http://www.la84foundation.org/Sports.../SL3822017.pdf
DEATH OF CHARLES PARKER.
Founder of the Great Gun Making Industry Passes Away.
The death of Charles Parker, founder of the firm of Parker Bros., manufacturers of the celebrated Parker gun, occurred at his residence in Meriden, Conn., Jan. 31st. Mr. Parker was president of the above concern at the time of his death, and was the founder of many important industries in Meriden. He was 98 years of age and had been, in fairly good health until recently, when he contracted a severe cold and suffered from an attack of la grippe. He retained his full mental faculties until a few hours before his death.
He was always of a cheerful disposition and his entire life had been spent in active business industries. He was a member ot the Methodist Church and contributed largely towards the erection of the present Methodist Church in that city. Mr. Parker always refused to accept public office, though often urged to do so, until Meriden was incorporated a city, when he was elected Mayor, which office he held two years.
Mr. Parker was married Oct. 6, 1831, to Miss Abi Lewis Eddy, of Berlin, and had ten children. Mr. Parker's surviving children are Dexter W. Parker and Mrs. W. H. Lyon. The grandchildren are Miss Elsie Lyon, Mrs. J. F. Alien, Alderman Wilbur F. and L. C. Parker, and Charles P. Breese.
Mr. Parker's success in life was owing to strict economy and close application to business; he often working fifteen hours a day. attending to his large correspondence evenings. He was distinguished for good sense, great industry, method in business, and punctuality in all his engagements. He was the ideal business man in his younger days and for many years after others of less energetic, character would have given up all business affairs, he kept: in thorough touch with the many Hues (sic) in which the immense Parker company was engaged. In his death Meriden loses its most distinguished citizen.