Tucker County, West Virginia Biography of CORNELIUS R. PARSONS This biography was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 590-591 Tucker CORNELIUS R. PARSONS. Representing the fourth genera- tion of a family that has been conspicuous in the affairs of Tucker County from pioneer days, Cornelius R. Parsons has in his own career accomplished something worthy of record. He is a former county superintendent of schools and more recently has been engaged in banking and mer- chandising at Parsons. He is the great-grandson of the founder of the family in this section of West Virginia, James Parsons. James Parsons came to what is now Tucker County with his brother Thomas from Baltimore, Maryland. They were Englishmen by birth. On leaving Baltimore they first estab- lished themselves at Moorefield, Virginia, and thence came into the Horseshoe country of West Virginia. James Parsons is buried in White Oak Cemetery, on the old home estate. The land of that estate was given by the governor of Virginia for service he rendered Lord Fairfax, but in what capacity cannot now be stated. His son, James R. Parsons, was born in St. George District of Tucker County about 1812, and during the Civil war moved to Black Fork District, where he died in 1887. His wife, Mahala, survived him and died at the age of eighty-three. They had ten children, all of whom reached mature years: Cornelius, who died in Grant County, leav- ing a family of children by two marriages; Luther, who died leaving a family in Randolph County; Joshua, who died in Parsons; Robert, only one of the children now living and a large land owner at Mackay, Idaho; Thomas Benton, mentioned below; Nancy, wife of Christopher Schoonover, of San Francisco, California; Marcella, who married Sylvester Channell, and left a large family when she died in Black Fork District; Susann, who died in Tucker County, wife of Coleman Schoonover; Harriett, who married Hamilton Burk, of Columbus, Ohio; and Emma, wife of Sylvenus Rennix, of Randolph County. Thomas B. Parsons, father of Cornelius R., was born in St. George District and lived there until he was eleven years of age, and then moved to Black Fork District, where he was an active farmer until his death in 1916, at the age of sixty-eight. Cornelius E. Parsons was born in Black Fork District, May 4, 1875, and remained at that locality until he reached his majority. His early training was supplied by the coun- try schools, and with that training he started teaching at the age of twenty. Altogether he devoted fifteen years of his early life to the cause of education. While teaching be was also a student and attended West Virginia Wesleyan College at Buckhannon and the University at Morgantown. He was a teacher in his home district when he was elected county superintendent of schools in 1912. He entered the office in January, 1913, as successor of H. S. Shaffer. His service as county superintendent covered a period of eight years, and was notable for progress made in a time of peculiar difficulty for schools here and all over the country. Some of the outstanding features of progress during his administration included the building of the Parsons High School, the raising of the entrance requirements for the High School, the encouragement of corn, potato and tomato clubs as a means of stimulating interest in practical agri- culture, and the introduction of the Junior High School at Thomas and Davis. Mr. Parsons retired from office in 1921, and for a short time was active in the banking business with the Tucker County Bank at Parsons. He is still a director. Mr. Par- sons holds a life certificate issued to him by the state as a reward for his service in the field of education and granted in 1919. While he was still superintendent he acquired, in 1919, with H. W. Anvil as a partner, the mercantile business of M. E. Robinson at Parsons, and since severing his active connection with the bank he has devoted himself to the growing business of the firm of Auvil & Parsons. Mr. Parsons also took a leading part in securing the establish- ment of the Philippi Blanket Mill at Parsons, of which he is a stockholder. He is also interested in farming and owns a farm in his native district of the county. He cast his first vote in 1896, when Mr. Bryan was a candidate for President. He has been a delegate to several congressional and state conventions of his party, and has served on the Democratic Central Committee of the party. During the World war he was registered under the second draft law, and he worked with the home organizations in promoting bond sales and assisting the Red Cross and other organizations. He was one of the Four-Minute Speakers in Tucker County. At Parsons, June 21, 1905, Mr. Parsons married Mary Elizabeth Dear, daughter of Dr. W. W. and Annie Lee (Hinkle) Dear. Her father was a native of Augusta County, Virgina, and lived for many years in Highland County, Virginia, but died in Parsons in 1922. Mrs. Par- sons was the third of four daughters, the others being Miss Gertrude and Miss Ethel, the latter with the law firm of Talbott & Hoover of Elkins; and Mattie, wife of Hunt- ley Hoffman, of Mineral County. Mrs. Parsons, who was born in Highland County, October 14, 1885, supplemented her common school work in the summer normal schools and began teaching at the age of sixteen, and was a teacher for several years after her marriage. She holds the second high- est grade granted in the teachers examination in Tucker County. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Parsons are: Thelma Ruth, Marian Dear and Annie Lee. For a number of years Mr. Parsons has been active in fraternal organizations, being affiliated with the Lodge of Masons, is a past noble grand of the Odd Follows Lodge and past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. He joined the Methodist Church when a youth, and has been trustee of the church and superintendent of the Sunday school, acting in both capacities at the present time.