James Marion Parker was born in Fulton County, Illinois, on March 18, 1844. While still an infant, Parker's parents moved to Laporte, Indiana. Parker was 19 years old when he enlisted in August 1863 as a private in Company F, 7th Indiana Cavalry (119th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers). Parker's occupation was listed as farmer. He had brown hair, hazel eyes, and was 5' 4" tall. Company F was mustered into service on September 3, 1863. Parker was part of the detachemnt from the 7th Indiana Cavalry that was part of Col. Edward F. Winslow's Brigade during Price's 1864 invasion of Missouri. Parker mustered out of service in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in November 1865.
Parker's daughter, Kate E. Parker Crouch of Wichita, Kansas, remembered stories he father used to tell her about his war service.
"One of these stories was about he and his buddies standing near where firing from cannons had taken place and a cannon ball came rolling across the ground. His buddy said, "I would like to stop that" and my father said, "put your foot out and stop it." So the buddy did and it had such force at a low gate it flipped his friend over. They played jokes on each other as it were today.
"My father told of sleeping in the pouring rain as they wrapped themselves in blankets and laid beside their horses.
"My father was captured as a prisoner of war. While being taken to prison he escaped, came upon a farmer plowing and he said to the farmer, 'I want to borrow your mule.' He escaped and said that was the best mule he ever saw. My father was also a great horseman. I watched him break many wild horses to drive and ride. After the war he came to Kansas and took up a homestead. He was a confirmed bachelor until met my mother, Elizabeth Wimp and they were married in the year of 1879. They lived together on the homestead until death.
"I have so many wonderful memories I can't go into all of them. I am so thankful my father was spared so I could know and enjoy him. I do remember the Fife and Drum Corps at the picnics. How I would stand and listen to the Civil War tunes. I loved it! My father was a G.A.R. post member and as proud to attend his conventions then as we are today."
Parker, George, and Betty Parker. “James Marion Parker.” RootsWeb. Accessed March 19, 2022. Link.
Cogley, Thomas S. History of the Seventh Indiana Cavalry Volunteers. Laporte, IN: Herald Company, Printers, 1876.