Page:Men of Mark in America vol 2.djvu/278

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

EDMUND SOUTHARD PARKER

PARKER, EDMUND SOUTHARD, banker, financier, president of the'National Metropolitan Citizens Bank of Washington, District of Columbia, was born in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1839, son of Andrew Parker and Ann Eliza Doty, descendants of early settlers of Pennsylvaina. His father was a prominent lawyer, represented his district in the lower house of congress, and for some years was a resident of Washington, District of Columbia.

He was educated at the public schools and at Tuscarora academy, Academia, Pennsylvania. Shortly thereafter, he entered the Mifflin county National Bank, at Lewiston, Pennsylvania, as a clerk; and after some time in that institution, returned to Mifflintown and organized the banking house of Doty, Parker and Company, the first bank to be organized in Juniata county. In 1880, upon the retirement of Mr. Doty, the senior member, the firm was continued under the name of Parker and Company, until 1888, when it was merged into a national bank. Mr. Parker remained in Mifflintown until 1887, the year before the merger, when he removed to Washington, District of Columbia, and took part in the organization of the Columbia National Bank, of which he was elected cashier. In 1891, he succeeded to the presidency of the bank and continued at its head until June, 1897, when he became connected with the National Metropolitan bank, succeeding the late John W. Thompson as president. He is a careful student of fiscal matters, a good executive, and has been a frequent contributor to financial and other periodicals on banking and allied topics. Mr. Parker takes an active interest in the religious life of the community, and in the public schools of the city. He is a member of the Board of Education of the District of Columbia.

In February, 1865, Mr. Parker married M. Isabella Wilson, daughter of William White Wilson, of Mifflintown, Pennsylvania.