Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 427
L.PARRY, one of the settlers of this county of 1855, and a prominent citizen of Goshen Township, residing on section 21, was born in New Castle, Del., in the month of December, 1838, and was the third in a family of five children born to David and Lydia ( Hollingsworth ) Parry, who were also natives of Delaware. They were married in that State, and there the father engaged in farming until 1847, when, accompanied by his family, he removed to Chester County, Pa., there pursuing the same vocation until 1853, when he became a resident of Ohio. Making his home in that State until June, 1855; he then came to Muscatine, and in September of the same year made a journey from Pennsylvania to this State in a wagon. He purchased an improved farm, and has since been engaged in its cultivation. His wife died in the month of February, 1882.

Our subject was reared to farm life, and received his education in the schools of the different States in which he resided--Delaware, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Iowa. He began his life work as a farmer in this county, and in 1875 bought 120 acres of partly improved land on section 21, Goshen Township, to which he removed in 1877, and has there since made his home. A comfortable residence has been erected, and other improvements made, until his farm is now one of the best in the township. He also gives considerable attention to the raising of fine stock, and everything about his place denotes thrift and industry.

In Muscatine County Mr. Parry led to the marriage altar Miss Catherine A. Stodler, their union being celebrated in January, 1867. The lady was born in Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Peter and Sarah Jane ( Stoffer ) Stodler, who were also born in the same State. Her father kept a tavern in Pennsylvania, but in 1853, came to Iowa, settling in Pike Township, Muscatine County, where he purchased raw land, from which he developed a fine farm. He there made his home until his death, which occurred in 1872, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife died in 1853, soon after coming to this county. Rudolph W. Stodler, a brother of Mrs. Parry, was a soldier in the late war, enlisting at Muscatine, Iowa in Company D, 8th Iowa Infantry, for three years' service. At the expiration of that time he veteranized, and while fighting to preserve the Union received a wound which crippled him. He then returned home, but died from the effects in 1864.

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Parry seven children have been born, five of whom are living : Chester C., born Oct. 28, 1867; Henry H., Dec. 21, 1869 ; Delavan, born Dec. 18, 1871, and died Nov. 23, 1872 ; Lula L, born Feb. 12, 1873 ; Margaret, born March 20, 1875, and died Nov. 23, 1875 ; Ada H., born Nov.11, 1876, and Elsie, Nov. 11, 1877. Mr. Parry casts his ballot with the Democratic party, but does not take an active part in political affairs. He assisted in the re-organization of the school districts of the township, and is prominent in the promotion of educational interests. He has witnessed almost the entire development of Muscatine County, has seen its once barren prairies bud and blossom like the rose, its primitive log cabins give place to commodious residences, while towns and villages have sprung up, churches and school-houses have been built, and other improvements made until scarcely a relic is left of pioneer days, and Muscatine County occupies a front rank among the ninety-nine counties comprising this great commonwealth.

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