My Genealogy Hound

Joseph C. Parry, one of the oldest settlers of Lamar, Barton County, Mo., was born in Wales on the 25th of February, 1833, being a son of Thomas O. and Margaret Parry, the former a native of England, and the latter of Wales. They were married and resided in the latter country until 1839, when they came to America, and after living in New York for some time moved to Canada, where they both died at about the age of eighty-four years. The father was a woolen manufacturer, but failed in that business, and during the latter part of his life turned his attention to merchandising. Joseph C. Parry is the second of their nine children, and in his youth did not receive very good educational advantages. He attended night-schools and read newspapers until he became an exceptionally well informed man. At the age of fifteen years he began learning the blacksmith’s trade, serving an apprenticeship of five years, and later learned the machinist’s trade, at which he worked four years. He became a master work man, and followed this trade in Canada until about 1850, when he went to Louisiana and worked in several different places in that State. While there he married Josephine Ward, a sister of Edward G. Ward, whose sketch appears in this work, Judge Ward and himself at a time subsequent carrying on the dry goods and grocery trade. In July, 1852, they came to Jasper (now Barton) County, Mo., and located on a half section of land where Lamar now stands, buying from the Government, but under the Swamp Land Act it was given to the county, so Mr. Parry had to buy it again. He built the first blacksmith shop in the town, and was the first postmaster of Lamar, and the first assessor of the county. In 1861 he had a large store in Carthage. When the town of Lamar was laid off he gave fifty acres for a townsite. In 1863-64 he served as County Treasurer and in 1873 was appointed by Governor Woodson as probate judge, and was also presiding judge of the county court. During the war he went to Kansas, where he served a short time in the State Militia as second lieutenant, and was offered a captaincy, but declined it. After the cessation of hostilities he returned to Lamar, where he now owns 190 acres of land and a number of town lots. The first saw-mill was erected by him in 1857. He is a Mason and a Democrat, and by his first wife, who died in 1860, he became the father of four children, two sons and two daughters. In 1863 he wedded Miss Nancy Oldham, by whom he became the father of ten children, four sons and three daughters now living. In an early day Mr. Parry ran the stage line from Sedalia to Neosho by way of Lamar and Carthage, carrying the mail for $3,000 per year. This he continued about two years, afterward selling the line to Parker & Smith, of Springfield, Mo., for $7,000.