My Genealogy Hound

LEONARD PARKER, a resident of Carlisle, Cumberland county, who for many years was engaged in railroad work in that locality, was born in 1825 in County Waterford, Ireland, son of Nicholas Parker, who was also a native of County Waterford. He married Mary Murphy.

When Leonard Parker was seven years old he went to live with an uncle, James Parker, who lived in County Tipperary, Ireland, and while there went to school. After his return home he attended school for two years longer, and then commenced to learn the trade of boot and shoe making. His father conducted a large shoemaking establishment. Our subject followed his trade in his native country and for some time after coming to the United States, in 1850, making the ocean voyage to this country in the sailing vessel “Jessora,” from Liverpool to New York, Mr. Parker taking passage at Dublin. He was six weeks on the water. He located at Yonkers, N. Y., for a time, engaged at his trade and in other work, but the same year came to Carlisle, Pa., where he has ever since made his home. He followed his trade for a time, but also engaged in other occupations, being foreman on the Cumberland Valley Railroad several years and later foreman on the South Mountain railroad, laying all of their tracks at that time. After leaving this road he was foreman on the Pennsylvania road under Mr. McCrea. Throughout his experience on the road he had a record clean and honorable, both for industry and integrity, in his dealings with his superiors and those under his authority, and as a man he was respected by all with whom he came in contact.

Mr. Parker was married, in 1846, in the town of Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland, to Margaret Madden, a native of Tipperary, and at the time of their emigration to this country their family consisted of three children. Four children blessed their union, viz: James, who died in Ireland; Bridget; Michael, who was a bugler in the Second United States Regulars during the Civil war, and died at home soon afterward from the effects of exposure; and Mary, married and living in Illinois. The mother of these dying, Mr. Parker formed a second union with Mary Cummings, a native of County Mayo, Ireland, and they had five children: Leonard C., of Carlisle, mentioned below; Ellen, wife of James McCullough, of Carlisle; and Cecilia, Maggie, and John, all three deceased. The family unite with St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, of which Mr. Parker was sexton for ten years. In politics he has been a stanch Democrat.

Leonard C. Parker was born Nov. 21, 1856, in North East street, Carlisle, in Gilmore’s row. He attended the public schools of the city, also receiving private instruction, and at the age of sixteen commenced work at the iron molding trade, serving four years in the plant of Gardner, Beatty & Beetem. While there he took private instructions preparatory to entering the priesthood, from Fathers McKennan and Gormley, but when his instructor left Carlisle he changed his views about entering the church. He has since been engaged at his trade in Carlisle, Middletown, Wilkesbarre, Scranton and other places, and for the past five years has been employed in the plant of the Pennsylvania Steel Company, at Steelton, Pa. By industry and good management Mr. Parker has succeeded in accumulating considerable property, and he is looked upon as a citizen of substance and worth wherever he goes, as well as in his home city. In politics, he is a Democrat, and his religious connection is with St. Patrick’s Church at Carlisle.