PARKER, LEONARD -- A sturdy pioneer who in early days saw active service in helping to quell the Indian outbreaks in Nebraska, and who has been identified with the development of important interests in California since the middle of the nineties, is Leonard Parker, who was born at Racine, Wis., on May 16, 1851, the son of Fletcher and Priscilla Parker, farmer-folk and among the first settlers of Racine. They moved to Eden, Fayette County, Iowa, in the fall of 1854, that is, the mother and the elder brother of our subject went there, following the death of the father in Wisconsin, and the former purchased 120 acres of Government land, where they raised stock and grain. Leonard attended the common schools of Iowa when school was kept and work permitted, and by industry snatched such education as he could.
When he was seventeen, he and his brother Samuel moved on to Jefferson County, Nebr., and near Meridian the brother took up 160 acres of prairie land, which he devoted to wheat, barley and corn. He joined Company C of the Nebraska Militia and soon had a hand in quieting the Indians. On October 15, 1879, he was married to Miss Mary McKenna, who was born near New York City, and the daughter of Patrick and Margaret McKenna who came to Nebraska in 1859.
In 1881, Mr. Parker moved to Pueblo, Colo., and there he was employed by the Colorado Coal and Iron Company, for the following three years. When he moved back to Nebraska, he settled in Scotts Bluff County, and taking up a quarter section of homestead land, raised grain. He stayed two years on the Nebraska homestead, and then he removed to Portland, Ore., in 1888. He went into well drilling, and for seven years helped to develop the water resources of that state.
On November 29, 1895, Mr. Parker came to California, landing first at Newport Beach but soon coming on to Santa Ana. He made this town his home, but worked in various oil fields, including those at Bakersfield, Brea, Fullerton and Los Angeles, as well as Whittier. In 1904, he purchased a ten-acre farm on South Sullivan Street, which he used for truck farming, raising in particular cabbages and squash; and his success in this new undertaking demonstrates his capability in general.
Five children have come to bless the fortunate union of Mr. and Mrs. Parker. Ethel is Mrs. James E. Hone of Los Angeles; Orlando lives on the ranch west of Santa Ana; Llewellyn is on the Irvine ranch; Roy is ranching west of Santa Ana. And last, but by no means least, Clarence is ranching on Buena Vista Avenue. For years, with the Jones Brothers shows, he followed the circus, traveling throughout the United States and Canada doing a contortion act, trapeze work and barrel jacking; but having recently leased some choice land on Buena Vista Street, he has resumed agricultural pursuits. On Washington's Birthday, 1919, he married Miss Viola Kaldenberg, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, who came to California to live with her sister, Mrs. Pittman, at Santa Ana. They have been blessed with a daughter, Ione Dora. Mr. Parker is a Republican and a member of the Fraternal Union, in which he is a favorite, esteemed for his wide experience and practical common sense.
