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- William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas. First published in 1883 by A.T. Andreas, Chicago, IL. Sedgwick County, part 21. Clearwater. This pretty little village was platted in 1872. It is quite off the line of railway communication, and has not grown very much. It is in Ninnescah Township, on the banks of the Ninnescah River, one of the most beautiful streams in Southern Kansas. Clearwater has a postoffice, two general stores, and a blacksmith shop. It has a good class of settlers in and surrounding the village.
Biographical sketches - Ninnescah Township.
MOSES PARKER, farmer, Section 31, and clergyman, P. O. Beverly, was born in Ireland, in 1826. Is a son of John and Margaret McBridge Parker. Was married in 1858, to Miss Mary Shuck, daughter of William and Elizabeth Sappenfield Shuck. Has eight children - Anna C., Margaret E., John W., Robert L., Elmer E., Ira E., Elmira M., and Charles L. Parker. Came to Kansas in 1876, located on a farm, where he now resides. Owns 480 acres of land. Is engaged in farming and stock raising. Commenced the work of the ministry in 1858; was ordained as pastor of the Huron Baptist Church, in Iowa. Remained pastor for seven years, then went to Carlisle to assist in erecting a church building. Was pastor of the church until the completion of the building. Was appointed missionary for the American Baptist Publication Society, supported by the Burlington and Keokuk Associations. Was engaged in that work for two years, then took the pastorate of two churches in Woodford County, Ill. Remained five years, then removed to Des Moines County, Iowa, remained four years, then moved to Kansas. Since coming to Kansas, has been instrumental in organizing five Baptist Churches. Is Postmaster of Beverly P. O. Has held the office for two years.
http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/sedgwick/sedgwick-co-p21.html#CLEARWATER
Text taken from Clearwater Baptist Church website, but in 2017 the text is no longer there:
In the later 1800s, when Clearwater was a young community, some people saw the need for a Baptist Church. Moses Parker and his brother Wililam Parker were contacted in Illinois and asked to come to Clearwater and help start a Baptist Church. They came and the church was organized on 9 September 1876. There were 18 members.
From the Fraternal Order Death Index, 1873-1969. Moses Parker was a member of 100F Lodge No.265.
- Rev. Wm. Parker and Moses Parker, both members of the Baptist church, the one from Iowa and the other from Illinois, have purchases places near Clearwater. The Lacon Journal speaks very highly of Elder Wm. Parker and notices the fact that eh started two cars loaded with find cattle and sheep, fruit trees and implements for Wichita, and speaks with regret of the loss to the schools of Miss Nettie, his daughter. We welcome the gentlemen to our valley.
The Weekly Eagle, Wichita, Kansas. Thursday, 6 April 1876.
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- Parker Re-union
The descendants of Rev. Moses Parker gathered at the country home of Jay Nighswonger near Viola for a big Christmas re-union.
Mr. Parker is a pioneer of Sedgwick County and organizer of the early Baptist Church in Southern Kansas.
Those present were: Mrs. Anna Nighswonger, Mr. Perry Nighswonger and son and daughter, Harold and Wilda; Jay Nighswonger and children, Annabell, Dale and Robert; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Nighswonger and daughter Lois; Fred Myron, Lawrence, Gladys and Joy Nighswonger; Mr. and Mrs. Claude Harrington and children, Lloyd, Ray, Don and Margaret; Mr. and Mrs. A.H. Drury and children, Sibyl, Leslie, Merle, Edith, Verne, Raymond and Roy; E.E. Parker; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Parker and family, Wayne, Alice, Catherine, Moses, Browne, Mellisa and Willard.
Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Parker and family of Hays, Kansas, were unable to be present.
Clearwater Courant, Clearwater, Kansas. Thursday, 25 December 1921, page 1.
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- "Uncle" Moses Parker, 91 years old and for 60 years a Baptist minister in Sedgwick county, died at Chearwater this week. He was born in Ireland and had played a prominent part in the pioneer days of southern Kansas, and had also been one of the "49ers" in old California days.
Coffeyville Daily Journal, Coffeyville, Kansas. 7 June 1918. Page 4.
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- Uncle Moses Parker was county Pioneer. Sixty years he served as a minister of the Baptist church. With the death of "Uncle Moses" Parker of Clearwater recently, there passed away one of the oldest and best known pioneers of Sedgwick County. He was 91 years old and for 60 years was a Baptist minister. Most of those 60 years were spent in the vicinity of Clearwater, as he came to Kansas in 1876 and settled close to that place soon after.
He had a prominent part in the development of Southern Kansas. He was born in Ireland and was an Odd Fellow. Altho in later years a minister, he was one of the "49ers". He took part in the strenuous rush to California for gold in the early days before Kansas was known to many persons. He was then but about 20 years old, but went thru with many hardships before returning and settling down. He is survived by six children.
The Wichita Beacon, Wichita, Kansas. 6 June 1918. Page 6.
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