Ex-governor Parker

[Special Correspondence.J New York, Jan. 16.- The name of Joel Parker is a household word in the state of Nw Jersey, it occupies a prominent place among the names of the distinguished men of hit day, and his recent death at Trenton closed a public career of neariy flfty years. Oovernor Parker was descended from a sturdy race of New Jersey farmers. Several of them took part in the revolutionary war, alid one of his grandf athers was a . member oí Pulaski's legión and a private in the Continental army. Charles Parker, Joel's fathec was a self educated man, and he rose to a position of prominence in state politica. Joel Parker was born on his father's farm, near Freehold, on Nov. 24, 1816. His boyhood was passed in Trenton, where his famlly moved in 1821. The young man had access to the state library, and his associations during his youtli all tended to imbue him with a taste for politica! life. At the age of 17 he went back to his f ather's farra and took charge of it, but it was decided to give him the benefit of a college education, and he returned to Trenton and prepared to enter Princeton, from whlch iostitution bewas graduated in 1839. Tben he etuilied law, and in 1841 was admitted to the bar. He entered the state legislatura from Monmouth county in 1847, and was the youngest member in the house and the ouly lawyer. This latter fact brought him to the front at once, and he was advaneed to the leadership of the Democratie party, which took up his policy throughout and made their issue on his measures, electing their governor in 1850. In 1851 he became prosecuting attorney for Honmouth county, and it was during the period of five years in which he held this office that he gained his reputation as a lawyer. The war now carne on, and, although he was a Democrat, he was nominated a rocruiting offleer by a Kepublican governor, and his nomination was immediately confirmed by the senate. He put his bestenergiesto the work of organizing regiments, and his work was so successf ui that when the state convention came together in 1862 he was run for governor. The contest was an exciüng one, but Parker carried the day, and he was elected governor with 15,000 raajority. His policy during the war was a vigorous one. When President Lincoln's cali for more troops was issued he was the first governor to respond. He displayed so much energy in gathering troops together that he was publicly thanked by President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton and Governor Curtin. At the end of Governor Parker's war administration there was a balance in tha treasury for the first time in twenty years. At the close of the war ne sent a message to the legislatura, urging that that body express the sentiments of the people of his state ia favor of allowing the southera states representation in congress. In 1866 Governor Parker went back to hia law practica at Freehold, and retired tor a short time to private life. The constitution of the state of New Jersey prohlbits a govarnor trom running for two suocussive terras, but in 1873 he was re-elected and ren 9,000 abead of his ticket. In the national convention of 1668 the Democrats presented his name for president and gave him an almost uuaniraous vote. When his term aa governor ceaaed he was nominated for attorney general by Governor Bedle, bis Republican successor, and was immediately conflrmed by the Republican sena te; but he resigned his office, as it intorfered with his practico. The New Jersey delegation again brought his name up for president in the national convention in 1876. In 1880 he was nominated, by Governor McClellan, justice of the supreme court, anc until his death he presided in the centra circuit of New Jersey. In 1883 he declined to run again for governor.