William Parham

Parham was born September 15, 1841, in Petersburg, Virginia, spent his childhood in Philadelphia before moving to Cincinnati, Ohio, at the age of 16.[1] He married Mary A. Crogan.[2] He was an Odd Fellow and a Mason and belonged to the Baptist Church.[3] He wrote An Official History of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Ohio, it was published posthumously in 1906.[4]

Parham was the superintendent of "colored" high schools from 1866 to 1876.[1] When the "colored School Board" was abolished he was made principal of all the schools, and then served as principal of Gaines High School from 1887.[1]

He resigned from his position as principal in 1890 and changed careers from education to law, becoming the first African American to graduate from Cincinnati Law School.[1] He was also the first African American to become an Ohio state notary.[1]

He was the first African American to be nominated for office in Ohio's legislature, at first refusing the nomination but later accepting.[1] He represented Hamilton County, Ohio, in the Ohio House of Representatives in 1896 and 1897 as a Republican.[2]

Along with other prominent Masons he publicly raised their dissatisfaction with President William McKinley's silence on lynchings and refusal to commission black officers in the army.[5]

He died July 9, 1904, at his home at 1240 Chapel street, Walnut Hills, Cincinnati.[6] His death was due to paralysis after having multiple strokes starting the first of June.[6]

• Findagrave entry