E. M. Parsons, mayor of the city of Carroll, and the leading grain merchant of the town, was elected to his present office in 1886, succeeding Thomas F. Barbee. He is one of the early business men of Carroll, having located here in the spring of 1875. At that time he took a half interest in a grain business with J. E. Jones; this partnership continued until the death of Mr. Jones in October, 1884, since which time Mr. Parsons has conducted the business alone. The elevator now owned by him was erected by Mr. Jones in 1874. Mr. Parsons was born in New York, near the city of Rochester, in 1847. When he was six years of age, his father, John Parsons, removed with his family to Coldwater, Michigan, where our subject was reared to manhood in the nursery business, that being the occupation of his father. When nineteen years old he went to Ogle County, Illinois, and engaged in the grain business, at Creston, for an uncle, and later he purchased the elevator at that place and went into business for himself. He remained at Creston until he came to Carroll. Mr. Parsons is also engaged in the live-stock business. The parents of our subject had three children, two sons and a daughter. The latter, Mrs. Nellie Hunter, resided in Carroll. The father died in Michigan and the mother resides in Carroll. Mr. Parsons was married at Creston, Illinois, to Miss Emma Chamberlain, a daughter of Porter E. Chamberlain, of Rockford, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Parsons have two children—Charles and Willis, the former born in Creston and the latter in Carroll. Politically Mr. Parsons is a Republican.

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