During the American Civil War he served as a junior officer under General William T. Sherman, rising to the rank of captain.

Following the war he served on the committee that organized Towner County, North Dakota, before moving to Arizona Territory.

[1] At age 18, he began teaching in local schools before working a year as a clerk at a store in Magog, Province of Canada.

[1] During the summer of 1859, he traveled with an ox cart to the Pikes Peak area near the present location of Denver, Colorado.

[2] At the beginning of the American Civil War in 1861, Parker joined the Home Guard and became a first lieutenant for Company C, 6th Missouri Militia.

[3] After several months, Parker transferred from state to federal service and became part of Company H, 32nd Missouri Volunteer Infantry where he served under General William T. Sherman.

[5] Following his wedding, Parker worked as a farmer and in a store before being elected register of deeds for Pike county and serving as a clerk for the district court.

[2] Other memberships included the Grand Army of the Republic, Sons of the American Revolution, and the Arizona Society of Civil Engineers.