Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/403

DELAWARE COUNTY, 370 The subject of our memoir 'was the eldest son of the Rev. Daniel Parker, who was pastor for almost twenty years of th Congregational clmrcli of Ellswortli, Connecticut. He was a graduate of Yale College ; married Anna, the daughter of the above-mentioned Thomas Fenn; and during the time he lived at Ellsworth, established and took charge of an academy which enjoyed a high reputation, and where many men who" subse- quently became distinguished, were educated. In 18 IG, he removed to Grreenville, G-reene county. New York, and the academy there was placed in his charge. It was under him that the subject of our sketch, then only nine years of age, commenced the study of Latin, continuing in the academy two years. He then went to the Hudson Academy for the same period, and afterwards for three years in the city of New York. Eager for information, the son received from the father the most devoted educational information. He obtained for him the best instructors in the country ; and it was thus that the first foundations of that fine classical learning and taste for helles-lettres, that, independently of his professional attainments, distinguish Judge Parker, were laid. Such was his diligence, that at the age of sixteen he had completed the usual course of collegiate study. At the same immature age. May, 1823, he was made the principal of the Hudson Academy, and continued in that capacity for four years. Under his supervision, the academy was placed in a most prosperous condition, and attained a wide reputation ] and such was his youth, that many of his pupils, since distin- guished, were older than himself. He was not, up to that time a college graduate ; but in consequence of a rival academy adducing this as an objection to the young principal, he, in July, 1825, caused himself to be examined at Union College for the entire collegiate course. He passed the ordeal trium- phantly, graduated with the senior class, and obtained his