Born: 1827

Died: January 30, 1900

Birthplace: Norfolk, Virginia

John P. Parker was born in Norfolk, Virginia , the

son of a white father and a slave mother. He was

sold to a slave agent from Richmond, Virginia at

age eight.

Parker worker for two years at a foundry and the

New Orleans docks as a stevedore and purchased his

freedom from his earnings. The price of freedom

for John P.Parker in 1845 was $1800.

In 1845, Parker obtained a pass to travel north to

Indiana, where he was lured by the work offered in

foundries near New Albany or Jefferson, Indiana.

Near Cincinnati, Parker began his career as a

"conductor" on the Underground Railroad. Helping

a local Negro barber, Parker was able to remove

two young girls from Kentucky to freedom in

Indiana and Ohio.

"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 their

pursuing masters."

Parker before the Emanicipation Proclamation, took

an active role in removing an estimated 1000

slaves from bondage. Unlike other abolitionists

Parker remained separate from organized church

groups, which he viewed as an 'enemy of the people.'