Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/226

 PARSONS

PARSONS

He removed with his parents to Oswego county, N.Y., where he was educated and engaged in teaching school in 1833. He removed to Michigan in 1835, tauglit scliool at Ann ^. ^ "., Arbor, and in 1836 settled in

fC* z*'®!^. ^^\-, <-^i"'unna, Shiawassee county. ' llr was county clerk, 1830-38 ; ^' n /-V ^'-oi-iter of deeds, 1840-46 ; a >-^-^-^/'/ state senator from the sixth ■ ;;!;- ^ district, 1847-48, and was ■ elected prosecuting attorney

of the coun!\ ill 1^18. He was elected lieutenant- governor of the state on the Democratic ticket with Robert McClelland for governor in 1852, and on the appointment of McClelland as secretary of the interior in President Pierce's cabinet, he be- came the second governor of Michigan, March 8, 1853, and served until Jan. 3, 1855. He represented his county in the state legislature in 1855. He was elected regent of the University of Michigan from the seventh circuit for six years, and served, 185'2-.")4. He died in Corunna, Mich., June 6, 1855.

PARSONS, Charles, artist, was born in Row- lands Castle, Uampsliire, England, May 8, 1821. He came to the United States with his parents in childhood ; was educated in the public schools of New York city ; studied art in the National Academy of Design, and engaged in drawing on stone for lithographing. He was the director of Harper & Brotliers' art department, New York city, 1861-89, and during his leisure hours and after 1889 devoted himself to landscape and marine painting in oil and water color. He be- came an associate of the National Academy of Design in 1850 or 1851, and a member of the New York Water-Color society. He exhibited at the National Academy, and Iiis works include : An Old Orchard, Long Island (1884); Amagansett, Long Isldiid (1889), and many others.

PARSONS, Charles Carroll, soldier, was born in Elyria, Oliio, in 1838. After his father's death in 1839, he was adopteil by his maternal uncle, and appointed to the U.S. Military academy by his cousin. Judge Philemon Bliss (q.v.). He was graduated in the class of 1861, and promoted 1st lieutenant, 4th artillery, June 24, 1861 ; was on duty in "Washington, D.C., and West Virginia, 1861, and commanded a company in the Army of the Oliio. in the Tennessee and Mississippi campaign, at the battle of Shiloh and at the siege of Cor- inth, 1862. He commanded the artillery that covered the retreat of the army from the battle of Richmond to Louisville in September, 1802; was brevetted captain for gallant and meritorious services at Perryville, Oct. 8, 1802, and marched to the relief of Nashville in October. 1862. He commanded in the Tennessee campaign from October, 1862, to January, 1863, including Stone river, where he was brevetted major for gallant

and meritorious services, Dec. 31, 1862. He wa3 jirincipal assistant professor of geography, history and ethics at the U.S. Military academy, 1863-64; was stationed at Fort Columbus, N.Y., November, 1864, to January, 1865, and at Camp Barry, D.C., January to May, 1865. He was brevetted lieu- tenant-colonel, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, .served on the staff of General Hazen, commanding the 15th army corps. May to November, 1865, and was stationed at Fort McHenry, Md., November, 1865, to IMarch, 1866. He was promoted captain, 4th artillery, July 28, 1866 ; commanded a battery at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., until Marcli, 1867; was chief of artillery and ordnance on Gen. Winfield S. Hancock's Indian expedition, March to May, 1867, and was stationed at Forts Riley, Harker and Leavenworth, 1867-68. He was principal as- sistant professor of geography, history and ethics at the U.S. Military academy, 1868-70, and was honorably discharged from the service at his own request, Dec. 31, 1870. He was ordained to the Protestant Episcopal ministry in 1871, and was rector of churches in Memphis, Teiin., Cold Spring, N.Y., Hoboken, N.J., 1871-78. He was also associate editor of the Banner of the Church at Memphis, 1871-72. He died of yellow fever at Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 7, 1878.

PARSONS, Frances Theodora, author, was born in New York city, Dec. 5, 1861 ; daughter of N. Denton and Harriet (Shelton) Smith, and granddaughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Street) Smith and of Theodore and Harriet (Emmons) Slielton. The Smiths were early settlers of Long Island, N.Y., and the Emmonses were of Con- necticut stock. Frances was educated at Miss Comstock's school in New York city, where she spent eight years. She was married first. Maj- 20, 1884, to Commander William Starr Dana, U.S.N, (q.v.), and secondly, Feb. 19, 1896, to James Russell Parsons, jr. (q.v.). During her private study of flowers, she discovered the lack of untechnical works on nature .study, and her first book, written to supply the deficiency, became immediately popular. She wrote under the name Mrs. William Starr Dana until 1896, after which slie used the name Frances Theodora Parsons. Slie is the author of : lloio to Know the Wild FJoimrs (1893); According to Season, describing flowers found in New Jersey, Connecticut, the Berkshire Hills and the Adirondacka (1895) ; Plants and Tlieir Children ; for young children (1890); How to Know the Ferns (1899).

PARSONS, Frank, economist, was born at Mt. Holly, N.J., Nov. 14, 18.54; son of Edward and Alice B. (Rliees) Parsons: grandson of Richard and Elizal)eth (Huchens) Parsons and of John Loxley and Rebecca (McElwee) Rhees, and a descendant of the Rev. Morgan John and Anna