CAPT. JOHN G. PARKER, merchant, was born in Winchester, Cheshire Co., N. H., July 22, 1821; he removed to Canada with his parents in childhood, and was a resident of that county until the rebellion, when for political reasons his father returned to the States. He began sailing in 1844 on the lower lakes, and two years later came to Lake Superior as mate of the schooner Fur Trader, which had been hauled over the Portage and the Sault in the fall of 1845. In the fall of 1850, he bought her, and became her master. He sailed her successfully until 1852, when she went onto the rocks at Eagle Harbor and was lost. In the spring of 1853, he bought the schooner George W. Ford in Milwaukee in company with the Minesota Mining Company and Mr. James Burtenshaw. He hauled her across the Sault Portage in May, 1853, and sailed her on Lake Superior until the canal was finished, then sailed her below. December 22, 1854, he sold his interest in the steam saw-mill to Mr. Burtenshaw for his interest in the Ford. lie continued to sail the Ford until August 12, 1860, when he lost her off the same port he lost the Fur Trader. Capt. Parker has sailed twenty-five years on Lake Superior. He then settled down in Ontonagon, where he has made his home since 1818. In 1858, he engaged in mercantile business as a dealer in general merchandise, and has continued it to this date. Capt. Parker has held various official positions while a resident of this place. He has served as Town Treasurer, Moderator and Director of the School District and County Superintendent of Poor several years. He has a fine farm of 120 acres lying east of the village, forty acres of which are under cultivation.

C. A. PARKER, of the firm of White & Parker, real estate agents and explorers. Mr. Parker is a son of Capt. John G. Parker, and was born in Ontonagon, Lake Superior, September 6, 1852. He went sailing with his father in his youth, and was a sailor of Lake Superior about five years. About 1873, he formed his business connection with Mr. White, which has continued to this day. Messrs. White & Parker have operated considerably in mining and mineral lands, and have opened several mines, among which may be mentioned the Shogo, Nokomis and White Pine Mines.

WILLIAM E. PARNELL, agent of the National Mine, was born in England June 3, 1839. He emigrated to America in 1857; settled in South Carolina and was engaged in railroading. He was also employed in coal mining at the Midlothian Coal Mine of Virginia, and subsequently followed the same business in Pennsylvania. In 1860, he came to Lake Superior and engaged at the National Mine as a miner; two years later, he was made mining captain, and remained with the company ten years. He then changed to the Franklin Mine, where he served one year as mining captain. He next went to Rhode Island, and was employed as superintendent of a coal mine nearly three years; returning to Lake Superior, he engaged as mining captain, and continued at that mine till the spring of 1880, when he accepted the agency of the National Mine, where he is now employed. Under Capt. Parnell's management, the old National is rapidly approaching a healthy productive condition.

M. A. POWERS, Register of Deeds of Ontonagon County, was born in the City of New York in November, 1845. He moved to Toledo, Ohio, with his parents, in 1852, and from there to Superior City, Lake Superior, in 1855. In 1858, he located at Houghton, Mich., and engaged with the Franklin Mining Company. Being employed at the stamp-mill of that company, he met with a serious accident by coming in contact with the machinery, by which he lost his left arm. He then went to college at Montreal, Canada, for two years. In 1865, he came to Ontonagon, and in 1868 was elected Register of Deeds and County Clerk, and re-elected each succeeding term to this date. In 1881, he resigned the County Clerkship in favor of his brother, H. M. Powers, the present incumbent.