Biography of 	PARKER, Caleb H., Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller August 1998

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Parker, Caleb Harrison, has been, for more than a third of a century, 
one of the most prominent men in journalism and public life in 
Louisiana.  He comes of one of the oldest of American families.  Thomas 
Parker the progenitor of the family in America, came from England and 
settled in Massachusetts in 1635.  In direct line of descent from him 
down to the subject of this biography, the following were the heads of 
families:  Hananiah,  John,  Andrew,  Amos,  Isaac, Lewis,  Caleb 
Alexander, and Caleb Harrison Parker.  The descendants of Thomas Parker 
are numerous, having been prominent in professional, business, 
political, and military life.  Members of the family participated in 
the French and Indian war, the Revolutionary war, the War of 1812, and 
others.  Mr. Parker's grandfather, Maj. Lewis Parker, was a soldier of 
the War of 1812.  He resided at Sterling, Mass., and there Mr. Parker's 
father, Caleb Alexander Parker, was born, Dec. 24, 1806.  He came South 
when a young man and at New Orleans married Eliza Moore, who was born 
in London, England, of Irish parents.  By her he became the father of 4 
sons and 5 daughters.  Of the 9 children, Caleb Harrison Parker is the 
fourth.  The father was a builder and contractor, and removed from New 
Orleans to Jackson, Miss., where he resided several years, moving back 
in 1859 to New Orleans, where he died Nov. 29, 1891.  He was the 
contracting builder of the old Mississippi state capitol, and other 
public buildings at Jackson, and many important buildings in New 
Orleans.  The subject of this sketch was 12 years old when his parents 
returned to New Orleans, where he has since resided.  He received his 
early education under private tutors, and at the New Orleans high 
school.  Years afterward he organized the alumni of this high school, 
and was its first president.  Mr. Parker taught as a private tutor and 
in the meanwhile studied law, passing the examination before the 
Louisiana Supreme court, and was admitted to the bar, but the 
profession of law was not to be his vocation.  He accepted a position 
with the New Orleans Commercial Bulletin, and thus began what was to be 
a brilliant career in the field of journalism.  Not long afterward he 
accepted a position on the Picayune, and rose to the editorship in 
chief of that publication.  He ably edited the Picayune from 1881 to 
1888, and then resigned to accept the position of state tax collector 
for the first district of New Orleans, to which he had been appointed 
by Gov. Nicholls, who had been elected governor in 1888.  Mr. Parker 
held that office for 12 years; 4 years under Gov. Nicholls and 8 years 
under Gov. Foster.  He was active in the campaign that brought about 
the exposure and subsequent flight of State Treasurer Burke.  At that 
time he was editor-in-chief of the Picayune, and because of editorials 
published in that newspaper, Mr. Burke took offense, and challenged him 
to a duel.  Mr. Parker accepted the challenge and came out the victor 
in the duel, though not mortally wounding his opponent.  He was one of 
the original organizers of the "Anti-Lottery" league, and when the New 
Delta was established to combat the influence of the lottery advocates, 
Mr. Parker became editor of that publication, which was discontinued in
1893, when it had accomplished the purpose for which it had been 
created.

As a journalist, Mr. Parker won great prominence, and his editorials 
were among the most virile presentations of public questions.  A man of 
strong conviction, he was ready to maintain his position, no matter how 
strenuous the contest.  He has long been a leader in the democratic 
political party, and high in its councils.  He served for many years as 
a member of the democratic state central committee, and as chairman of 
its executive committee.  He has managed many political campaigns in 
Louisiana, notably those of Govs. Nicholls, Foster and Hall, and that 
for the United States senate of Hon. E. D. White, now chief justice of 
the United States Supreme Court.  As an organizer, perhaps, the state 
never had a stronger man than Mr. Parker.  He has rendered incalculable 
service to his party and friends.

He has never sought for himself, political referment, even declining 
many times to become a candidate for office, or to accept appointments 
tendered him.  He has been a leader, and maker of others, and for 
causes he believed to be just and right, never faltering in the task of 
performing his duty.

He was an organizer of the "good government" campaign which resulted in 
the election of Gov. Hall.  When the state ended the lease system of 
the state prisoners in 1900, and desired a man to establish, under 
state control, an enlightened and humane system of prison control the 
leaders of his party urged upon him this important work.  He was 
appointed president of the board of control of the state penitentiary, 
and its success has given ample testimonial of his organizing and 
business ability.  During his first 8 years of service it was made 
self-sustaining, the death rate reduced to low figures, the prisoners 
being all employed in farming and other outdoor work.  When Gov. Hall 
was elected he reappointed Mr. Parker to the position of president of 
the board, which position he now holds.  Mr. Parker was the Louisiana 
commissioner to the Omaha exposition, and secretary and manager of the 
civic organization that made the Louisiana exhibit at the Atlanta 
exposition.  For several years he was secretary of the National Cotton
exchange of the United States.  Mr. Parker has always stood for honesty 
and justice in politics and other issues concerning the public weal.  
Perhaps no other man in Louisiana has borne a more conspicuous part in 
reform movements than he has borne.  A life long acquaintance of his 
who has for years been identified with public affairs in Louisiana, 
says of him:  "Mr. Parker is a born leader and organizer, an 
indefatigable worker, a man of a high sense of public duty and official 
integrity.  Unselfish to the core, he has zealously sought the 
advancement of others at the sacrifice of his own time and money, and 
ever espoused the cause of right as he saw it, regardless of the cost.  
He might have risen to highest political station in office, had he 
sought his own advancement with the same zeal and interest with which 
he sought to advance his friends."  In 1870 Mr. Parker was married to 
Miss Estelie A. Brown. the daughter of Richard H. and Sarah A. Brown.  
Her father was for years a prominent wholesale merchant of Louisville, 
Ky., where Mrs. Parker was born.  But 1 child, a daughter was born to 
them,  Eva, now the wife of Mr. T. Z. Tyler, of Chicago, Ill.  Mr. and 
Mrs. Tyler are the parents of 2 children, namely:  Harrison Parker 
Tyler and  Phyllis Tyler, both born in Louisiana.

Source:  Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3,
pp. 783-785.  Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit. D.  Published in 1914, by 
Century Historical Association.

Note:  Original source includes a photograph of Mr. Parker.