Thompson M. Parsons

PARSONS, HALE, IRWIN, CRESSWELL

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 9/26/2021 at 11:04:13

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, May 8, 1902
Page 1

Thompson M. Parsons was born in what is now West Virginia, November 28, 1818. He died at his home near Toolsboro, Iowa, May 2, 1902. He first came to Iowa at the age of 17, in 1835 and located a claim in Muscatine county, returning to Virginia the same year. He returned with his father the next year and located with him in Jefferson township. He was married in 1847 to Mary Hale, who with six children survive him. These are Mrs. ? Irwin, Mrs. D. C. Cresswell, John, James, Abram and Harry T. All except James and Mrs. Cresswell live in this county; the former lives in Henry and the latter in Page county, Iowa.

Mr. Parsons had been feeble for years but no one expected his death at this time as no change in his condition was noticed up to the hour of his death. He ate a hearty supper Thursday night and a good breakfast on the morning of his death. He was, for many years, prominent in Louisa county politics and a man of much force and influence. He was elected and re-elected, time and again, a member of the board during the stormy scenes connected with the county seat fight. He was a fighter, but no complaint was ever made that what he did was not done openly and fairly. Mr. Parsons was, by predilection, a whig, though, strange to say, never a protectionist; always an out and out free trader.

Though from Virginia, a southern state, he was an uncompromising abolitionist and one of the influential mangers of the "underground railroad", engaged in helping runaway slaves to Canada. After the war, he became dissatisfied with the reconstruction measures of his party and disagreeing with their protective views he found himself a democrat of democrats, and an original free slaver advocate. He was a man of marked influence in his vicinity and will be greatly missed. Funeral occurred Sunday afternoon, May 4, interment in the Parsons cemetery.