Bennington

PARMENTER, Jerome Bonaparte

Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont: A Record of the 
Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding 
of a Nation. Carleton, ed. Chicago: Lewis, 1903, pp 326-327

Jerome Bonaparte PARMENTER, the practical creator of the "Troy Daily Press" 
and its publisher and editor for many years, was born in 1839 in Pittstown, 
near Johnsonville, in Rennsselaer County, New York, and died at his home in 
Bennington [Bennington County], Vermont, 27 April 1891. The "Troy Daily 
Press" was established by the HAWLEY brothers in 1867, but it was not until 
the following year, when it was purchased by Mr. PARMENTER and Charles C. 
CLARK, that it obtained recognition as a valuable and progressive journal. 
The editorial leaders, which for a long time were principally from Colonel 
PARMENTER's pen, were scholarly and vigorous, attracted wide interest and 
favorable comment and were generally of a character to mold and influence 
public sentiment. Mr. [Charles C.] CLARK's death occurred 12 February 1873, 
and Colonel PARMENTER subsequently became the owner of the establishment, and 
his sole proprietorship continued until 01 April 1883, when George E. EATON, 
who died 17 January 1891, purchased an interest therein. This partnership 
continued until the formation of the Troy Press Company, in which Messrs. 
PARMENTER and EATON then had a controlling interest. In December 1889, the 
holdings of both of these gentlemen in the concern were disposed of, and 
Colonel PARMENTER's connection with the Press ceased.

Jerome Bonaparte PARMENTER was the youngest son of Dr. Aziel F. PARMENTER. 
The family's descent is traced from Jehan PARMENTER, a distinguished 
navigator, who was born in Dieppe, France, in 1694. Jacques PARMENTER, a 
painter of celebrity, who was called to England in 1676 to decorate Montague 
House (afterward the British Museum), was a descendant of Jehan Robert 
PARMENTER, the founder of the American family, and settled in Braintree 
[Norfolk County], Massachusetts, in 1648. His son, Benjamin, in 1716 removed 
to Newport [Newport County], Rhode Island; he became the father of a son also 
named Benjamin, who was the father of John Newton PARMENTER. Dr. Aziel 
PARMENTER, the second son of John Newton PARMENTER, graduated from a 
Massachusetts medical college, was a successful teacher for some years, 
married in 1820 and eventually located near Johnsonville [Rensselaer County, 
New York], where his children were born.

Jerome Bonaparte PARMENTER received his initial schooling under most favorable 
auspices, at home under the preceptorship of his cultured father. He [J. B. 
PARMENTER] was graduated from Union College in 1857, one of the youngest men 
who ever received a diploma from that time-honored institution. Immediately 
thereafter he entered upon the study of law with his brothers, Roswell A. and 
Franklin J. PARMENTER. He has just begun his practice when the call to arms 
summoned the patriotic young men to enlist in defense of the imperiled Union. 
He became a captain in the One Hundred and Sixty-Ninth New York Volunteer 
Infantry, a regiment in which Colonel PARMENTER proved a brave and capable 
officer. Disabled during the siege of Charleston by the concussion produced 
by the explosion of a shell while he was acting colonel of the regiment, he 
was sent to Beaufort, South Carolina, hospital. His injury proved permanent, 
necessitating his retirement from the service in December 1863, when he 
resigned his commission. Returning to Troy in 1864, he resumed the practice 
of law in association with his brothers until his newspaper connection was 
formed as above set forth. Colonel [Jerome Bonaparte] PARMENTER married Emma 
STEWART, of Bennington [Bennington County], Vermont, and made his residence 
in that village for some years prior to his decease. His son, Edward, born 
in 1869, resides in Bennington. In July 1891 he [Edward PARMENTER] married 
Bessie A., daughter of Ernest AMADOR, late of North Adams [Berkshire County], 
Massachusetts, now of Paterson [Passaic County], New Jersey; they [Edward and 
Bessie A. PARMENTER] have a son, Ray Edward PARMENTER, born 26 January 1897.

Colonel [J. B.] PARMENTER did something more than formulate interesting 
articles and express opinions. He was accounted the most correct writer of 
English of the capable journalists of New York. His literary culture was 
thorough. He loved good books, good deeds, good pictures and incidentally it 
may be mentioned that one of his favorite pastimes was the use of the 
artist's brush, and there is in the possession of the members of the family a 
number of pictures of creation which attest his artistic skill and taste. 
The strength and virility of his political articles gave to many the 
impression that he was a combative man. This was not the fact. His was a 
gentle, sympathetic nature. He was ardent and impulsive, and his impulses 
always led him in the direction of generosity. He had a catholic benevolence 
and was tolerant of anything except meanness. There was a seeming reserve in 
his manner that induced some to think him cold and distant. Those who knew 
him best can bear testimony that this view wronged the man. His friends knew 
he was warm and genial and that his soul was filled with poetry, and that his 
heart sorrowed over all the misfortunes of his fellow creatures.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly