PERKER, JOHN M., Claiborne County, MS., then Orleans Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. Parker, John M., was born in Claiborne county, Miss., 1838, and died at New Orleans, May 4, 1893. He was yet in the full vigor of manhood when death stilled his noble heart and bereaved the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana of a sterling, upright, and progressive business man and an honored citizen of the highest type, depriving a loving household of its mainstay, counselor, and revered chief. His parents were Dr. James Porter and Mary (Milliken) Parker. The father was a native of Lexington, Ky. and a son of Robert Parker, a native of Pennsylvania, and a captain in the colonial army of the American revolution. Capt. Parker removed from Pennsylvania to Kentucky while yet a young man, and married in that state, his wife being a daughter of Col. Andrew Porter, on whose staff Capt. Parker had previously served. As a young graduate physician, Dr. James Porter Parker located at Port Gibson, Miss., and, through exceptional professional ability and his high character, became a prominent and honored citizen of his adopted state. Dr. Parker married Mary Milliken, daughter of John Milliken, a prominent planter, for whom Milliken's Bend was named. John M. Parker graduated from Princeton college in the class of 1857, and soon after completing his education engaged in mercantile pursuits. He removed to New Orleans in 1872, and shortly thereafter became a member of the firm of Harris, Parker & Co., brokers and cotton factors. This firm later succeeded by that of the John M. Parker Co., of which Mr. Parker's eldest son, John M., is now the senior member and president. The senior John M. Parker was also engaged in the wholesale grocery business at the same time, and both this and the cotton business prospered and continually expanded under his able management. He was very successful in business and his fortune continued to increase by reasonable degrees, but never did reproach touch his name. Throughout an unusually large circle of acquaintances, business and otherwise, he was regarded as a man of the very highest personal honor. Nor did he allow business to monopolize his attention. He had the keenest appreciation of the obligations of citizenship, and any movement that had for its object the common good, at all times received his earnest encouragement and support. In cases of need among his fellowmen, his means and his personal service were at their command. He was an active member of the Cotton exchange and the New Orleans Board of Trade, and became identified with several of the most substantial business concerns of the city. In 1882 Mr. Parker was elected a member of the police commission of New Orleans, and continued in that position to the time of his death. His reputation as a member of this board was soon established as being unalterably opposed to abuses of all kinds, and of strictest adherence to established rules and regulations, his decisions being always tempered with the soundest judgment, and a generous consideration for the weaknesses of human nature. Mr. Parker's social qualities were preeminent, and his friends many. In 1860 Mr. Parker was married to Miss Roberta Buckner, a daughter of Robert H. and Sarah (Freeland) Buckner, of Claiborne county, Miss. The Freeland family removed from Maryland to Mississippi, and of Buckner from Kentucky. Robert H. Buckner was a distinguished lawyer and jurist, and was chancellor of Mississippi from 1839 to 1845. Five sons and 1 daughter were born to Mr. and Mrs. Parker, namely: John M., William E., Robert B., J. Porter, Arthur D., and Sarah. The daughter, now deceased, became the wife of William G. Montgomery; Robert B., also deceased, had become prominent as a wholesale grocer of New Orleans; William E., is a practicing physician at Hot Springs, Ark.; J. Porter, elsewhere referred to in this work, is judge of the Civil district court at New Orleans; John M. is president of the John M. Parker Co., New Orleans, above referred to. The mother of these children survives her husband, and resides in New Orleans. Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 785-786. Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association. ***************************************************************** Parker, J. Poter, Orleans Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. Parker, J. Porter, judge of Division D, Civil district court of Orleans parish, was born at New Orleans, La., October 27, 1870; son of John M. and Roberta (Buckner) Parker. The days of his childhood and youth were passed in the city of New Orleans, where, after the period of his early education, he attended Tulane university. This was succeeded by attendance at Princeton college, where he obtained the degree of C. E. in 1892. In 1894 he received the degree of doctor of laws from the University of Virginia, and 1 year later the same degree was conferred upon him by Tulane university. Shortly following the completion of his professional studies he began the practice of law at the city of New Orleans. From 1896 to 1900 he served as a member of the lower house of the Louisiana legislature. In 1904 he was elected a member of the Louisiana State senate, but after having served through 1 session of the legislature resigned from the senate to enter upon the duties of district attorney, to which office he had been elected in the autumn of 1904. He had previously served, during 1900 and 1901, as assistant district attorney. Shortly following the completion of his term in the office of district attorney, he was in March, 1911, appointed judge of the Civil district court, to fill the unexpired term of Judge Walter B. Summerville, who had been called to be associate justice of the Supreme court. In 1912 Judge Parker was elected to succeed himself. Politically, Judge Parker is affiliated with the democratic party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Royal Arch Mason; also, a member of the New Orleans lodge, No. 30, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Chess, Checkers and Whist, and the Audubon Golf clubs. Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), p. 787. Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.