John Parker

[Jim Garrett]

Parker had several run ins with his superiors. He was eventually dismissed from the force. The squawking duck story is true.

[LincolnMan]

Can you imagine the guilt that Parker had to live with afterward? Its a wonder he did commit suicide. He didn't did he?

[RJNorton]

Good morning, Bill. Here's what I have:

Parker remained on the police force until 1868. Finally, he was fired on August 13th of that year for sleeping on duty. He claimed he had been ill. In future years he found work as a carpenter and machinist. He died in Washington on June 28, 1890, of pneumonia, complicated by asthma and exhaustion. He was buried beside his children in Glenwood Cemetery in Washington. Parker's wife died on January 1, 1904, and was buried in the same lot. The graves are unmarked. There are Parker descendants living in the Washington area today, but they do not have the Parker name and have no pictures or family records of John F. Parker.

If any of our "grave experts" see that I have said something that is incorrect please correct me. Thanks.

[Laurie Verge]

I believe what you have posted, Roger, comes from James O. Hall.

[RJNorton]

Sounds right, Laurie. I think it's from "The Mystery of Lincoln's Guard" by James O. Hall in the May 1982 issue of the Surratt Society News. I just checked the citation on my Parker page, and that is what I have listed. A few other sources on Parker include "Lincoln's Missing Guard" by Frederick Hatch in the April 2006 edition of the Journal of the Lincoln Assassination and "Mr. Lincoln’s Security" by Deborah Carbaugh in the August 2000 edition of the Surratt Courier. And, of course, Fred's excellent book, too.

[LincolnMan]

Good morning, Bill. Here's what I have:

Parker remained on the police force until 1868. Finally, he was fired on August 13th of that year for sleeping on duty. He claimed he had been ill. In future years he found work as a carpenter and machinist. He died in Washington on June 28, 1890, of pneumonia, complicated by asthma and exhaustion. He was buried beside his children in Glenwood Cemetery in Washington. Parker's wife died on January 1, 1904, and was buried in the same lot. The graves are unmarked. There are Parker descendants living in the Washington area today, but they do not have the Parker name and have no pictures or family records of John F. Parker.

Wonder why the graves are unmarked? Possibly because of Parker's involvement (negative) in the assassination story?
If any of our "grave experts" see that I have said something that is incorrect please correct me. Thanks.

[Jim Garrett]

The above information is correct. Parker was also a Mason.

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Parker's obituary mentions nothing of the events of 1865, or that he was a police officer.