BIO: LEONARD PARKER, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
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  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 294-295
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
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    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
    
  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  295
    
  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.