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         ABRAHAM H. PARSONS, dealer in flour, feed, farm produce, and fuel, wood and coal, and proprietor of the express and dray line, was born in Grand View Township, Dec. 23, 1844, and is a son of Joel C. and Caroline Parsons, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. He learned the cooper’s trade . . .

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. . . in his father’s shop, and on the 6th of August, 1868, became the husband of Miss Sarah A. Duncan, who was born in Columbus City Township, and is a daughter of George B. Duncan. Soon after his marriage Mr. Parsons engaged in farming near Ainsworth, Washington County, Iowa, where he resided until the spring of 1872, when he removed to Taylor County, and there followed the same occupation for a year, after which he took up his residence in Creston, Iowa, where he was employed in the boiler-shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad for three years. He next engaged in the coal and wood business in that city for nine years, and in May, 1884, came to Columbus Junction, and started his present business. He handles twenty-five carloads of flour and feed annually, ten of coal, and 200 cords of wood.

Mr. and Mrs. Parsons have a family of six children living, three sons and three daughters, and have lost one son and a daughter: Carrie A., born Aug. 11, 1869, and George C., July 10, 1871, both died on the 4th of March, 1873; William H., born May 24, 1874; Joseph Leroy, March 20, 1876; James F., March 20, 1878; Gracie B., Jan. 11, 1881; Mary Pearl, March 5, 1884; Nellie F., Aug. 29, 1886, completes the number. Mr. and Mrs. Parsons and their eldest son are members of the Evangelical Church. In politics he is a Democrat.