Parsons, George W.

PARSONS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 17:14:43

GEORGE WESLEY PARSONS
born June 14, 1857, Iowa

George Wesley Parsons is one of the prominent and highly esteemed citizens of Hartford, Warren county, and is numbered among the native sons of this locality. A well spent life gained him an enviable position in the regard of his fellow men, and he well deserves representation in this volume. He was born on old family homestead on the 14th of June, 1857, and is one of the four children of George C. and Catherine (Schults) Parsons. Five children are now deceased, and the others are: Lucy, wife of W. A. Canaday, of Palmyra township, Warren county; and William, of Richland township, Warren County. The father was a native of Virginia, his birth having occurred in the Old Dominion in the year 1819. As far back as the ancestry can be traced the family has been connected with the history of the Old Dominion, its first representatives having there located in early Colonial days. George C. Parsons was a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit throughout his entire life. He left his native State in early manhood, taking up his residence in Indiana, and in the fall of 1854 he resumed his Westward journey, traveling toward the setting sun, until he had reached Warren county, Iowa. Here he determined to found a home, and located on section 28, Richland township, where he purchased a tract of land and began the development of a farm. The region was at that time but sparsely settled, much of the land was still in its primitive condition, and there was little indication of rapid progress, but the years and the enterprising spirit of the citizens have worked a wonderful change in an incredible short space of time. Mr. Parsons carried on his farming operations until 1865, when he was called to his final rest, at the comparatively early age of forty-six years. His wife, a native of Miami county, Ohio, died in 1890.
George Wesley Parsons spent his early life upon the old farm, working in the fields and attending school. He watched with interest the progress and development made in this locality, and has ever borne his part in its promotion. Having arrived at years of maturity, he was married, on the 28th of February, 1884, to Miss Jenetta V. Rawson, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Frank and Sarah Rawson, whose family numbered three children. The parents were natives of Indiana, and both died at a comparatively early age. Mrs. Parsons is now the only surviving member of the family. By her marriage she became the mother of four children, - Preston M., Flossie Lou, Ula Fay, and George F., deceased. Although not actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, Mr. Parsons is the owner of one of the finest farms in this fertile section of Iowa. It comprises both uplands and splendid bottom lands, and contains more than 500 acres. The residence and farm buildings are substantial, commodious, and convenient structures, and all the improvements and accessories of a model farm of the nineteenth century may there be found. Mr. Parsons is a man of good business ability, energetic and enterprising, and his carefully managed interests yield to him a good income. He is numbered among the valued citizens of the community, giving his hearty co- operation to all enterprises that are calculated to advance the general welfare and to promote the best interests of the public. He was reared in the faith of the Democratic party, of which his father was a staunch advocate, and when he brought to bear his mature judgment upon the questions of the day and the attitude of the various parties toward these, he also allied himself with the Democracy, and has since supported its men and measures. His disposition is manly and generous. He is social and genial in manner, and has the happy faculty of not only winning friends but retaining them. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.294

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.393
GEORGE W. PARSONS
George W. Parsons, a practical and progressive farmer who stands prominent among those who have won success along honorable lines, now lives on section 29, Richland township, and derives his income from; three large and well improved farms in this county. The home place contains one hundred and sixty acres which has been well tilled and carefully improved, so that it constitutes one of the attractive features in the countryside. He also has a well improved farm of three hundred and twenty-three acres nearby, and the Parsons homestead is also his property. He needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for he is one of the native sons of Warren county, his birth having here occurred June 14, 1857. His father, George C. Parsons, is a native of Virginia and was here reared. When a young man he went west, settling first in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where he was married to Miss Catherine Shults, a native of Virginia. Mr. Parsons followed farming in Indiana for some time, beginning his domestic life there, but in the fall of 1855 he came to Iowa and established his home in Warren county, which, as yet, was a largely undeveloped region. He performed the strenuous task of turning the first furrows on a new farm near Palmyra, but though the labor was difficult, he was persistent and energetic and in the course of years was enabled to add to his original holdings until he owned six hundred acres of valuable land. He reared his family upon this place, spent his life here and died in 1865, his wife surviving him for a number of years. Their family numbered two sons and two daughters, of whom George W., is the eldest. His surviving sister isMrs. Lucy Jane Canady, the wife of George Canady, of Warren county. One sister and one brother have passed away.
There was nothing unusual to differentiate the youth of George W. Parsons from that of other farm boys of the period. He worked in thefields from an early age, attended the district schools and remained with his father until the latter's death and with his mother until he attained his majority, when he carried on the home place and at length succeeded to the ownership of the property. He has never engaged in any other occupation than that to which he was reared, for he has found that it returns a good income to the man who is diligent and persevering. In 1884 he was married in Richland township, this county, to Miss Janet V. Rawson, who was born in Indiana but was reared in this county. They traveled life's journey together for about nineteen years and were then separated by the death of Mrs. Parsons, in September, 1902. Their marriage was blessed with four children. In November, 1904, Mr. Parsons was again married, his second union being with Miss Lou B. Art, who was born and reared in this county, a daughter of A. Y. Art, one of the early settlers and a farmer of Richland township. By this marriage there is one child. The sons and daughters of the first union are: P. M., who is married and is cultivating the home farm; Flossie L., at home; Eula Fay, who is also under the parental roof, and George F., who died at the age of nine months. The daughter of the second marriage is Margaret Catherine Parsons.
As the years passed, Mr. Parsons purchased more land from time to time but resided on the old home place until 1907, when he removed to his present home on section 29, Richland township. He has just completed a neat, modern residence, equipped with furnace heat, acetylene gas, hot and cold water, bath, and in fact every modern convenience. Few farm homes are so thoroughly supplied with all things which add to the comfort of life. Mr. Parsons now owns three farms near Palmyra, his possessions aggregating nearly eight hundred acres. These farms are all well improved, have good buildings, orchards, etc., and are largely fenced with woven wire fence on Osage hedge posts. There is six miles, or more, of woven wire hog-tight fence on his land. In addition to the tilling of the soil, Mr. Parsons is extensively engaged in feeding stock. In all of his business affairs he displays sound judgment and through the careful utilization of his opportunities he has worked his way steadily upward. He is a man of honorable purpose and his diligence and integrity constitute the keynote of his character.
Politically, Mr. Parsons was formerly a democrat, but a change in his political views has led him to become a Roosevelt republican. He has never sought, nor would he hold office save that he served as a member of the school board for eight or ten years and has been a delegate to county conventions. His wife is a member of the Christian church and a teacher and worker in the Sunday school. They are both well known in this part of the state and aside from his extensive and important farming interests Mr. Parsons is a stockholder and director in the Worth Bank at Indianola. Opportunities that others have passed by heedlessly he has noted and improved. Success has never meant to him the mere accumulation of wealth but the right use of it and as he has progressed in life his labors have not only proved a source of individual benefit but have been an element in public progress and improvement. He is well known in Warren and adjoining counties as a successful farmer and business man and his life might well serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others, showing what may be accomplished in a country where diligence and determination are not hampered by caste or class, custom or prejudice.