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"A more fearless creature never lived," said the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune shortly after his death. "He gloried in danger. He would go boldly over into the enemy's camp and filch the fugitives to freedom.' (quoted in "Underground Railroad Museum is real chance for greatness" by Laura Pulfer, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Sunday, March 30, 1997)
During the Civil War, Parker was a major recruiter for the 27th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (Colored) Regiment. Parker's foundry also furnished castings to the war effort. John Parker After the Civil War After the war, Parker continued his foundry work and was a successful entrepreneur and inventor. He has two patents for agricultural inventions, the earliest granted an African-American. On 2 September 1884 Parker was issued U.S. patent number 304,552 for "Follower-Screw for Tobacco Presses." May 1885 he received a patent for "Similar device for Tobacco Press Harrow, referred to as the 'Parker Pulverizer'" Anyone who has been to Ripley knows that tobacco is a huge crop, thus Parker's inventions were likely welcomed. John P. Parker died on 30 January 1900.
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