Preceded by H.H. Flowers Succeeded by William I. Nolan | Name Ralph Parker | |
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Born December 17, 1867
Frankford Township, Minnesota ( 1867-12-17 ) Died December 27, 1922(1922-12-27) (aged 55)
Rochester, Minnesota Political party Nonpartisan (Conservative Caucus) Residence Spring Valley, Minnesota Alma mater University of Minnesota | ||
Ralph J. Parker (December 17, 1867 – December 27, 1922) was a Minnesota politician and a Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Life and career
Parker was born in Frankford Township, Minnesota to W. H. and Hannah Parker. He attended local schools before enrolling in the University of Minnesota Law School, graduating in 1890. He then moved to Spring Valley, Minnesota where began to practice law and would live for the remainder of his life.
Parker served as county attorney for Fillmore County, Minnesota from 1903 to 1909. He was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1914 where he served four total terms as a representative from 1915 to 1922. From 1917 to 1919 he served as speaker.
In 1922, Parker was elected as the judge for the 10th Minnesota District Court. His election was disputed by his opponent. While the dispute was being heard in court, Parker became ill and underwent surgery in Rochester, Minnesota. The dispute was dismissed and on December 22, 1922 he was sworn into office from his hospital bed. He died five days later on December 27.