Age: 51
Served: ~5 years
1843 to 1846, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
1855 to 1856, Cincinnati Police Force
OFFICER
Levi Parker was born April 14, 1805 in Vermont or Connecticut. We know nothing of his parents or ancestry and nothing of his first forty years, other than his enlistment into the United States Army. On August 25, 1830, Levi, while living in New Haven, Connecticut and working as a carpenter, enlisted at Whitehall for a five-year stint in the infantry. The country was at peace, and he was honorably discharged more than three years early on January 18, 1832.
Eight years later, in 1840, he was living in the 3rd Ward of Cincinnati with a woman and two girls: presumably, his wife, Lucy, an English immigrant, and children, Mary and Sarah.
On August 9, 1841, Levi was elected as a delegate for the 3rd Ward to the County Convention in Carthage. The next month, on September 13th, he was instrumental in forming the Workingmen’s Association of the Third Ward. During 1842, and probably before, he was working in a bell and brass foundry and living on Arch Street.
In 1843, Levi was appointed as a Jailer at the Hamilton County Jail on Sycamore between Hunt (Reading Road) and Jail Ally (Michael Baney Way). On March 12, 1844, he was nominated by the Democratic Party for the position of Engineer of Water Works. We believe he was not successful in the bid and that he continued as a Jailer until at least 1845. He was likely replaced when newly elected Whig sheriff candidate, Thomas J. Weaver, came into office on January 1, 1847.
By 1850, Levi and Lucy were living with three daughters, Mary, Sarah, and Julia, at 22 Baum Street where he operated a boarding house. He was also back working as a brass finisher. Some in the Democratic Party were pushing him to run for Hamilton County Sheriff. We find no indication that he was officially nominated.
Sometime before 1855, Levi was appointed Cincinnati Watchman in the 17th Ward and survived a political purge during July 1855. Soon after, Watchman Parker was promoted to Police Lieutenant. Read More
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