Orville F. Parmeter History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 USGENWEB Montana Archives,maintained by burns@asu.edu Orville F. Parmeter, another one of Sheridan's successful merchants, has been a resident of Montana since 1867.Mr. Parmeter was born in China, Kennebec County, Maine, May 31, 1840, a descendant of English ancestry, who were among the early settlers of Massuchusetts. Both his paternal and maternal grandfathers fought in the Revolution.Grandfather Caleb Parmeter was born in Massachusetts. After his service in the Revolution he settled in the state of Maine, where he spent the residue of his life on a farm and where he died at the age of eighty years. His wife was seventy-six at the time of her death. They left a family of five children, one of whom, Draper Parmeter, the father of Orville, was born in Massachusetts in 1803. He married Eliza Soule, a native of Maine, born in 1806, and a daughter of Peleg Soule, who served as an officer in the Continental army during the Revolution. This Peleg Soule was a descendant of John Soule who landed from the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock. Draper Parmeter and his wife had a family of five children, all of whom are living. In 1856 they removed to Wisconsin, where soon after the father's death occurred, and from whence in 1858 the rest of the family removed to Woodford County, Illinois. The mother survived unti 1892, when she died at the age of eighty-six.Orville F. Parmeter, the youngest in the family, was sixteen years of age when they left Maine and went to Wisconsin. He was in Illinois when the Civil War broke upon the country in all its fury, and inspired by the same spirit that actuated his Revolutionary grandsires, he responded to Mr. Lincoln's call for volunteers to put down the rebellion, and in July 1861, he became a member of Company I, Forty-seventh Illinois Volumteer Infantry. He served with his regiment in the Western Department, participating in the battle of Shiloh, the engagement at Island No. 10, the Vicksburg campaign and the Red River expedition. Twice he was slightly wounded and he had many close calls, but he escaped all serious injury and was mustered out of the service at Springfield, Illinois, in November, 1864.After his return from the army, Mr. Parmeter was in the grocery and hotel business until 1867, at which time he decided to try his fortune in Montana. His journey hither from the Missouri River was made on foot. Upon his arrival in Montana, he located in Boulder Valley and for nearly three years was engaged in placer mining. In 1869 he came toRuby Valley and located a ranch which he afterward sold and with the proceeds purchased another farm a mile and a half northeast of Sheridan. There he was for a number of years successfully engaged in raising cattle and horses. In 1886 he sold his stock and ranch and embarked in the mercantile business at Sheridan, being in partnership with Henry Elling and others up to 1893, at which time he severed his connection with the firm and organized the Sheridan Mercantile Company, with Mr. T. Bentolighter as his partner, Mr. Parmeter, however, being the active member of the firm. They kept a large stock of general merchandise, much of which they wholesale through the various mining camps.Mr. Parmeter is also quite largely interested in mines and mining. Since coming to Sheridan he has taken an active interest in the growth and improvement of the incorporation of it as a city, which occurred in October 1893. To him belongs the distinction of being its first Mayor.Mr. Parmeter was married December 7, 1864 to Sarah Taylor, a native of Illiinois and a daughter of Sidney Taylor. They have three children: Herbert, who is employed in his father's store; Emma, wife of Alexander Nesbit, of Sheridan; and Helen, who is at home with her parents. Mr. Parmeter built their present home in Sheridan.Ever since the organization of the Republican party he has given it his support. In 1886 he was elected Assessor of Madison County and served one term. He has passed all the chairs on both branches of Oddfellowship, is Past Master of the A.O. U.W. and is Commander of Custer Post, No. 5, G.A.R. Thoroughly informed upon all general topics, genial and courteous in his manner, and a businessman of the highest integrity, Mr. Parmeter is justly ranked with the leading citizens of Sheridan. USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format forprofit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express writtenpermission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist.