Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 691.
 
JEROME H. PARSONS

     has passed a career well worthy the pen of the historian, and in it all he
has displayed the same fortitude and bravery, coupled with wisdom, that
characterized his ancestors when they assisted to open the new world for
settlement and later fought its battles. Starting in life when very young,
thrown on his own resources from the first, and having been on the frontier all
his life, he has acquired that ruggedness and stability that characterize men of
force and strong nerve. He bears many scars of battle with the Indians and on
many a field he has shown his true grit and bravery. When young, he was not
favored with an opportunity to attend school, and consequently reached manhood
without being able to read or write. Seeing the mistake, Mr. Parsons applied
himself and soon was well trained in these things. He is a close observer and is
a well informed man.
     Jerome H. Parsons was born Randolph county, Virginia, on April 5, 1835, the
son of George and Susan (Harper) Parsons, both natives of that county, also, and
descended from prominent colonial families. The father brought his family to the
territory of Iowa in pioneer days and located a farm near what is now the
prosperous town of Newton. His father, James Newton, the grandfather of our
subject, was a veteran of the War of 1812 and his people were from a strong
English family. The mother's father. Adam Harper, was also a veteran of the War
of 1812 and all his sons fought in the Civil War. In 1857, Jerome H. crossed the
plains to the Sacramento valley, landing there with five cents in his pocket. He
soon secured work as an apprentice to a blacksmith and the five-cent-piece he
still possesses and for two years wrought as a horseshoer. Being kicked by a
vicious brute, he lay thirteen months in the hospital and then he did a huckster
business among the miners. In 1861, he decided, to try the north and soon was in
the Willamette valley. In 1869, he came east of the mountains and selected a
location where he now resides, which is just west from Twickenham. The land was
then unsurveyed. Mr. Parsons engaged in cattle raising and was favored with
first class success and became one of the largest stockmen in this part of the
state. He was one of the very first to locate here and his industry and
progressiveness have done a large amount to develop the country. He
is a respected citizen, a well-to-do man, and one of the builders of the county.
     In 1870 Mr. Parsons married Miss Josephine Writsman, who was born in Andrew
county, Missouri, on October 23, 1843. She crossed the plains with her parents,
Frank and Lucinda (Officer) Writsman, in 1845. The father was born in North
Carolina and became a prominent man in Oregon. The mother was born in Tennessee.
Mr. and Mrs. Parsons have four children: Frankie, Stella, Guy H., and Cleve W.
Mr. Parsons was in the Rogue river Indian war and participated in the Cow creek
fight. He was in an Indian war of 1846, and besides that, he has had many fights
in various places with the savages. Mr. Parsons has done well his work on the
frontier and has so wrought that he has won the respect of the people, and is
now passing the golden years of his life amid plenty and with the assurance of
having spent a good life thus far.  He and his wife are well known and have a
great many friends.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2010 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.