Hortense Parker Gilliam

Hale Giddings Parker

Parker House, Norfolk, VA

Parker's autobiography.

[ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [notes]

John Parker the Black Conductor

          John P. Parker was born in Norfolk, Virginia, sometime in 1827. Parker was the child of a white father, Giddings Parker (1851-1925) and a slave mother, Hortense Parker Gilliam (1859-1938). At the age of eight he was sold to a slave agent in Richmond, Virginia; he was then sold to a slave caravan, which took him to Mobile, Alabama. In Mobile, Parker was employed as a household servant by a physician, and during his residence with the physician, he learned to read and write. When he turned sixteen in 1843, accompanied by the physician's two sons, Parker attended college in the north; however, Parker was forced to return to Mobile under the physician's orders due to the physician's fear that Parker would flee.

          Once back in Mobile, Parker became apprenticed to a series of craftsmen in the business of foundry and iron manufactures, he also learned the trade of plasterer. Parker attempted to escape to New Orleans; because of abuse he received from one of his apprentices. Parker was discovered during his attempt as a riverboat stowaway and was then returned to the physician in Mobile. In Mobile he was apprenticed to another molder at a local iron foundry who was very skilled in the practice. His co-workers were jealous of his ability, especially as they watched him transfer to a New Orleans foundry. His enthusiasm in his productivity was the cause of his dismissal from the New Orleans foundry. Parker worked at the New Orleans docks as a stevedore and purchased his freedom with his savings in 1845; the price of his freedom was $1800.

          Later in 1845 due to his newly purchased freedom Parker was legally able to travel to Indiana, where he became very interested in the work offered in foundries near New Albany or Jefferson, Indiana. Parker soon began his career as a conductor of the Underground Railroad near Cincinnati. With the help of a local barber, Parker was able to save his first runaways; they were two young girls who were taken from Kentucky to Indiana and Ohio where they established their freedom.

          This was once stated about him:

"He devoted his life to forays in Kentucky, to scouting on both sides of the Ohio River, to taking care of the helpless slaves who had found their way to Ohio and could not get across, to actual fighting for them and against pursuing matters." ^{[ 5 ]}

          In 1848 Parker left Cincinnati to start a small general store in Ohio. In 1850 Parker migrated to Ripley, Ohio, which also happened to be the home of Reverend John Rankin, an abolitionist and operator of the Underground Railroad; however, Parker worked separate from Rankin. Parker viewed the church groups as an enemy of the conductor process, and therefore, worked independently from them, also Parker took an active role in helping an estimated 1,000 slaves to their freedom.

          Around 1854 Parker put up a small foundry near Ripley, Ohio, where he sold both special and general items. The small shop (that it started out to be) eventually grew into a large foundry, and employed up to twenty-five men, which was a considerable number of employees back then. Parker's business also helped supported war efforts. Later Parker became a recruiter for the 27th Regiment, the U.S. colored troops for Union Service in 1863. His factory, the Ripley Foundry and Machine Company, fabricated slide valve engines and reapers. In 1871 John Parker took partnership in a factory named the Phoenix Foundry; it is believed that William Hood apprenticed him in this foundry. In 1981 the foundry was still up and operating, but for the first time it was no longer under family ownership. John parker continued to work in the foundry business until his death on January 30, 1900.

          Some of John Parker's memorials remain in Ripley, Ohio; I have been there and highly encourage you to visit Ripley to see them. The experience is one of a kind, and I think you would find many of the stories interesting.

[Craig Harms]