Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/216

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VIRGLMA BIOGRAPHY

character an<l an efficiency in the conduct of lar^e business enterprises that mark him as a man of unusual force. He has faced discouraging conditions with a brave front, and whatever forebodings may have hlled his soul, to the world he was the clear- headed man of action they were accustomed to meet. There are two qualities of char- acter that distinctly marked his father in this son's estimation, unbounded courage in overcoming difficulties, and his gentle but firm disposition. These qualities have lost nothing in transmission from father to son. Still a young man, Mr. Parrish carries the resjjonsibilities of the executive positions he holds, with a rare wisdom, and in his inter- course with his assistants is courteous and considerate. His many years of intercourse with men as employee and employer have taught him the value of consideration for others, and developed a practical side of his nature that only comes from actual contact with men in different business operations. "Live and let live" is not a modern motto but it is having a modern application in these days and may be said to fairly express Mr. Parrish's attitude toward his fellows.

James Scott Parrish was born in Rich- mond, Virginia, December 12. 1869, son of William Henry Parrish, born July 27, 1834, died March 27, 1892, and grandson of Coason \V. Parrish, born June 5, 1803, died h'ebruary 6, i860. Coason W. Parrish mar- ried Mary Steele Coffey. William Henry Parrish married Mary, daughter of John Kirkpatrick, born in 1790, died in February, 1.S42. John Kirkpatrick married Jane Maria Jellis. born June 2'j, 1801, daughter of Cap- tain Thomas and Ann (Deane) Jellis, who came from England in 1817, settling at Cartersville, Virginia, their daughter, Jane Maria, coming in 1819. Captain Thomas Jellis was a captain in the English army, Cieneral Michael McCreagh, of Lord Well- ington's stalT, being a near relation of the family.

William Henry Parrish was a manufac- turer of Richmond, founder of the Rich- mond Cedar Works, a man of strong char- acter and u[)right life.

James Scott Parrish attended the public schools of Richmond, Mrs. Camm's School and Thomas Norwood's School, preparing in these institutions for college. From the time he was twelve years of age he collected bills in the after-school hours, and on Sat-

urdays until he was eighteen years of age. After entering college he spent two months of each vacation in labor, so the introductory statement that "since twelve years of age he has ])een a worker" admits of no contro- versy. His classical preparation completed he entered Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology, Boston, Massachusetts, whence he was graduated Bachelor of Science in Me- chanical Engineering; May 31, 1892. In June. 1892, he entered the establishment of his lather, the Richmond Cedar Works, tak- ing tlie place made vacant by the death of the latter, the preceding March, and threw himself with all his energy and capacity into the operation of that plant. Success has at- tended his efforts and his name today is an honored one in Richmond business circles. His interests have expanded and now ex- tend far beyond the limits of his original enterprise, the Richmond Cedar Works, he being treasurer of that corporation. He is president of the Hammond Company (In- corporated) ; president of the Chesterfield Apartment Company; president of the Rich- mond Foundry and Manufacturing Com- pany ; president of the Gulf Red Cedar Com- pany ; treasurer of the Wilts Veneer Com- pany, and holds a directorship in each of them.

Mr. Parrish, like many city business men of large interests, has a passionate love for country life and out-of-door pleasures. His chief sports are golf, tennis, hunting and horseback riding, while his love for the country finds expression in his beautiful es- tate. "Miniborya," at Drewry's Bluff', Ches- terfield county, Virginia. Flere the farming and dairy operations are of the deepest in- terest to him. and at "Miniborya" as many of his hours and days "off duty" are spent as are possible. His practical mind has evolved several inventions that have been successfully patented and applied to various uses. His clubs are the Westmoreland. Commonwealth and Country Club of Vir- ginia ; his college fraternity, Sigma Chi. He is a deacon of Grace Street Presbyterian Church, and in politics a Democrat. From 1906 until 1910, Mr. Parrish served upon Governor Swanson's staff as aide-de-camp. In 1907 he was elected a member of the board of trustees of Hampden-Sidney Col- lege.

This record of a busy man's life shows a broad interest in all departments of city