7th Iowa Cavalry

Biography of Andrew E. Parker

"Progressive Men of the State of Montana" Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co., undated (circa 1903):

Andrew E. Parker.--The eighth of the eleven children of Charles J. and Elizabeth (Hedges) Parker, of Oxford, England, Andrew E. Parker was born in Kane county, Ill., November 30, 1848, four months after the arrival of his parents in America. They arrived in July of that year and settled in Kane county, where the father worked at his trade as a mason for nineteen years. He then removed to Minnesota, locating in Stearns county, where the family were pioneers and where they engaged in farming and raising stock. Andrew received his education in the public school of Illinois, and remained at home until April, 1863, when he enlisted in the Union army, as a member of Company F. Seventh Iowa Cavalry, under Col. Summers. He was mustered in at Davenport, Iowa, and after three months passed there the regiment was ordered to Nebraska and stationed at Cottonwood Springs, where it wintered, building a post for the purpose. It had numerous skirmishes with the Indians, and in the spring was removed to Fort Laramie, Wyo., where the troops passed the summer engaged in scouting. In the autumn they returned to the South Platte, built quarters and wintered at Julesburg, their buildings being the beginning of what was afterward Fort Sedgwick. Here they saw active and dangerous service, for the Indians were hostile and in force. On the morning of February 1, 1865, leaving a few invalids to guard the post, thirty-seven men followed a band of savages some seven miles into what is called the Devil's dives, with Mr. Parker, a sergeant and three men as an advance guard. They took a side trail around a horseshoe bend, and upon reaching a knoll they discovered that the hollow was full of Indians. The sergeant at once ordered a retreat to the company, but it was difficult for them to get back, as the company was continually changing its position, making a stand against the Indians, then falling back. On the way the sergeant and the other three men were killed, but Mr. Parker reached the company in safety. After getting to level ground the Indians broke off to each flank and attempted to take the fort, which was defended by a few invalids, but they succeeded in holding it until the arrival of the company, using in their defense two howitzers which were at the post. After a day's siege the Indians disappeared; but on the 25^th of February they again attacked the post, and held it in siege for nine days. On the seventh day one of the soldiers succeeded in getting through the lines and carried a message to Alkali station, although chased eighteen miles by the Indians. This brought 400 soldiers to the relief of the post and on their arrival the Indians again disappeared, but the troops followed them as far north as Mud Springs, and relieved Col. Collins, who with 350 men was corralled about 125 miles from this post. The savages were dispersed and many of them killed. Three white women who had been in captivity and were released reported that the Indian warriors numbered over 600, and were determined to exterminate the whites. In the engagement of February 1 sixteen of the thirty-seven men engaged were killed, and in subsequent engagements the mortality was considerable on both sides. On May 1 Gen. Connor from California took command of the division and removed Mr. Parker's regimen to Fort Laramie, where they remained nearly two months, then started down Poudre river and established Fort Reno. They moved their supplies down Tongue river, having an engagement on the way in which they killed thirty-seven Indians, all there were in the party. On the second day 200 men were detailed to retrace their march and clear the country of hostile Indians. At Goose creek they had a fight with the Arapahoes, killed 167 of them, captured 672 of their ponies and burned their tepees. Returning to their command on Tongue river they moved down near the mouth of Tongue river, there awaited the arrival of a command coming up the Yellowstone to join our forces, but owing to the loss of their horses they failed to connect with this command and returned to Fort Reno. From there they went to Fort Laramie, where they wintered, having an occasional brush with the Indians. On February 28, 1866, some newly enlisted Mexicans, with the help of outsiders, stole a number of government horses and mules and made off with them. Mr. Parker was in the party detailed to go after them, but the Mexicans having relays of horses got away. On May 17, 1866, he was honorably dischaged from the service, his time having expired. Two of his brothers also saw active and arduous service in the Union army. They were John Charles and Henry James. The former was in the service four years and four months, and rose to the rank of first lieutenant. Henry J. was in active service eighteen months, then relieved from active service on account of disability, but id duty as a hospital steward until the close of the war. At the end of his military service Mr. Parker took up his residence in Minnesota, where he passed twelve years farming and freighting. A part of the twelve years was spent freighting from Fort Teton to Fort Stevenson, Dak. In 1878 he removed to North Dakota and engaged in freighting from Bismarck to the Black Hills. After conducting this enterprise two years he was employed in the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad, working on the line through Billings. He located on the Yellowstone at what is known as Rapids station on the Northern Pacific Railroad and occupied himself with raising stock on the ranch then selected until 1894. In that year he removed to his present property two and three-quarter miles due south of Bridger, Carbon county, where he has a fine modern residence, a body of excellent land and a herd of 200 Hereford and Durham cattle. His land is well irrigated and improved with all necessary buildings and other appliances, and produces large crops of alfalfa and timothy.

Mr. Parker was united in marriage on April 26, 1871, with Miss Anna Stiles, of New York, a sister of Theodore Stiles, of Gallatin valley, of whom extended mention is made on another page of this work. They have nine children: Edith, wife of C. A. Whitlock, of Clark's Forks; Walter S., located on Clark's Fork; Edna, Frank, Harry, Maud and Amy attending college at Lincoln, Neb.; Mabel, wife of Leo Smith, of Stillwater, Mont.; and Charles, living at home. Mr. Parker is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Masonic order. He formerly belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a representative citizen of the best type and is highly esteemed wherever he is known."

Contributed  by Grandson

7th Cavalry Home Page

(Send this page to a Friend)     ( Roster Photo's )

If you have any additional information that you would like to add to this page or other pages and share with

visitors of on this web site, please contact