Ex-Gov. Joel Parker died at the residence of Mrs. Cecelia Wroot, of Philadelphia, on Sunday night at twelve o'clock of paralysis of the brain. Mr. Parker was in Philadelphia when he fell ill and went at once to Mrs. Wroot's residence, where his family was summoned by telegraph. He was sick but a very short time. The remains were taken to Freehold on Tuesday.

A meeting of the citizens of Freehold was held Monday night to make arrangements for the funeral. A committee was appointed who took charge of the body on its arrival and another committee was appointed who will have charge of the details of the funeral.

After the opening of court yesterday Judge Scudder appointed a committee of seven lawyers to draft suitable resolutions concerning Judge Parker's death. The Committee consists of Robert Allen, jr., George C. Beekman, Chas. Haight, John S. Applegate, Reps. W. Dayton, Wm. H. Vredenburgh, and John E. Lanning. This committee will meet at the court room on Friday morning at nine o'clock.

The funeral will be held at Freehold on Friday at twelve o'clock, and the remains will be interred in the Parker burial plot.

Gov. Green has issued a proclamation ordering the public buildings of the State draped for thirty days, and the public offices closed during the hours of the funeral. Most of the State dignataries and officials will attend the funeral, and a number of organizations will be present in a body.

Ex-Gov. Parker was a native of this county, and was born on the 24th day of November, 1816, in what is now Millstone township. His father was afterward elected State treasurer and moved to Trenton, where his son received an education in the common schools of that city. When he was eighteen years of age he took charge of his father's farm in this county, and conducted it until it was sold, three years later. He then attended the Lawrenceville high school and afterward entered Princeton College from which institution he graduated in 1839. he then studied law and in 1842 was admitted to the bar. The following year he married Miss Maria M. Gummere, the eldest daughter of Samuel M. Gummere, who was then the clerk in chancery. The fruits of this marriage were three children, Fred, who is a lawyer of the firm of Vredenburgh & Parker, of Freehold; Charles Parker, a counsellor of Manasquan; and Helen, an unmarried daughter who lives at home with her mother.

Mr. Parker was a Democrat and in 1848 he was a member of the assembly from Monmouth county. He introduced a bill taxing personal property as well as real estate and after a hard fight carried the bill through. He was afterward appointed prosecutor of the pleas of this county and served five years. In 1860 he was elected a presidential elector and in 1862 was elected governor of the State. His administration was such as to gain for him the title of "New Jersey's War Governor." He was again elected governor in 1871, and at the expiration of his term was appointed attorney-general. In 1880 he was appointed a justice of the supreme court, which office he held at the time of his death.

Another article above the obituary reads as follows:

The death of Joel Parker removes one of the most prominent figures from New Jersey political life. twice elected governor of the State, and the only man who has occupied that office twice, he made a record which gave him a warm place in the hearts of men, whatever their political faith. During the war he conducted the office of governor with so much ability, and served the cause of the North so devotedly, that his fame became known throughout the entire country. As a supreme court judge he has been eminently sound and safe. His death is a loss to the supreme court bench, a loss to the Democratic party, but more a loss to the people of the State.

Source: Red Bank Register Wednesday, January 4, 1888

Some additional excellent resources for your research are:
• Interment.net ~ Cemetery Transcriptions on the net.

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