PARSONS, Baldon / Baldwin - 1890 Bio (1839-1906)

PARSONS, TRAVIS, ARCHIBALD, LINSTRUM, OVERHULSER, MCCORMICK, PARK, LOW

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/20/2007 at 21:13:25

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 493, 494, and 497

Baldon PARSONS, who resides on section 25, Buchanan Township, claims the honor of being a native of Jefferson County -- and it is an honor of which few as old as he can boast -- his birth having occurred on the 11th of April, 1839. His father, John R. PARSONS, was born in Randolph County, W. Va., December 22, 1806, and was of German and Irish descent. He married Diana PARSONS, who though of the same name was not related. She was also born in Randolph County, June 22, 1811, and was a daughter of one of the Revolutionary heroes. The marriage of the parents of our subject was celebrated December 11, 1827, and in 1836 they left their native State, where Mr. PARSONS had previously carried on farming, and started for Iowa, but winter overtook them ere they reached their destination, one of the children was taken sick and they determined to spend the winter in Illinois. The husband, however, in company with Sexton Mount, crossed the Mississippi on the ice, made his way directly to Jefferson County and near Brighton located a claim, after which he returned to his family. The following April, accompanied by wife and children, he completed the journey to Jefferson County and located on section 30, Lockridge Township, where he built a pioneer cabin and began life in true frontier style. He was one of the progressive farmers of the county and succeeded in accumulating four hundred and eighty acres of land. He brought the first reaper and the first mower into the county, was among the first to introduce Short-horn cattle and made a specialty of raising fine stock. He also helped to make the coffin for David Coop, the first white man buried in the county. He served as township trustee for several years and also one term as a member of the Board of County Supervisors. He helped to lay out the now flourishing city of Fairfield and in many other ways was prominently identified with the county's interests and deserves no little credit for the labors he put forth for its advancement and progress. In politics he was a life long Democrat and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church from childhood. Mrs. PARSONS passed to the better land August 28, 1876, and on the 27th of November, 1882, having survived his wife six years, the death of Mr. PARSONS occurred. He stood in the front rank of any enterprise for public improvement, was honored as a citizen and friend, and in the church was one of the most faithful and devoted workers.

To the worthy couple just mentioned was born a family of twelve children, nine of whom lived to mature years, were married and reared families; Jerome died in the prime of life; Eugene is engaged in farming in California; Lucy A. is the wife of Jeff TRAVIS, a resident of Rooks County, Kan.; Robert E. is a farmer of Buchanan Township, Jefferson County; Baldon is the next in order of birth; he is followed by Solomon; Rebecca is the wife of Benjamin ARCHIBALD, a resident of Jefferson County; Mary J. is the wife of Charles LINSTRUM who makes his home in Lucus (sic) County, Iowa; and John J. is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Smith County, Kan.

Our subject was reared amid the wild scenes of pioneer life and in consequence his educational advantages were limited. He had to walk four miles to the first school he attended, and after he had attained a sufficient age he was compelled to leave his studies and engage in farm labor. He drove cattle to a plow used in breaking prairie, so that we see the work of advancement had not yet been carried very far forward for the land was still in its primitive condition. Baldon remembers having accompanied his father to mill when they had to go all the way to Illinois to have their bread stuff ground. This is only one instance of many disadvantages to be borne by the early settlers, and to them more than to any other class of people is due the advanced position which Jefferson County today occupies. At the age of twenty years, Mr. PARSONS started out in life for himself to make his own way in the world and chose as a companion on life's journey Miss Mary M. OVERHULSER, their union being celebrated on the 21st of April, 1869. The lady was born near Dayton, Ohio, September 2, 1840, and is a daughter of Henry and Mary M. (McCORMICK) OVERHULSER, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Virginia. In their youth they removed with their respective families to Montgomery County, Ohio, where they were married and in 1845 they came to Jefferson County, settling in Buchanan Township. The first stove they owned they gave in part payment for a forty acre tract of land, but as year by year rolled on they met with successes which placed them in comfortable circumstances. Mr. OVERHULSER was a Democrat and held a number of township offices with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. Mrs. PARSONS was the sixth child in a family of twelve children, six of whom are now living, namely: George W., a farmer of Marion County, Kan.; William a retired farmer of Fairfield; Jacob L. who is engaged in farming in Madison County, Iowa; Henry C., a resident of California; John L., who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Madison County, Iowa; and James M. who follows the same business in Buchanan Township.

Mr. PARSONS and his wife have passed their entire married life on the farm which is still their home and four hundred and seventeen and one-half acres of fine land, owned by himself and sons, now pay tribute to his care and cultivation. He is also doing a fine business as a stock-dealer, raising only the best grades, and has one of the largest and best barns in the county. His home is truly a model farm with its comfortable dwelling, good outbuildings, improved stock, etc., and the entire surroundings indicate the thrift and enterprise of the owner.

Mr. and Mrs. PARSONS are the parents of seven children -- Ira E., who wedded May PARK and after her death married Ballie E. LOW; John H., George B., Truman E., Ella, James E. and S. Delmer. The parents and children are all members of the Methodist Church and no family in the community is more highly esteemed. Their home is the abode of hospitality and good will and their friends are sure of a hearty welcome and warm reception. Mr. PARSONS cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas and has since supported the Democratic party. Socially, he is a member of the Old Settlers Society. Great indeed has been the change in his home and in the county in the fifty years of his residence here. He was a manufacturer of the greater part of the furniture in his first home and few comforts and fewer luxuries were found in the dwelling, but the sun of prosperity shone upon him and he is now one of the substantial farmers of the community. The county has also undergone a like change and from a wild and barren region it has been converted into a region of fruitfulness, well rewarding the efforts of those engaged in its cultivation.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.