Tuscola County MI Archives Biographies.....Parsell, Volney 1846 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 20, 2007, 7:55 pm Author: Chapman Bros. (1892) VOLNEY PARSELL. Our subject was born February 20, 1846, in the town of Persia, Cattaraugus County, N. Y. He is a son of John and Betsey (Farnsworth) Parsell. His grand-sire, John Parsell, was a farmer in Scipio, N. Y. He was of French extraction and a pioneer of Cattaraugus County. He reared a family of four sons and four daughters, whose names are as follows: Harris, John, Warden, Rebecca, Edith, Lucy, Wales and Corilla. He died in the Empire State. Our subject's father was born in Dayton, Cattaraugus County, N. Y., April 9, 1818. In the spring of 1862 he drove through to Michigan, occupying the time from the 18th of January to the 2d of February in making the trip Our subject's father at once settled on section 35, and for six years was engaged in speculating in lands. He entered one hundred and sixty acres on section 9, as a homestead, and locating upon it cleared five acres. Later he purchseed [sic] one hundred and sixty acres on the same section and made that his place of residence from 1873 until the time of his death, which took place in November, 1886. He was a trader in cattle and a man who was much regarded for his tact and penetration in business as well as his uprightness and honor in principle. He was elected to several township offices and served as Supervisor and Treasurer. A Democrat in politics, he was by nature a liberal and public-spirited man. His wife still survives; she has been the mother of the following children: Truman, Frank, Volney, Florence, Celia, Solon, Mary and Edetha. Mr. Parsell's mother was born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y. Her father died when she was but a mere child, leaving three children—Lavina, Betsey and Edwin. Our subject's grandmother still survives at the age of ninety-two years. Mr. Par-sell was reared upon the home farm and given the educational advantages common in his boyhood. He came to Michigan with his father, driving the the team through from his home. On arriving here he started out for himself, working out by the month for one year, after which he was engaged in the hoop and stave business for six years. He purchased his first land, which was a tract of sixty acres, on contract when nineteen years of age. About one year later he bought eighty acres, which he held for two years and then sold, and purchased eighty acres of timber land on section 13, acquiring that in 1868. He has resided on this ever since, clearing and improving and making of it a valuable place. He now owns one hundred and twenty acres where he resides, and one hundred and fifteen acres on section 9, which was willed to him by his father. Our subject, who is a Democrat in politics, has served in several local offices. He has been Treasurer and filled that position acceptably. Volney Parsell wedded Rosina Rondo, July 22, 1867. The lad}r was born near Virgins, Vt., and is a daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Crittenden) Rondo. They came to Michigan in 1861 and in 1863 settled in Tuscola Township and county, this State. Mr. and Mrs. Parsell have been the parents of twelve children, eleven of whom survive. They are: Levi; Ida who died at the age of twelve years; Anna, also deceased; Charles, Mary, Fred and Frank (twins), Henry, Florence and Norah. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of the Presidents of the United States Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/tuscola/bios/parsell570gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb