Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/667

 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 593 later his brother Henry was killed by a fall- ing tree, and this proved a tremendous dis- aster to the surviving brother, — a beardless boy, alone in the big woods with only a few neighbors for help. Alone, the boy continued the work, cleared the land and built the liome. When everything was ready, with that mi- nute attention to details which was one of his characteristics, he sent for his parents to join him, and with them he remained on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age. ' ' Upon thus attaining to his legal ma,iority Mr. Uarsous determined to work his way through college. This ambition he found virtually impossible to realize, and he became a teacher in the public school in the little village of Burr Oak, Michigan. Thereafter he devoted three j^ears to the study of den- tistry and after mastering the same he en- gaged in practice at Hillsdale, Michigan. Soon, however, he subordinated all other in- terests to tender his aid in defense of the Union, whose integrity was menaced liy armed rebellion. Upon the first call for volunteers for service in the Civil war Mr. Parsons en- listed in Company E, Fourth Michigan Vol- unteer Infantry, and before the regiment left tlie state he was made second lieutenant of his company. His command proceeded di- rectly to the city of Washington and partic- ipated in the tirst battle of Bull Run. Mr. Parsons was promoted first lieutenant on the 1st of September, 1861, and on the 1st of the following July was made captain of his com- pany. In the command of General McClel- land he took part in all the battles incidental to the campaign of that gallant leader and he distinguished himself by conspicuous and meritorious service until impaired health com- pelled him to retire, on the 27th of IIarch, 1863, in which month he duly received his he ever retained a deep interest in his old honorable discharge. It should be noted that comi'ades in arms, and that he indicated the same by his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic and the Military Order of The Loyal Legion. In 1864 jIr. Parsons accepted a position with a mining company at Nortliampton, Massachusetts, where he retained this in- cumbency for three years, at the expiration of which the mines ceased operation. At Northampton he formed the acquaintance of J. Wyman Jones who, with associates, had recently purchased the LaGrave mines in ]Iissonri, and Mr. Parsons was engaged to visit the mines and make a personal investi- gation of the same, with subsequent report to the owners. He accomplished the woi'k as- signed to him and upon his return to the east made his report to the directors of the company. He was soon afterward tendered the position of superintendent of these mines, but he considered it inexpedient to accept the place, owing to the remoteness of the mines from advantages of civilization to which his wife and family were accustomed. Concern- ing his final decision and action the follow- ing record has been made and is worthy of perpetuation : ' ' Mrs. Parsons, who was ever her husband's trusted confidante and adviser, displaying that spirit of devotion and self- sacrifice which in all the years of their mar- ried life made her a tower of strength to her husband, urged him to accept the position, declaring, like Ruth of old, 'Whither thou goest I will go, ' and the decision was made. ^Ir. Parsons came west and a.ssumed charge ilay 1, 1867, leaving his family at DeSoto, then a small town, until June 26th, when he broiTght them to Bonne Terre and installed them in half of the only frame house in the place. Thus it was that this kind, gentle and capable man came to Bonne Terre and came to be associated with and bound up in the life history of nearly every one of our people." Continuing, this local estimate gives further words of deep appreciation and honor: looking over our beautiful, modeni little city of six thousand people; viewing the clouds of smoke rising from the largest lead mine in the world ; noting our handsome schools, beautiful churches and peaceful homes nest- ling amid bowers of shade, — is it to be won- dered that the people of this place, through the long months of Mr. Parsons' illness, gave their daily thoughts to the suffering man whose genius had made Bonne Terre a pos- sibility, and is it strange that as life's sands ran low, the desire of Mr. Parsons should be that his remains be laid at rest among those who for nearly fort.v-five years had been near and dear to him, and that when the final summons came it was felt as a personal loss to everyone in Bonne Terre?" It is not within the province of this pub- lication to enter into details concerning the upbuilding of the great industrial enterprises with which Mr. Parsons' name was so long and conspicuously identified, but it should be noted that no other one man has done so much to develop the great lead resources of this section of the state and that his labors were
 * ' Standing at the brow of one of our hills and