Parker, John

Born deaf and educated at the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb in Aberdeen, Scotland. Emigrated to Canada and worked as a drayman or expressman on the Canadian western frontier. In 1885, became a volunteer in the civilian milita assisting the North-West Mounted Police during the Battle of Cut Knife Hills, Saskatoon, receiving medals for his gallantry. Later invented an improved voting system consisting of multicolored ballots, patented in 1901. Died of cancer.