Hon. John G. Parsons of Portsmouth, NH Biography from A History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire (1915) Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Louise Temples - pc_genie@ix.netcom.com Copyright. All rights reserved. ************************************************************************ Full copyight notice - http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm USGenWeb Archives - http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ Source: A History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill, 1915 Page 1058 HON. JOHN G. PARSONS, proprietor of a gents' furnishing store at No. 49 Congress street, Portsmouth, N. H., and state senator from the 24th district, is a native of this state, having been born in Rochester, June 24, 1857. He is a son of Daniel J. Parsons, born in Gilmanton, N. H., who for about forty years was an attorney in Rochester, where he died. He was a man of superior intelligence, strongly interested in the cause of education, and during his entire active career served efficiently as a member of the school board. His wife, the mother of our subject, was in maidenhood Ella G. Greenfield of Rochester. She also is deceased and is buried with her husband in Rochester. Their children were: Laura Isabella, now deceased, who was a school teacher; Mary Emma, wife of Samuel Hislop; John G., whose name appears at the head of this sketch; Ella F., wife of John H. Temple; and Margaret, who is deceased. John G. Parsons was educated in the grammar and high schools of Rochester, N. H. He began industrial life as clerk in a gents' furnishing store in that city, remaining there three years. He then came to Ports- mouth, entering the employ of J. F. Berry, in the same line of business, and was with him as clerk from 1881 to 1912-a period of thirty-one years- when he purchased his employer's store. He employs four clerks, has a well stocked and up to date store, and is doing a prosperous business. A Democrat in politics, he served on the old city board, has been a member of the council several terms, and, as above stated, is now a member of the New Hampshire senate. He received the re-nomination for state senator Page 1059 in the Democratic Primaries of 1914. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Elks and the Masons, having taken all the degrees in the Masonic order except the 33d, and belonging to all the various branches except the Shrine. He also belongs to the Warwick Club. Mr. Parsons was married in February, 1889, to Miss Anna A. Grant of Portsmouth, a daughter of William F. and Nancy M. (Grant) Grant. Both Mrs. Parsons' parents were from York, Me. Her father was construction engineer for the Boston & Maine Railroad. The children in the Grant family were as follows: Howard F., now deceased; Anna A., who married John G. Parsons; Lillian, wife of Chester L. Caldwell, an attorney at St. Paul; and Alice E., wife of A. J. Rowe, manager of the Hotel Bellevue, at Boston, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Parsons have one child, William D., who is assisting his father in the store.