OBIT:  PARRISH, Joshua D.; 1909; Ebensburg, Cambria Cnty., PA

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Cambria Freeman
Ebensburg, Pa.
Friday, 16 Jul 1909
Volume 43, Number 29


Taps Sounded for Soldier of Mexican War 
Squire J. D. Parrish of Ebensburg Passes Away at Advanced 
Age
Was First Man Over the Wall at Chapultepec
Member of Old Cambria Guards

Squire Joshua D. Parrish, a worthy citizen of Cambria 
County and one of the few reaming veterans of the Mexican 
War, died at 8 o'clock Tuesday evening at the Parrish 
homestead on Julian Street, aged 84 years, 1 month and 10 
days. Death was due to diseases incident to advanced age.

Joshua D. Parrish, a son of George and Catherine Storm 
Parrish, was born at O'Hara's Mills, Munster Township, June 
3d, 1825.  He was educated in the subscription schools 
prior to the adoption of the common school system. The 
first free schools were held in his father's house.  After 
the death of his father in 1837 from injuries received in a 
fall, the young man made his home with his grandfather, 
Joshua Parrish. He learned the carpenter trade and worked 
in Loretto for two years.

Mr. Parrish held the honor of being a member of the famous 
Cambria Guards, a company which served with great 
distinction in the Mexican War.  The majority of the 
members lived in Ebensburg and the company left this place 
January 2, 1847, going to Pittsburg in wagons.  The 
organization went through all the heavy fighting in Mexico, 
serving with valor.  It was a part of the division under 
General Quitman which was the first to raise the flag over 
the "halls of the Montezumas" and to accomplish by strategy 
the capture of the citadel of the city of Mexico. Mr. 
Parrish was one of the two surviving members of the 
company. The other, a Mr. Litzinger, is in West Virginia.  

The company returned to Ebensburg in August, 1848, Mr. 
Parrish taking up his residence at the county seat. He 
entered the business of carpentering and contracting in 
this capacity, erected many of the best buildings of the 
town.  Politically he was a Democrat and in 1890 was 
appointed a justice of the peace for five years.  He also 
served as county commissioner and filled other local 
offices. He was a devout Catholic.

The deceased was married to Mary Magdalene Meyers, daughter 
of John Meyers, who died three months ago. Mr. Parrish is 
survived by three sons: E. C., a grocer in Ebensburg; C. 
M., a druggist at Bellefonte, and John S. of Pittsburg; a 
daughter, Miss Flora, lives at home.

The pall bearers were: A. E. Bender, F. C. Lloyd, C. H. 
Barker, Dr. Clark L. Creery, A. W. Buck, J. F. McKenrick, 
Edward Luther, F. C. Sharbaugh, Philip N. Shettig, Dr. 
Donald H. Shoemaker and William A. McGuire.