Parker, Caleb H.

Submitted by Mike Miller

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.