Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-07-02
A Well Known Mason.


A Well Known Mason.
He was one of the best known Mas
ons in the state and has held many pc
sitions OF honor and trust Within esoci-
ETY. with which ne was affiliated. He
has held the position OF grand secre-
tary since 1874.
The history of Theodore S. Parvin,
who died in Cedar Rapids today is an
interesting one. He has helped make
history in this state and was beloved
by thousands : Masons.
Sketch of His Life.
Following is a sketch of the life of
Mr.. Parvin, prepared by one who is
conversant with its details:
To bring within the compass of few
newspaper columns the story of an ordi-
nary life Is no small task. But when that
life has been filled with varied activities
the work is greatly increased. Yet in at
tempting to thus condense into narrow
space the life history Of the late Theodore
s. Parvin. the writer finds such wealth
OF material available that judgment in Sc
lection is the most requisite quality.
Whether the result be justly balanced and
preserves II proper perspective of the life
work and influence of this man, whose
name IsSNyllt large in the annals of Iowa,
may well he doubted. But it Is written
with at least Il clear conception of the
character of the man. and by one who has
been admitted to some degree Of conf
dence as to certain events touched upon
Theodore Sutton paryin was born in the
village of Cedarville, Cumberland county,
New Jersey, Jan. II, 1917. His was n rich
blend of Scotch and Scotch-l Irish blood.
From the union of these strains he inner
tied Il temperament fitted for action From
his ardent Wesleyan father came fiery
energy and enthusiasm. which was TEN
pered by the more stasd and reflective
characteristics Of the Presbyterian mater
nal stock.
When mere child the boy was afflicted
with rheumatism, which from his fifth to
Lis seventeenth year compelled him to
walk with crutches, and entailed q perma-
nent lameness. But what to the lad and
his friends must have seemed an intoera-
BILE infiction. was not without its compen-
ual sports of boyhood and youth he was
forced to sedcntary enjoyments, and thus
was begun II course of omniYorouS reading
which continued throughout life. Ills
memory was also unusually retentive and
habits of order and classification, early
formed, made all the treasures of gathered
fact and stored sentiment available for the
work of later years.
Emigration to Iowa.
In a speech made Mt Burlington Il few
years ago Mr.. PDrvin recalled his first I'M
pressions of Iowa, and of the brilliant co
terie of young men who greeted the new
governor and his STAFF as they stepped
from the gang plank of the steamer at Its
landing place in that city. There were FL
ture governors and lawmakers of the
state-to-bc, and others Who bore no incon
siderable part in the making of Iowa what
1t is, but all had, even when he spoke
passed to the fullness of their reward. and
like one who fingered on a shore after hay
ing watched the departure of all his
friends, this patriarch stayed on, with un
abated vigor and zeal pursuing his woll,
and still recording with accuracy the deeds
of a generation of giants.
While still private secretary to Governor
Lucas, Mr.. Parvin was admitted TO prac
tice law in the territorial courts. his Ger
tifcate showing him to be the first lawyer
admitted in what is now the state Of Iowa
This document, bearing date of July 4
1888, Is now in the state historical collec
tion as a highly priced relic of territorial
days. State Curator Aldrich gives this as
thority to practice, which is of interest as
throwing a side light on the men and man
ners of the time:
Record as Office Holder.
After a years service as private secreta
ry to Governor Lucas Mr.. Paryin was il
attorney Of the middle district Of Iowa
This necessitated his removal from Bur
lington, then the capital, to Muscattnt
(hen known as Bloomington.( At the enc
of two years he resigned this position II
be elected for three terms as judge of thu
probate court. Previous to this he hat
held the office Of secretary of the legisla
tive council, during the season of 1S4041
Upon the organization of the Unite,
States district court for the district of 10
wa, Judge Parvin was appointed its clerk
which position he held for ten years. EN-
bracing the entire term of Judge Dyer
service and into the second year Of Iudg
Loves term. In 1856 he was elected reg
istrar Of the state land office, having unde
his charge and direction the minded inter
ests of the state including university ant
school lands, salt lands. swamp lands. an,
sites for public improvements. The duties
of the office were onerous ana responsible
and it is of record that the method ant
system so characteristic of the man made
his administration of these important prop
critics Il model for his successors. He was
later secretary of the state senate, and a.
he was wont to remark with considerable
relish, was the last democratic state Off
cial elected in Iowa for thirty years, unit
Boies was chosen for governor
His Literary Labors.
To prepare photography of Professor
Paryin's literary work would be a task he
You'd our purpose and space. His careful
habits Of preservation would indeed
simplify the labor, but would neces
state the overhauling of innumerable file
of periodicals for more years than til,
writer has lived. In the foreign journal
his signature stood for careful research
and accurate statement, while the publ
cations of our own country greeted hi
contributions as possessing n peculiar val
ne. He was one of the first and of TIL
few to realize that the historical data o
the new state needed to be fixed and pre-
served before the active participants in it
building should have passed away, and !
is largely owning to the labors of sucl
men as Parvin and Aldrich that the col
lections of Iowa are today so rich in ma
terial for the future defnitive historian o
the state.
To finish under this literary head let /
suffice to say that Mr. Parrin has edite
and compued the entire set of proceeding
as the grand lodge of Iowa Masons a Sc
of volumes constantly Increasing in prize
and value. n model of their kind among a
me jurisdictions. His successor will fin