ABE PARSONS.

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         Among the well known farmers and stockmen of Jefferson township is Abe Parsons, who was born in Louisa county on the 2d of October, 1861, and is a son of the late T. M. and Mary (Hale) Parsons. The father was a native of Virginia and the mother of Ohio. He came to Iowa in 1835, and she in 1840. They located upon a farm in this county, where they spent the remainder of their days, the father passing away on the 2nd day of May, 1902, and the mother on the 23d of October, 1906. Six children were born to them, five of whom are still surviving.

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         Abe Parsons acquired a common-school education, remaining a member of the paternal household until he attained his majority. He early elected to follow agricultural pursuits, for which he had been fitted by his training from childhood, and when he left home he purchased a farm and engaged in general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of feeding stock for the market.

         In 1908 Mr. Parsons was united in marriage to Mrs. Jessie L. (Hook) Parsons, the widow of the late D. D. Parsons. She was also a native of Louisa county, her natal day being the 26th of August, 1861. Her parents, G. W. and Emily B. (Trask) Hook, were natives of Virginia and Illinois respectively. The parents were among the pioneer settlers of this county and extensive landowners. The father passed away on the 13th of November, 1895, and the mother on the 31st of January, 1910, at the age of seventy-three years. Unto them were born nine children, eight of whom are still living. By her first marriage Mrs. Parsons had three children: Talmar, who was born on the 6th of July, 1882, and is the wife of John Deihl, a banker, of Wapello; Mary Pearl, who was born on the 23d of January, 1885, and became the wife of R. R. Hunt; and Dean H., who was born on the 7th of June, 1895, and is now attending school at Wapello.

         Mr. and Mrs. Parsons attend the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she is a member, while fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic order, being a member of Wapello Lodge, No. 5, A.F. & A.M. Mrs. Parsons is a member of the Eastern Star of Wapello, No. 257. Mr. Parsons has always voted the democratic ticket and has been the successful candidate of his party for the office of township trustee. He has met with a moderate success in this business and he and his wife now own two hundred and ninety acres of land on sections 5, 14, and 23, Jefferson township, in addition to which he has four hundred and eighty acres of land in Clark county, Kansas. He is one of the substantial farmers of Jefferson township, where he has resided all his life and has many friends by whom he is highly regarded.