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    SAMUEL J. PARRIS, is prominent agriculturist of this county and now residing in Port Louisa Township, was born on the 21st day of April, 1816, in Cumberland County, New Jersey. He was the oldest of four children, whose parents were Gabriel Parris and Jemima Johns. They were both natives of the State of New Jersey. In 1827 they came to Ohio and settled in the Town of Dayton. The early education of the subject of this sketch was merely in the branches pertaining to an ordinary English education, and he was early taught to labor. His first pursuit in life was of a mechanical nature.

    In 1840 he first came to this county, and settled in Port Louisa Township, locating on section thirteen. He has lived in this township ever since as an agriculturist, and will in all probability here pass the balance of his days. He was united in marriage on the 27th day of September, 1849, to Eliza J. Gray, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Martin Gray, one of the early settlers of this county, coming here in 1840, and settling in Grandview, where he now resides as a prominent farmer. Mr. Parris is the father of seven children, six of whom are now living. Politically, he is a strong republican; religiously, he is an earnest member of the United Presbyterian Church; socially, he is very pleasant, affable, and courteous, and passes through life without any ostentation, and is very much respected by all who know him.