Funeral services for the late Samuel C. Parkinson, who died at his residence at 385 B street, Salt Lake City, May 20, was held in the ward chapel at Franklin, Idaho, at 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 24.
The services were under the direction of Elder Charles D. Goaslind and the speakers were Elders Joesph S. Geddes, Cecil Woodword, George H. Blood, Robert G. Lowe, Riley Davis, Herschel Bullen, H.E. Hatch, Walter K. Barton and Charles D. Goaslind. The invocation was offered by Elder Orson Smith and the benediction was pronounced by Elder Edwin Bodily. Musical selections consisted of the opening hymn by the Franklin Ward choir; a vocal duet by Mrs. Vera Geddes Merrill and Miss Maggie Merrill, vocal solos by Miss Clara Goaslind; a violin solo by Charles H. Harris of Logan.
The attendance at the funeral was probably larger than at any similar occasion in the history of Franklin, many of the friends and relatives of the deceased and officials of business institutions with which he was connected in Utah and Idaho having traveled from great distances to be present. The graduating class of nurses of the Utah-Idaho hospital of Logan, of which Mr. Parkinson was a director, attended the services in a body. Aside from the addresses made, messages of condolence from officials of the Deseret National bank of Salt Lake City and from Dr. G. W. States of Preston, Idaho, were read.
Interment was in the Franklin City cemetery. Elder Daines, Sr., dedicated the grave.
Mr. Parkinson was born in St. Louis Mo. Feb. 23, 1853. He was the eldest son of Samuel Rose Parkinson and Arabella Ann Chandler Parkinson. He removed to Kaysville, Utah with his parents in 1854 and in 1880 the family settled in Franklin, Idaho. They were among the half dozen families which comprised the first settlers of this community, which is recognized as the oldest white settlement of the state. He was largely responsible for the establishment of Idaho day, a state holiday, commemorating the establishment of this settlement.
Filled Two Missions
In 1884 he became a missionary for the L.D.S. church, spending a year in the Southern States mission, part of which time he was president of the Alabama conference and was laboring in Tennessee at the time of the assassination there of Elders Gibbs and Berry "Mormon"/ missionaries. Upon his return he became president of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement association, president of the high priests' quorum of Oneida stake and a member of the high council of the same stake. Later in 1893, he filled a mission for the Church in the Northwestern states. From 1907 to 1913 he served as bishop of Franklin Ward.
For many years he has been engaged in dairying, sheep and cattle business and in the banking business in the Gem state and was connected prominently with pioneering of irrigation in southern Idaho. His ranches were stocked with pure blood horses, sheep and cattle for the breeding and raising of which he was widely known in the intermountain country. He was also county commissioner of Franklin county Idaho, for four years; mayor of Franklin, vice president of the Idaho State and Savings bank of Preston, Idaho; vice president of the Federal State bank of Preston Idaho; director of the Western Loan and Livestock company of Salt Lake City, director of the Earo Cushion Tire company of Ogden; director of the Utah Idaho Hospital of Logan; director of the Utah-Mexican Rubber company.
In December 1872, Mr. Parkinson married Mary Ann Hobbs, daughter of Charles R. Hobbs and Mary Ann Hobbs, who were also among the first families to settle in Franklin. His wife died in December, 1912, after which he married Lulu Carpenter, daughter of Ezra Davis Carpenter and Jane King Carpenter of Logan.
Mr. Parkinson is survived by his widow and the following 12 sons and daughters: Mrs. George Hobbs, Samuel W. Parkinson, president of the Franklin stake of the L.D.S. Church; Miss May Parkinson, Albert H. Parkinson, Leonard G. Parkinson, Bernice R. Parkinson, a member of the bishopric of Franklin ward; and Roland H. Parkinson, all of Franklin, Idaho; Mrs. Fred Brossard of Idaho Falls; Mrs. Harlow E. Smoot of Provo, Raymond C. Parkinson, Miss Myrtle Parkinson and Miss Roma Parkinson of Salt Lake City. Mr. Parkinson leaves also one great-great-grandchild; one great grandchild, and 36 grandchildren.