In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1908) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1838
From 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908), The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881)
JOHN W. PARSONS, Treasurer, Springfield. Mr. Parsons is a native of Springfield. His father, Israel Parsons, removed from Harper's Ferry, Va., in 1831, and settled in Springfield. He still resides here, being now in the 81st year of his age; his wife, who was Ann C. Cox, having died Dec. 26, 1879, at 70 years of age. The subject of this sketch was born July 25, 1838, and has been a resident of this city all his life. When 14 years of age, he engaged as "message boy," and subsequently learned telegraphy, and continued as operator until 1864, when he became manager of the Western Union office in Springfield, which position he still holds. He served in the United States Telegraph Corps from May, 1861, to the spring of 1863; was a member of the City Council in 1868. In October, 1876, he was elected Treasurer of Clark County, and was re-elected in 1878. He is a member of Clark Lodge, No. 101, Springfield Chapter, No. 45, and Springfield Council, No. 17; also of the Palestine Commandery, No. 33; in each of which he has been the presiding officer and is now presiding in the Commandery. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Lida, daughter of William Enoch. His residence is No. 106 Yellow Spring street. They have two children.
As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN W. PARSONS, superintendent of the Ohio Masonic Home, of Springfield, and a native and life-long resident of Springfield, was born in 1838, a son of Israel and Ann C. (Cox) Parsons.
Israel Parsons was born in 1799 in Frederick County, Maryland, and in 1830 emigrated to Springfield, where he was engaged in general contracting during his active career, and died in 1883.
John W. Parsons was reared in Springfield, and his educational training was received in the public schools of this city. Early in life he learned telegraphy, at which he worked for a period of twenty-nine years, being for eighteen years manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company, of Springfield, Ohio. He served two years as telegraph operator in the United States Military Telegraph Corps in the Army of the Potomac, and has in his possession many original telegrams of General George B. McClellan and other military officers of high rank.
In 1876 Mr. Parsons was elected treasurer of Clark County, and two years later he was again elected to the same position. He has served all together four terms in this office, as he was elected to it again in 1884, serving two consecutive terms, the last of Avhich expired in 1888. During 1891-2 he served as a member of the board of public affairs and was one of the most active and prominent members of that body. Three years later, in 1895, he was elected superintendent of the Ohio Masonic Home, in which capacity he is still serving very efficiently. Mr. Parsons is a man of public spirit and enterprise and has always taken an interest in all matters pertaining to the advancement of the county. Politically he is a Republican and has served as chairman of the Republican central committee.
Mr. Parsons was united in marriage in 1867 to Miss Lida Enoch and they have two children: Jessie M. and Orrin L., who lives in Indian Territory. Fraternally Mr. Parsons is a Mason, having attained the thirty-third degree, which he took in 1887 in Providence, R. I. He is a member of St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church, of Springfield.
As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1908. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.