John P. Parker
John P. Parker was a very influential conductor on the Underground Railroad. Born into slavery in 1827 John P. Parker purchased his freedom in 1845 at the age of eighteen. This is very different than many of the other conductors who were escaped slaves or white abolitionists. After his new found freedom, he settle in Ripley, Ohio, married a woman named Miranda and had three boys and three girls.
John P. Parker, in Ripley, Ohio, build and ran the Phoenix Foundry and Machine Company. His company sold over twenty different products, but specialized in metal castings (johnparkerhouse.org). As a conductor John never permitted any photos to be taken of him and kept very careful records. Many people can attest to the detailed records of the slaves he helped escaped, but we do not have access to many of these. This is because to keep him and the escaped slaves safe, Parker destroyed these records at random.
John P. Parker was a very vital role in the Underground Railroad. He shows the diversity in people who helped free slaves. He also shows the success a freed slave can accomplish in business and in family life. The records we do have of his show that he was a great man who not only helped lost slaves find their way into the north, but fought masters for their slave’s freedom.
John P. Parker was a very influential conductor on the Underground Railroad. Born into slavery in 1827 John P. Parker purchased his freedom in 1845 at the age of eighteen. This is very different than many of the other conductors who were escaped slaves or white abolitionists. After his new found freedom, he settle in Ripley, Ohio, married a woman named Miranda and had three boys and three girls.
John P. Parker, in Ripley, Ohio, build and ran the Phoenix Foundry and Machine Company. His company sold over twenty different products, but specialized in metal castings (johnparkerhouse.org). As a conductor John never permitted any photos to be taken of him and kept very careful records. Many people can attest to the detailed records of the slaves he helped escaped, but we do not have access to many of these. This is because to keep him and the escaped slaves safe, Parker destroyed these records at random.
John P. Parker was a very vital role in the Underground Railroad. He shows the diversity in people who helped free slaves. He also shows the success a freed slave can accomplish in business and in family life. The records we do have of his show that he was a great man who not only helped lost slaves find their way into the north, but fought masters for their slave’s freedom.
