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1828, Indian falls, New York

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August 31, 1895 (most likely 66-67 years of age) Fairfield, Connecticut

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"(Robert E. Lee) extended his hand and said, 'I am glad to see one real American here.' I shook his hand and said, 'We are all Americans.'

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He sought to join the Union Army as an engineer, but was told by Secretary of War, Simon Cameron, that as an Indian, he could not join.

He went to his friend (Ulysses S. Grant) who appointed him engineer because of the suffering shortage of engineers.

Parker was commissioned a captain in May 1863 and ordered to report to Brig. Gen. John Eugene Smith.

Smith appointed Parker as the chief engineer of his 7th Division during the siege of Vicksburg.

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He was subsequently transferred with Grant as the adjutant of the U.S. Army headquarters and served Grant through the Overland Campaign and the Siege of Petersburg.

Parker was appointed as the military secretary to Grant, with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Parker was present when Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse in April of 1865

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After the Civil War, Parker was commissioned as an officer in the 2nd U.S. Calvary on July 1, 1866. He again became the military secretary to Grant, with the rank of colonel, as the senior officer completed his appointment as commanding general of the U.S. Army.

Parker resigned from the army with the brevet rank of brigadier general of Regulars on April 26, 1869.

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classical education at a missionary school, was fully bilingual speaking Seneca as well as English, and went on to college

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worked in a legal firm reading law for the customary three years in Ellicottville, New York and then applied to take the Bar examination.

Parker was appointed the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

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sixth of seven children to Elizabeth and William Parker

He was named Ha-sa-no-an-da and later baptized Ely Samuel Parker

His father was a miller and a baptist minister.

Spencer Houghton Cone, Nicholson Henry, Levi, Caroline (Carrie), Newton, and Solomon were his siblings.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ely_S._Parker#Early_life_and_education

http://www.historynet.com/ely-parker-iroquois-chief-and-union-officer.htm

https://www.nps.gov/apco/parker.htm