Wayne County Biographies



Part of the Indiana Biographies Project



George W. Parsons

Captain George W. Parsons, ex-assessor of Jefferson township, Wayne county, is one of the native sons of this township, his birth having occurred September 18, 1843. He is a grandson of Benjamin F. Parsons, who was one of the early settlers of this locality, and is a son of Amos and Jane (Machett) Parsons. Amos Parsons had one brother, Elijah, and eleven sisters. He was likewise a native of this township, and, following the example of his ancestors, he was devoted to agriculture. Of the three sons and three daughters born to himself and estimable wife, four survive: George W., the subject of this article; Benjamin, a resident of Richmond, Indiana; and two daughters.

The youth of George W. Parsons was spent, uneventfully enough, upon the old homestead, a portion of his time being given to attending the schools of the neighborhood. Lessons of patriotism, industry and devotion to duty were constantly instilled into his nature by his wise parents' precepts and example, and these bore fruit in due season. He was less than eighteen years of age when the dreadful conflict between the north and south began, and soon after reaching his anniversary he offered his services to his country. Enlisting in Company I, Fifty-seventh Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as a private, he was regularly promoted to corporal, sergeant, orderly sergeant, first lieutenant and finally to the captaincy of his company. Of the numerous decisive battles of the war in which he took an active and distinguished part may be mentioned: Shiloh, Perryville, Stone river (where he was wounded in the right shoulder) and Missionary Ridge. After the last named battle he accompanied his regiment to the relief of General Burnside, whose forces at Knoxville were being besieged by the Confederates, under General Longstreet. That great rebel leader having been forced to retreat, the Fifty-seventh then joined the command of General Sherman in the Atlanta campaign, and did effective service in all the important engagements down to Peach Tree creek (including Resaca and Rocky Face Ridge) where, after a desperate resistance, a portion of the regiment was captured by the Confederates. Captain Parsons was, unfortunately, one of the number, and for the next two months he experienced the horrors of Andersonville prison. More fortunate, however, than many of the poor, starved and abused federal soldiers who were his comrades while he was there, he was released at the end of the time specified, under special exchange orders. Resuming his command, he served under General Thomas at the battles of Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville, and after peace had been declared his regiment was sent to Texas, in order to keep vigilant watch of the operations of the French, under Maximilian, in Mexico. Remaining in the Lone Star state for a few months, the Fifty-seventh was finally mustered out at Port Lavaca, Texas, December 14, 1865. It had so happened that our subject received his commission as first lieutenant. May 31, 1865, and the following day was raised to the captaincy of his company.

Upon returning home the gallant young captain, then but twenty-two years of age, though he had fought and suffered and had had many experiences—on the battle-field, in camp and in prison—that had aged him greatly, commenced making preparations for his marriage. On the 1st of April, 1866, he wedded Miss Priscilla, daughter of Hannibal and Fanny (Perry) Mathews, who were natives of New York state and Vermont, respectively. They were married in Cincinnati, Ohio, and removed to Hagerstown, Wayne county, in 1852. The father married, after the death of his first wife, Fanny, her half-sister, and a son and three daughters were born of this union. Mrs. Parsons, who is one of the eight children of the first marriage, was born in Cincinnati, May 5, 1849, and has resided in Jefferson township since childhood. The Captain and his wife lost three children, who died in infancy, and their surviving sons and daughters are named as follows: Amos W., Emma J., Harry C, Gertrude F., EdnaE., Benjamin F., George W. and Mary Irene.

Since the close of the war Captain Parsons has given his attention to various business enterprises, and for many years has bought live stock and has supplied the local markets with meat. As a citizen he is held in high esteem in his community, as may be seen by the fact that he was made assessor of his township and was retained in that office for eight years. Politically he is an uncompromising Republican.

Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1899