Biographical sketch extracted from:

Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. pp. 946-947.

MRS. CYNTHIA A. PARKER, residing on section 21, Jackson Township, was born in Randolph County, North Carolina, September 18, 1830. Her parents, Simeon W. and Nancy (Irwin) Swaim, were also natives of the same State, the father born in Stokes County and the mother in Guilford County. In the fall of 1833 they removed with their family to Preble County, Ohio, living there until 1836, coming thence to Indiana, and locating in Huntington County, where the father entered 120 acres of land. There the parents lived until their death, the father dying May 9, 1841, and the mother in September, 1866. They were the parents of ten children, of whom only five survive, one son and four daughters, the son being now the owner of his father's old home in Huntington County. The parents were active and earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the first meetings of that denomination in their neighborhood were held at their house. Mrs. Parker, the subject of this sketch, came with her parents to Indiana and grew to womanhood in Huntington County. She received her education by attending the common and subscription schools of her neighborhood and by private study at home, and subsequently engaged in teaching school, which she followed several terms in Huntington and Wells counties, for which she received as low a salary as $7 a month, out of which she boarded herself. She was united in marriage September 9, 1851, to Albert G. Parker, who was born in New York State in August, 1828, coming with his parents to Huntington County, Indiana, when a young man. Nine children were born to this union—Cecelia M. (deceased), Simeon S., Christopher C., Ellis C., Mary E., William H. (deceased), Samuel E., Ruth C. and Edith M. Mr. Parker now resides in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Mrs. Parker settled on the farm where she now resides in September, 1872, where she has eighty acres of choice land. Samuel E. is living at home with his mother and is engaged in broommaking. Mrs. Parker united with the Methodist Episcopal church when eleven years of age, and is still a believer in the doctrines of that church.