The Parsons Families of Portage County, Ohio

EDWARD PARSONS (deceased), who was a pioneer of Brimfield Township, this county, was born in Northampton, Mass., March 14, 1797, son of Moses and Esther (Kingsley) Parsons, also natives of Massachusetts. The

Parsons family is a very old one and the name appears often in the early history of the old Bay State. They were originally of English extraction. The subject of this sketch lived in his native village until a man grown, in the meantime learning the ti'ade of his father, that of a carpenter and joiner. At this place, when about twenty-nine years of age, he made the acquaintance of Miss Clementina Janes, then teaching school at Northampton, a daughter of Peleg Cheney and Martha (Coy) Janes, of Brimfield, Hampden Co., Mass., where Mr. Janes was a large mill owner. The Janeses were of English extraction, and the Coys of Irish origin, though both families for generations previous were natives of Massachusetts or Connecticut. This acquaintance resulted in the marriage of Mr. Parsons with Miss Janes on January 1, 1828, and two years and a half afterward Mr. Parsons with his wife and son Edward A., born in Northampton, Hampshire County, Mass., January 25, 1829, moved to Ohio, and first settled at Brecksville, Cuyahoga County, for one year; thence went to Cleveland, remaining six months, and finally, in the fall of 1831, took up their residence in the township of Brimfield, Portage County, Here Mr. Parsons worked at his trade at odd intervals, but never to any extent making farming his main occupation, at which he was very successful, for although buying only fifty acres at the start, he afterward became the owner of 200 or more acres near the village of Brimfield. He was one of the most substantial and highly respected citizens of the township. In 1868 he retired from active farming, and moved to Kent, where he resided until his death April 6, 1874. He was from early manhood a devoted member of the Episcopal Church (as was his wife), himself and a Mr. Cogswell being the founders of the first church organization of this denomination in his native village of Northampton, Hampshire Co., Mass., where he was Junior Warden. At Kent he took the same interest, and was one of the organizers of the Episcopal Church in the village, and for the erection of this house of worship he contributed liberally of his means and served as Church "Warden for many years. In politics he was originally a Whig, and in sentiment a believe in liberty and the equal rights of man, and on the formation of the Republican party, he always acted and voted with that party. On the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, two of his sons volunteered and served in the Union Army: Timothy G., for four years, most of the time in the Quartermaster's Department; and William C, for ten months as an artilleryman. Mr. and Mrs. Parsons reared a family of six children: Edward A., born January 25, 1829; Timothy G., born September 17, 1832; Harriet J., born June 24, 1835, died October 2, 1876; Martha Kingsly, born April 1, 1838; William Cheney, born February 19, 1841; Clementina, born September 30, 1843. All the children were born in Brimfield, Ohio, except Edward A., who was born at Northampton, Mass. Mrs. Parsons is now eighty-two years of age, and is an exceedingly amiable and worthy lady, well preserved for her years, I'taining all her faculties. She resides with her daughter, now Mrs. Clementina Barber, wife of Charles H. Barber, the present Postmaster of Kent.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EDWARD A. PARSONS, Kent, Secretary and Treasurer Railway Speed Recorder Company, was born in Northampton, Mass., January 25, 1829, son of Edward and Clementine (Janes) Parsons, who settled in Brimfield Township, this county, in 1831, where they lived until 1868, when they removed to Kent, and here the father died, April 4, 1874, aged seventy-seven years. The mother, now eighty-two years old, resides with her son-in-law, C. H. Barber. (Her father's name was Peleg C. Janes). Their children were six in number: Edward A., Timothy G., Harriet J. (deceased), Martha K. (Mrs. George W. Crouse, in Akron), William C, in Akron, and Clementine (Mrs. C. H. Barber). Edward Parsons (the father) was a native of Northampton, Mass., son of Moses Parsons, and Clementine, his wife, was a native of Brimfield, Mass. Our subject was reared on his father's farm in Brimfield Township, this county, and educated in the common schools. He farmer up to 1863, when he removed to Kent and embarked in the lumber business. In 1871 he sold his business to his brother and engaged in the produce and shipping interest. In 1876 the Railway Speed Recorder Company was formed, of which he has since been Secretary and Treasurei*. He was married September 25, 1853, to Mary J., daughter of Freeman and Mercy A. (Lincoln) Underwood, formerly of Massachusetts, who settled in Brimfield Township in 18_18. They have n children, but an adopted daughter: Effie S. P. (Mrs. J. B. miller.) Mr. Parsons has held several offices in Franklin Township, this county. He served as County Commissioner from 1874 to 1878, and was the main projector in building the fine arch stone bridge over the Cuyahoga River at Kent. In politics Mr. Parsons is a Republican. He is a representative business man and worthy citizen.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

TIMOTHY G. PARSONS, lumberman, Kent, was born in Brimfield Township, this county, September 17, 1832, son of Edward and Clementine (Janes) Parsons, who settled in Brimfield Township in 1831 (see sketch of E. A. Parsons). Our subject was reared on his father's farm, educated in the common schools and Twinsbury Academy. In January, 1853, he went to California, where he was engaged in mining and farming up to November, 1859, when he letm-ned to Brimtield. He served in the late war of the Rebellion, enlisting in September, 1861, in Company A, Forty-second Ohio Vounteer Infantry, Garfield's regiment; served twenty-six months, and received an honorable discharge. He was then employed as a clerk in the Quartermaster's Department, holding that position till the war closed. In September, 1865, he located in E.ent, and engaged in the lumber business with his brother E. A. Parsons up to 1870, when he purchased his brother's interest, and carries on the business himself. In addition to this, he runs a large planing-mill, the only establishment of the kind in the place. Mr. Parsons was married, December 12, 1866, to Eleanor M., daughter of Henry and Susan (Hall) Sawyer, of Brimfield, by whom he has three children living: Edward S., John T. and Dwight L. Mr. Parsons is a F. & A. M. In politics he is a Kepublican. He is known in Kent as an active, honest and successful business man, one who takes a lively interest in all affairs promotive of the town's welfare.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

STEPHEN B. PARSONS, farmer, P. O. Rootstown, was born on the farm where he now resides in Rootstown Township, February 12, 1851; son of John S. and Lucy S. Parsons, natives of Massachusetts; the former born in Northampton, April 6, 1809, the latter in Southampton, January 5, 1810. They were manner in Massachusetts April 26, 1832, and the same year came to this county, where they remained. Their family numbered four children, two of whom are now living: Lucy W., wife of Wells Seymour, and Stephen B. The deceased are John S. and Mary T., the first wife of J. H. Ray (whose sketch appears in this volume). John S. Parsons died February 12, 1878, and hi& widow is now residing on the home farm with our subject and wife. Our subject was married September 27, 1871, to Ellen M. Keed, born in Rootstown Township, this county, January 22, 1853, daughter of Otis and Melissa Reed (former deceased). To our subject and wife have been born four children: Fannie R., John S., Arthur O. and Charlie H. Mr. Parsons has been engaged in farming all his life, and owns considerable real estate. He and his wife and mother are members of the Congregational Church, and are among the first families of the county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.