JOHN H. PARKER, Webster County, was born in Person County, N. C., November 28, 1835, son of Jonas and Ruth (Tapp) Parker, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of North Carolina, and both of English descent. Jonas Parker, while yet a young man, immigrated to North Carolina, where he married and engaged in the pursuit of farming until the year 1837, when he with his then large family of five sons and five daughters immigrated to Kentucky, where he opened a settlement in the great wild forest, now near Dixon, the county seat of Webster County. Three years later he died at the age of fifty, leaving his wife and ten children, besides a number of colored servants, to mourn his loss. He and his wife were members of the Primitive Baptist Church. John H., the subject of this sketch, was the youngest of the family, and being only five years old at his father's death, was brought up entirely by the Christian efforts of his widowed mother. He received a liberal education in the common and graded schools, and was also a student in Center College, of Danville, Ky., in the years of 1854 and 1855. At the age of twenty commenced teaching, which he continued for three years to the great satisfaction of his employers and his own educational improvement. Just at the opening of his last school he was married, February 18, 1858, to Miss Sallie F. Johnson, a native of Webster County, and the youngest daughter of Jack and Polly Johnson, who were early pioneers of this country. At the close of this school he and his loving young bride removed to her mother's, who was then a widow, living near Shiloh Church, same county, and being placed in charge of her farm and servants, pursued the life of a quiet and happy farmer for three consecutive years until, during the last year, the unhappy and unholy war broke out between the North and South. Being strong sympathizers with the South, they quickly decided to move southward with their effects, especially their slaves, which they did, stopping near Gallatin, Sumner Co., Tenn., and remaining in that State nearly two years. During this time he sold the most of his slaves for good prices in gold. At this crisis of the war, believing that the thing was "all up" with the South, he, with his young family—minus the slaves—removed back to their State and located at Providence, on New Year's Day, 1863, where he engaged in the mercantile business, which he still pursues, handling almost every line known to the trade. He now has a large two-story house, consisting of eight store-rooms, in which he carries a stock of $30,000—annual sales average $60,000. He also deals in leaf tobacco and owns the best stemmery and factory in the Green River Country. At the present time he owns and operates a skating rink and opera house combined. He and his wife are zealous members of the Christian Church. They have buried five children, and have five now living—three sons and two daughters. Their sons are Christian named (in the order of their ages) John Y., Joseph and Tom. The eldest, now called "Bud," is twenty years old, and is the book-keeper for the firm. The daughters, Fannie and Ruth, possess rare beauty and intelligence and are both gifted in music. They are now in Hamilton College, Lexington, Ky., where they will complete their education. Mr. Parker is not known as a politician, but is a true and consistent Democrat.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Pages 1043-1044.