WI BIO - Dane Co - PARSONS, Andrew S.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 301-304

The name of PARSONS is very familiar in Dane County [WI], where members of 
that family have resided since 1850. Andrew S. PARSONS was born at Moravia, 
Cayuga County, New York, 12 October 1833, the son of Anson G. and Nancy 
(THOMPSON) PARSONS. His paternal ancestors, Moses and Chloe PARSONS, had a 
family of twelve children, six sons and four daughters of whom grew to 
maturity (the [p 302] other two died in infancy), as follows: (1) Daniel, 
known as "Major," a farmer and drover, died at Forestville [Chautauqua 
County], New York; (2) Anson G., father of the subject, died at Oregon [Dane 
County], Wisconsin; (3) Aaron, a shoemaker, died at Moravia [Cayuga County], 
New York; (4) Warren, died while Warden of the Auburn [Cayuga County], New 
York, State prison; (5) Reuben, died when a young man; (6) John, a Baptist 
clergyman, died on the Mississippi River, while on his way home at 
Minneapolis [MN]; (7) Sally (means Sarah*), wife of Solomon DAVIS, died at 
Garretsville [Garrattsville, Otsego County], New York; (8) Susan, wife of 
Griffin BRIGGS, died at Garrettsville [Garrattsville, Otsego County], New 
York; (9) Eunice, wife of Charles Albert WHEELER, died at Garrettsville, New 
York; and (10) Harriet, wife of Nathaniel ELLSWORT, died at Garrettsville, 
New York. [* Note this clarification, in parentheses, was added by the 
biographer, not the submitter, whose comments appear in brackets.]

The father of our subject, Anson G. PARSONS, was born in Springfield 
Township, Otsego County, New York, 08 September 1789, where he grew to 
manhood; afterward removed to Moravia [Cayuga County], New York, and followed 
the trade of carpenter. In his thirty-fourth year, on 08 January 1823, he 
married, as stated above, Nancy THOMPSON, who was born 30 July 1802, in New 
Hampshire; [she] afterward lived in Maine until seven years old, and then 
moved to Madison County, New York. She was a daughter of John and Hannah 
(HEALY) THOMPSON, the father dying 31 August 1818, in his fifty-first year, 
the mother at the age of ninety-four years. Mr. and Mrs. THOMPSON had three 
sons and seven daughters, namely: (1) Abigail, born 29 January 1794, wife 
of Aaron PARSONS, died at Moravia [Cayuga County], New York; (2) John, born 
11 October 1796, a farmer, died in Chautauqua County, New York; (3) Betsy, 
born 20 November 1798, wife of John KELLY, died at Lancaster [Grant County], 
Wisconsin; (4) Washington, born 26 January 1800, a farmer, died in 
Chautauqua County, New York; (5) Nancy, mother of our subject, died at 
Oregon [Dane County], Wisconsin; (6) Seth, born 30 July 1802, twin brother 
of Nancy, a farmer, died at Ann Arbor [Washtenaw County], Michigan; (7) 
Lydia, born 13 October 1805, thrice married: Asa FOSTER, James EDDY, and Ira 
KNIGHT; she was accidentally killed by the cars at her home on 28 November 
1892, at Gaines, Genesee County, Michigan; (8) Jane, born 13 September 1807, 
wife of Daniel BUSH, died at White Water [Whitewater, Walworth County], 
Wisconsin; (9) Clarissa, born 12 January 1810, widow of James PRATT, lives 
at Fenton, Genesee County, Michigan; and (10) Naomi, born 01 June 1813, wife 
of John FELT, died in young womanhood leaving two children.

After their marriage, Anson G. and Nancy (THOMPSON) PARSONS resided at 
Moravia [Cayuga County, NY], where all of their children were born, the 
father pursuing his trade of carpenter until a favorable opening made him 
owner of a grist mill at Ledyard [Cayuga County], New York. After operating 
it for two years he had a mill at Dresserville [Cayuga County], New York, two 
years and another at Milan [Dutchess County], New York, two years, going West 
from the latter place in 1850, making the journey by way of the lakes to 
Milwaukee, and thence by team to Oregon, Dane County, Wisconsin. Here he 
purchased a small piece of land on section 12, Oregon Township, upon which 
stood a small log cabin, now in the village of Oregon. Here he followed his 
trade and farmed his land until advanced age compelled him to desist. He 
yielded reluctantly, as he was a most industrious man and had been very 
healthy all his life. Finally he [Anson G. PARSONS] passed away, 15 February 
1881, at the advanced age of nearly ninety-two years. His wife survived him 
but a single month, she [Nancy (THOMPSON) PARSONS] dying on 15 March 1881. 
She was a most zealous Christian and temperance woman and was bitterly 
opposed to slavery years before the abolition party came into existence. A 
kind hearted neighbor, she ministered to the [p 303] sick with skillful 
hands, and her friends were never weary of telling of her goodness and 
kindness. First Congregational and then Presbyterian in faith, she and her 
husband [Anson G. PARSONS], who was an Elder, were consistent members of that 
body throughout their lives. The husband in the early part of his career was 
a Jacksonian Democrat, but later became an abolitionist, and when the 
Republican party was formed [1854] promptly joined its ranks.

Our subject [Andrew S. PARSONS] had four sisters and a brother, as follows: 
(1) Eliza Ann, born 08 February 1824, wife of Nelson WINSTON, living at 
Evansville [Rock County], Wisconsin; (2) Jane T., born 03 March 1826, wife 
of Ambrose SPENCER, died at Sparta [Monroe County], Wisconsin, 13 May 1858; 
(3) Harriet, born 23 September 1827, wife of Daniel BRIGGS, living at 
Ironton, Sauk County, Wisconsin; (4) Josephine, born 14 November 1829, wife 
of Tristram STORY, lives at Evansville, Wisconsin; and (5) Henry, born 23 
April 1843, died 27 June 1847.

The education of our subject [Andrew S. PARSONS] was obtained in the public 
schools of New York State and Wisconsin, and then he worked with his father 
at the carpenter's trade until 1856, when he went into the mercantile 
business in Monroe County, Wisconsin, for a time and then returned to Oregon 
[Dane County, WI] to resume his trade. Appointed Deputy Sheriff of Dane 
County in 1861, Andrew S. PARSONS held that office until 1864, when he 
enlisted as a recruit in Company F, 33rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. This 
regiment made a good record in the Red River expedition, our subject 
participating with it, guarding the Union retreat. In the three days' 
engagement at Tupelo, Mississippi, the 33rd fought bravely at this time and 
after in the forests of Arkansas and Missouri and its swamps, pursuing PRICE, 
seeing its hardest work on a ration of one cracker a day for each man and 
many of them barefooted too. After guarding 1,000 rebel soldiers from 
Warrensburg, Missouri, to St. Louis, the regiment went to Nashville and 
participated in the battle which destroyed HOOD's army. The siege and capture 
of the forts at Mobile added fresh laurels to the fame of this gallant 
regiment. Then they made a march of 150 miles to Montgomery, Alabama, 
traversing a pine wilderness seventy-five miles in length and without seeing 
a house. When the 33rd was discharged, Mr. PARSONS was transferred to the 
11th Wisconsin Regiment, returning to Mobile, Alabama, and remained in the 
service five weeks longer.

Returning home our subject worked at his trade for some time, was again 
Deputy Sheriff and also Constable and later engaged in farming at Oregon 
[Dane County, WI], upon a very superior tract of 100 acres, which he sold in 
1888. He now has a farm of 120 acres on Sauk prairie, Sauk County, 
Wisconsin, and fourteen acres located upon a mound in the village of Oregon, 
upon which he resides.

Andrew S. PARSONS was married, 31 August 1857, to Louisa W., daughter of 
Stoddard S. and Patty (WAIT) JOHNSON, pioneers of 1844. She was born in 
Walton [Delaware County], New York, 03 May 1834, and her father on 28 January 
1807. The latter early in life was a clothier but later became a farmer. 
Stoddard S. JOHNSON came to Wisconsin in 1844, and settled on section 1, 
Oregon Township, then a part of Madison Township [Dane County, WI], where he 
purchased 160 acres of land, now a part of Oregon village and is very 
valuable. At the time Mr. JOHNSON reached there, the country was new and 
sparsely settled and Milwaukee was the chief market. Stoddard S. and Patty 
(WAIT) JOHNSON were married at Solon [Cortland County], New York, 13 January 
1831, by the Rev. J. LEONARD, and had six children: (1) Louisa [p 304] W., 
born 03 May 1834, wife of the subject of this sketch [Andrew S. PARSONS]; (2) 
Gilbert C., born 16 April 1836, died 05 January 1873; (3) Laura, born 10 
March 1840, died 01 April 1841; (4) Riley W., born 12 September 1842, 
married 16 January 1867, lives in Iowa; and (5) Isaac S., born 21 February 
1847, died 17 April 1848; (6) the eldest died in infancy. Mr. [Stoddard S.] 
JOHNSON lived upon the land which he had improved at Oregon [Dane County, WI] 
until his death, 20 November 1879; his wife [Patty nee WAIT] was born 05 July 
1806, having preceded him, she dying 21 June 1872.

Andrew S. PARSONS and wife [Louisa W. nee JOHNSON] have seven children: (1) 
Minnie M. L., born 29 October 1858, wife of Harvey G. FOX, of Brookings 
[Brookings County], South Dakota, has four children: Bertha M., Hubert H., 
Merl E. and Forest W.; (2) Hubert A., born 12 October 1860, married to Mary 
BARKER, has one daughter, Burl, is living at White [Brookings County], South 
Dakota; (3) Elmer S., born 25 August 1862, married to Etta DOUGHTY, living 
at Milaca [Mille Lacs County], Minnesota; (4) Charles A., born 15 December 
1869, married to Estella WILCOX, and has one daughter; he is Station Agent 
for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad at Afton [Rock County], Wisconsin; 
(5) Laura J., born 27 January 1874; (6) Ira S., born 26 March 1876; and (7) 
Rena B., born 01 February 1878.

The political views of Mr. [Andrew S.] PARSONS are in harmony with those of 
the Republican party, but he was a lifelong (radical) Republican from the 
organization of the party [1854] until 1884. He is a stanch temperance 
worker and abstainer, and has been an active member of the Good Templars 
since 1855, being a charter member of the first lodge in Oregon [Dane County, 
WI] and has ever since maintained membership in the order, and is now a 
member of Capital Lodge, No. 1, I. O. G. T., at Madison.; has held all of the 
offices of his lodge and was State District and Lodge Deputy for years. He 
is also an ancient Odd Fellow and a member of the G. A. R., and has been a 
member of the Cadets of Temperance, Sons of Temperance, and Temple of Honor. 
For many years he was an energetic Sunday school worker.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly