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Clara Emily (Barton) Parker |
Clara Emily (Barton) Parker was born on Sept. 10, 1832, the daughter of John and Mary Catherine (Kreider) Barton.
Courtesy Antonio Costa
When she was 31 years of age, on Jan. 14, 1864, she married Philadelphia resident Rev. Calvin Clark "C.C." Parker (July 1836-1920), originally from Massachusetts. Rev. T.H. Cullen officiated, and the marriage was announced on the pages of the Bloomsburg Star of the North.
The couple did not reproduce.
His pastorship from 1864 to 1869 was at the Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church of Warren, PA. As of 1870, census records show them in Erie, PA, with his serving as minister of the local Episcopal Church.
For a time he also held Episcopal services at the Methodist Church of Girard Station. He resigned in 1873 and became rector of Christ Church of Greensburg, Westmoreland County, staying for a year. The pair then moved in 1875 to Bala Cynwyd, Lower Merion Township, a tony suburb of Philadelphia, where he had been named as rector of St. John's Episcopal Church.
Sadly, Clara died on April 22, 1893. Her remains were interred in nearby West Laurel Hill Cemetery. On their grave marker, directly underneath Clara's name and dates is the single word "Faithful."
The widowed Calvin continue his work at St. John's until the following year when he stepped down. Census records for 1900 show him in a Philadelphia boarding house at 3827 Baring Street kept by Annie Stokley.
In 1904, at the age of 68, he again tied the knot with 35-year-old Clara Elizabeth Shannon (Sept. 4, 1869-1945), who was 33 years younger. The age difference was so vast that a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer stopped at her house to inquire and was told that he was calling on her at the time "but both refused to be seen to discuss the affair... Rev. Mr. Parker is an Episcopal clergyman, but has no charge at present."
Circa 1909, Calvin is known to have served as chaplain at the Home of the Merciful Saviour, at 46th and Baltimore Avenue. Their home together was at 4805 Walnut Street.
He passed away on July 23, 1920, just two days after his 84th birthday. The funeral service was held at St. Peter's Church at Third and Pine Streets.
Clara outlived Calvin by a quarter of a century. Her final address was 4714 Warrington Avenue. At her death on Oct. 24, 1945, she was laid to rest with Calvin and his first bride, and a brief death notice appeared in the Inquirer.
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Copyright © 2023-2024, 2026 Mark A. Miner |
Research for this page conducted by Della Shafer and the late Donna (Younkin) Logan |