My Genealogy Hound

Abiram Parker, president of the First Commercial Bank of Pontiac, Michigan, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, came to this city in 1845 when it was a small village and is the only one of the pioneers of that day who have been continuously in business here since. He has been identified with the various business interests and manufacturing concerns of the community and is one of its most substantial citizens.

Mr. Parker was born August 3, 1831, in Oneida County, New York, and is a son of Dr. Abiram and Julia A. (McConnell) Parker, and grandson of Eri Parker, the family being of English extraction. The father of our subject was a successful physician in Oneida County, but in the prime of life he was called to his final rest, dying December 9, 1831, in the West Indies, whither he had gone in search of health. He married Julia A. McConnell, a native of New York and a daughter of Joseph McConnell, who died at McConnellsville, New York. Mrs. Parker came to Michigan late in life and died in the city of Jackson, where her daughter, Mrs. W. L. Seaton resided. Mrs. Seaton died in April, 1902, and is survived by her husband and two children.

Abiram Parker attended the common schools and later the Rochester Collegiate Institute at Rochester, New York, from his 11th to his 14th year. He came to Pontiac, Michigan, in 1845, and after a brief residence returned to New York and entered Cazenovia Seminary, where he completed his studies. Returning to Michigan, he entered the store of Willard M. McConnell as clerk, and later went to Detroit where he became assistant teller in the Michigan Insurance Bank. After two years he returned to Pontiac, embarked in the grocery and drug trade and built up and conducted an extensive business. He became identified with the First National Bank at the time of its organization in September, 1864, being one of its organizers. He was the first of its directors elected, A. Gustin and Goodman Jacobs being elected shortly after. James Andrews was the first president and E. B. Comstock was cashier. It was organized as a national bank with a capital stock of $50,000. Of the original organizers, officers and directors, Mr. Parker alone survives. Six months after its organization, the capital stock was increased to $100,000, and of the stockholders of record at that time Mr. Parker and Mrs. Z. D. Knight, of Omaha, Nebraska, are the only ones living. Mr. Andrews, who died at the age of 92 years, was succeeded as president by David Ward, Charles H. Dawson and John D. Norton. The bank has been re-organized as the First Commercial Bank, and in 1895 our subject was elected president, in which capacity he now serves. The other officers are: William H. Dawson, vice-president; Frank G. Jacobs, cashier; and Charles E. Waldo, assistant cashier. The directors are: William H. Dawson, John H. Patterson, Charles E. Crofoot, Charles G. Freeman, A. Parker and C. E. Waldo. It has been a successful institution from the first, there being $1,000,000 now on deposit, with surplus and undivided profits amounting to about $30,000. Mr. Parker is a public spirited citizen and enterprising business man, and is interested in most of the manufacturing enterprises of Pontiac.

Mr. Parker was united in marriage with Sarah E. Beach, who came to Pontiac when three months old with her parents, Eben and Elizabeth Beach. They have two daughters; Grace P., wife of F. W. Fletcher, of Detroit; and Louise, wife of the late Hon. Mark S. Brewer, who was at one time Representative of the Sixth Congressional District of Michigan in the United States Congress. Our subject is a Republican in politics, and for some time served as alderman in Pontiac. He is a member of Pontiac Lodge No. 21, F. & A. M., Oakland Chapter, R. A. M.; and of the Council. The beautiful family residence, built in 1894, is located on Huron street.