My Genealogy Hound

James R. Parr, express and general deliverer of Washington, is a native of Boyle County, Ky., born in 1840, and the son of John and Elizabeth (Compton) Parr. The father was a native of Virginia, born in 1808, and was a carpenter by trade. He came from Kentucky to Jackson County, Mo., in 1852, and in 1858 moved to Johnson County, Mo., and died in 1866, in St. Charles County, having moved there in 1863. The mother was born in Kentucky in 1811, and died in 1865. Of their ten children, nine of whom are now living, James R. was the fifth child. He was eleven years of age when his parents moved to Missouri, and at the age of twenty he enlisted in Company A, Fifth Regiment Missouri Infantry Volunteers (Confederate army), and was in service four years. He fought in the battles of Carthage, Oak Hill, Lexington, Pea Ridge, Corinth, Eureka, Columbia, Grand Gulf, Bakers Creek and Vicksburg. At the last named battle he was wounded in the right ankle, was disabled the remainder of the war, yet did service, being on hospital duty the most of the time. He was paroled at Macon, Ga., May, 1865. He then returned to St. Charles County, Mo., and engaged in farming. June 11, 1868, Mr. Parr married Miss Jenetta Painter, who was born in Warren County, Mo., June 23, 1842, and who bore him two children: S. Price and James R. In 1870 our subject came to Washington and commenced teaming, at which business he has since continued. For the past sixteen years Mr. Parr has had charge of delivering the express of the city, and also does various kinds of teaming. He is an industrious man and a good citizen.