Martin Van Buren Parker

Martin Van Buren Parker, son of Nathaniel Parker and Elizabeth Lockhart, was born Nov. 4, 1840 in Charleston, Coles Co., Ilinois. He married in Nov. 1866 with EMMA E. WOODWARD, dau. of James B. Woodward and Mary E. Martin. She was born Nov. 1846 in Illinois. He died Nov. 2, 1922 in Olathe, Johnson Co., Kansas; she died there 1932. Both buried at Olathe Memorial Cemetery, Olathe, Johnson Co., Kansas.

Children were: May L. (1867-1949), Effie E. (1870-1959), Luella (1872-1934), Zella Winona (1875-1954), and Zula W. (1875-1971).

He early enlisted in the Union Army, and was an active war man during the rebellion. He was graduated at the University of Albany law department in 1866, and in the same year after a thorough examination was admitted to practice law in all the courts in the state of New York.

Martin Van Buren Parker and his wife Emma arrived in Olathe around 1868. Parker was one of the first lawyers in the area. He set up a law practive with his brother-in-law, John P. St.John, who later served as a governor of Kansas. He also had real estate, insurance, and farming businesses as well. At one time, he owned over 700 acres of county farmland. Emma Parker was also active in the community. In 1883, she founded the Ladies Reading Circle with Mrs. Celestia Stevenson and Mrs. Celona Pickering, two prominent Olathean women.

The club was the first women's club in Olathe and one of the first in Kansas.

Of their five children, all daughters, only one married.

• 1850 census: Martin O.B. (10), b. Ill; in Charleston, Illinois w father and sibs.
• 1880 census: Martin V.B. Parker (39, b Ill) and wife Emma (32, b Ill); in Olathe, Kansas w ch. May L. (12), Effie (9), Laulla (7), Zoula (5) and Zella (5). All but May born in Kansas. May born is Missouri. He is a lawyer.
• 1900 census: Martin V. (60) and wife Emma W. (54); in Olathe, Kansas w ch. Zella W. (25) and Zula W. (25). Aso residing there is wife's mother Mary E. Woodward (76, b Ct). He is a real estate dealer.
• 1910 census: Martin V.B. (70) and wife Emma (64); in Olathe, Kansas w ch May 39), Effa (36), Shela (32) and Zella (32).
• 1920 census: Martin (79) and wife Emma (73); in Johnson Co., Kansas w ch. May (52) and Effie (49).
• Find a grave