Parker was born on May 6, 1843, in Delhi, Delaware County, New York.

He graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York in 1863 and the Albany Law School in 1864.

[1] He was active in the National Guard of New York and was a colonel in command of the Tenth Division during the breakup of the Albany Railroad Strike of 1877.

[2] Parker was one of the authors of the book Banking Law of New York.

He was buried at the Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York.