My Genealogy Hound

NATHAN S. PARSON, merchant and Postmaster, Red River. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Pennsylvania in 1843, and is a son of Jonathan and Euphemia Parson, also natives of Pennsylvania; his father died at the advanced age of 70 years, and his mother when yet in the prime of life, aged 30; they were the parents of four children, three boys and one girl. William was a member of the 45th Penn. V. I., and was killed in the battle of South Mountain, while the regiment was making a desperate charge on the strongholds of the enemy; our subject was a member of Co. F, 55th Penn. V. I., having enlisted in October, 1861; this regiment was attached to the 10th Corps, afterward transferred to the 18th Corps, when the 18th and 10th were consolidated and became the 24th Corps, and was commanded by Gen. Ord; the regiment was engaged at Pocataligo, Drury’s Bluff, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Cemetery Hill, Appomattox Court House, and in fact all the sharp, decisive battles that gave the death-blow to the great rebellion; our subject served three years and eleven months, and never received a scratch, but his physical health was considerably impaired by his exposure to army life; he was discharged in September, 1865, and returned to his home in Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farm labor for four years, and in 1869 came to Darke County, near Gettysburg, where he followed various pursuits till 1876, when he engaged in the grocery business in New Harrison for three years, thence to the place where he now is doing business; he was commissioned Postmaster of the Red River Post Office in October, 1879, at the establishment of the office; he carries a good stock of groceries and household supplies, and is receiving his share of the public patronage. He celebrated his marriage with Mary E., daughter of Eli Wolf, Feb. 23, 1872; her father is living; her mother departed this life in 1874; they were the parents of six children, of whom four are living. Mr. and Mrs. Parson are the parents of one child, viz., Mary D., born May 21, 1873. Mrs. P. is a member of the M. E. Church, and is an exemplary Christian woman. Mr. Parson made a loan of $700 after his return from the war, and was defrauded of nearly the entire amount, as he only succeeded in collecting $20, which brought him to Ohio.