank of Perry, and both are Republicans.

Lewis Charles PARKER , junior member of the PARKER Brothers Photographic Studio Company, was born in Perry, New York, January 30, 1873. Like his brother he was educated in the schools of Perry, and accompanied his father to Morristown in 1889, and assisted in the building up of the magnificent business now managed and owned by them. Also, like his brother, he is interested in all of the latest scientific appliances and inventions in photography. He married Miss Augusta JOHNSON, November 1, 1899, of Littleton, New Jersey. She was born at Littleton, New Jersey, March 13, 1875, and comes from an old and honored New England family, which has long been allied with the best interests of the state. They have two children: Ralph Johnson and Eliot Vail.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)