(The statement above referring to more than 1200 posterity was made in 1980)
A few days ago I was asked if I had pioneer heritage. This question was referring to Mormon pioneers. Although my ancestors did not cross the plains in wagons and did not push handcarts, I do consider John and Ann Parker, my great great grandparents, to be pioneers. John became familiar with the Mormon church in the early 1840's in Leicester, England. He and his 1st wife, Maria Scott, lost several children in infancy and they gained great comfort from the missionary message of life after death and eternal families. He gained a testimony of the truthfulness of the teachings of the church and was baptized in 1844. I can only assume he had a great love for the Book of Mormon as his next 2 children were named Nephi Moroni and Alma Moroni. Ann Hubbard helped John raise his 3 children from the previous marriage. Together they had 12 more children. My great grandfather, Oscar Fitzallen, being one of them.
John is described as a small man of medium height. It is said that what he lacked in size, he made up for in charm, personality and his willingness to serve his neighbors, family and his church. He and Ann often had missionaries in their home in England. Some of these missionaries were prominent men in the early days of the Mormon church. Some of them were Charles C. Rich, Brigham Young Jr, Amasa M. Lyman, Joseph Rich, and Wilford Woodruff. Ann would prepare meals for them, as well as stay up late at night washing and mending their clothes. She would tell them she wished she could do more. (Apparently that gene of inadequacy that attaches itself to the female DNA spans all generations.) One of the missionaries said to her, "Sister Parker, you are doing a wonderful work with the big family you are raising and the many good deeds you are doing for the church members." As one of many of Ann's posterity, I can look back and see her hand in the lives of my immediate ancestors and in turn, my current family. Truly, when you teach a woman, you teach generations. I hope Ann is looking down on all of us now and I hope her feelings of inadequacy are replaced with great joy over the growth and strength of her posterity.
John served as a Branch President in England. He was also called to do missionary work there. He would walk many miles to do this work and would often have eggs and other things thrown at him as he walked through the streets by those who resented his religious beliefs.
John and Ann wanted to leave England and join the early saints of the church in America. They began to save money and the oldest son left for America 1st in 1864. In 1877, the rest of the family was able to sail to America on the ship Idaho. While traveling across the ocean, their 7 year old daughter Agnes was standing next to her father John on the side of the ship. She stepped down onto a ledge and her feet slipped out from under her. She held onto the railing, but her feet were dangling above the ocean below. John grabbed her clothing and was able to pull her to safety. They traveled 12 days on that ship before arriving in America. They made their way to Utah by train (I believe) and later to Liberty, Idaho. They later moved to a homestead in South Liberty, which later became known as Lanark, Idaho.
Once in Idaho, their contribution to the church did not stop. John continued missionary work and other church service, "contributing much time and means to the growth of the church". Church leaders were always welcome in their home for a meal or a nights stay. One day while sitting on his porch, a buggy pulled up in front and a man said, "Howdy, Brother John." At first he didn't know who it was, but only took a minute to realize it was Joseph F. Smith and Francis M. Lyman and two of their daughters. They stayed for dinner.
When the Lanark ward was organized in 1893, Ann was called to serve as the 1st counselor in the Relief Society. She served there for 6 years.
I am so glad to have the written histories that I have. What little bit of information they provide tells me a lot about John and Ann. They were both dedicated and giving people. They stayed true to what they believed in, even through difficulty and trial. They were hard working. They were loved by many. Ann was an excellent housekeeper, "a place for everything and everything in its place". She was a good cook and known for her Yorkshire Pudding that she always made with roast beef. It is said that Ann made the best of any situation. She always had peppermint candy for her grandchildren. Her grandchildren loved her and loved to spend time with her. My grandpa, Oscar Thomas Parker, was one of her grandchildren. I love my grandpa and he loves his grandma. That seems to link me to her in a very real way and I look forward to meeting her.
