Charles Parker was born around 1844 in Oneida County, New York, to William and Mary Parker. His father, an English immigrant, worked as a teamster and owned $2,000 of real estate in 1850. Parker grew up and attended school in Utica, New York, before beginning work as a farmer. He enlisted in the Union army on August 30, 1862, and mustered in as a private in Company C of the 146^th New York Infantry on October 10. According to his service records, he was 5 feet, 8 inches tall, with brown hair and black eyes.

 

The regiment took part in the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, the siege of Petersburg, and the Appomattox campaign. He was eventually promoted to sergeant, but he was reduced to the ranks on March 1, 1865. He mustered out on July 16, 1865, in Washington, D.C. He returned to Utica after the war and resumed work as a farmer. By 1870, he was working in a wagon shop. He died sometime after 1870.

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