JOHN W. PARSONS is a son of George W. and Margaret (Fisher) Parsons (see G. W. Parsons for father’s sketch), and was born in Bedford County, Tenn., January 3, 1824, and has spent the greater part of his life on a farm. At the age of twenty-two he left home and began the battle of life for himself, and by his energy and perseverance accumulated considerable property. In 1846 he located on his present farm of 343 acres, and erected a neat residence. He lost considerable property in the late war, but did not participate in that struggle. October 6, 1846, he married Ruth C. Allison, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (White) Allison. She was born August 12, 1818, and bore her husband the following children: George A., born in 1848; Robert, born in 1850; William C. born in 1853; Sarah J., born in 1854; Mary E., born in 1856 and died in 1873: Newton H., born in 1858.
June 20, 1881, Mrs. Parsons died, and Mr. Parsons then led to Hymen’s altar Catharine Sanders, daughter of Alexander and Jane (Robinson) Sanders, who were born in Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. Mrs. Parsons was born August 10, 1838 and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Parsons is a stanch supporter of Democracy.
Transcribed by Kathryn Hopkins
Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Reminescences [Sic], Observations, Etc., Etc. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1988.