My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. PARROTT is a representative farmer of Monroe County, residing on section 12, township 4, range 9 west. He owns and operates four hundred and twenty acres of land, of which three hundred are on section 12, eighty acres on section 14, and twenty acres on section 13, of the same township. He devotes his time principally to the raising of grain, and has a neat and thrifty farm supplied with all the modern accessories and conveniences.

The owner of this desirable place was born in Department Du Dou, France, on the 11th of October, 1818, and at the age of nine came to America with his parents, who located in Stark County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. His education was acquired in the district schools of the neighborhood and in the school of experience. He is now a well informed man, and speaks English, French and German. On the 18th of April, 1840, he came to Randolph County and settled upon a farm which his brother had entered from the Government in 1838. He made it his home for three years. Since that time he has bought and sold a number of places, until he at length took up his residence upon his present farm, one and one-fourth miles from his first home.

In April, 1856, Mr. Parrott was united in marriage with Miss Virginia Vallat, and then made his home upon the farm which he now owns and operates. His wife died December 4, 1891, and five of their family of eight children are living. Louis, the eldest, born August 3, 1857, died September 23, 1858; Monroe, born in 1859, is still living in this locality; Rosanna, born May 25, 1861, married Barney Dunn, who was engaged in the livery business, but their happiness was suddenly terminated by her death August 25, 1884; Randolph, born October 28, 1863, married Miss Alice Murphy, daughter of a highly respected farmer of the neighborhood, and is engaged in farming in his locality; George, Jr., born February 18, 1866, married Miss Barbara Goettlemann, the daughter of a neighboring farmer, and they occupy a farm in this vicinity; Nora V. was born July 16, 1868, and died July 29, 1870; Mary, born January 27, 1871, is the wife of John Rapp, who is engaged in teaching school in Red Bud; A. Francis, born November 8, 1876, is still with his father.

Mr. Parrott started out in life for himself by selling clocks, traveling from house to house on foot carrying his goods. He got a start in this way, for he was industrious and frugal, and in course of time he had acquired a sufficient capital to enter a considerable amount of land from the Government. Through his dealings in real estate he has acquired a handsome competency. He may truly be called a self-made man, and his example should serve to encourage others who, like himself, have to start out in life empty-handed.

In connection with the ancestral history of our subject, it is worthy of note that his mother’s maiden name was Eagle, and thus by the union of the Parrott and Eagle an alliance was formed which lasted over a half-century, the father living to be eighty-two years old, and the mother attaining ninety-three years.

In his political views Mr. Parrott is a Democrat, but has never been an office-seeker, as he prefers to give his time and attention to his business interests. He is a Protestant, but his wife and family are members of the Catholic Church. Few settlers in this community have so long resided here as Mr. Parrott, for almost fifty-four years have passed since his arrival. He has ever borne his part in the advancement and upbuilding of the community, and his name is inseparably connected with its history.