The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-09-09

SpEF.t.
HON. W. F. PARSONS.
clans, in the hope that the salt
baths and mineral waters of that
well known resort would restore
him to health. Instead of effecting
a cure, they seem to have developed
and aggravated his malady, and,
after stay of several weeks, real
izing that he was growing worse,
he returned home August 28th,
suffering the while great physical
agony, to die. He continued to
grow gradually worse after reach
ing home, his disease manifesting
itself in the form of a large car
buncle and small boils, until Mon
day evening when, surrounded by
his family and many sorrowing
neighbors and friends he at last
peacefully surrendered to the last
enemy"
W. F. Parsons was born on a
farm in Amite county, Miss, Oct.
16, 1854 and had therefore nearly
reached his 54th birthday. He was
the third of a family of six chill
dren, and his father dying when he
was mere ,youth,sth care of his
mother and the smaller children at
an early age largely fell upon his
shoulders. On Aug. 10, 1873, he
was married to Miss Ophelia Her
ring, who with five sons and four
daughters, survives him.
Mr.. Parsons moved to Brook
haven with his young family from
District No. 4, Lincoln county, in
1884. For Is years after moving to
Brookhaven he was employed as a
salesman in the general merchan
disc store of F. H. Hartman, where.
he gained that valuable experience
and practical knowledge Of the
mercantile business which made his
services invaluable to his employer
and equipped him for embarking at
the end of that period in business
for himself.
In 1899, with limited capital,
he embarked in the mercantile bus
mess with Messrs. A. E. and S. E.
Moreton, of this city, under the
firm name of Parsons & Moreton.
Later, other partners were taken
in and the firm was incorporated
under the style of the Parsons
Moreton- Wentworth Co. It's busi-
ness was prosperous and successful
from the start. In 1908, he sold
out his interest in this firm and
soon afterward organized the firm
of Parsons May Oberschmidt Co.,
at the head of which he rem ined
up to the time of his death, build
ing up one of the largest and most
fiourishing mercantile establish
ments in this city, with branch
store at Lucien on the M. C. For
several years he has been a stock
holder and director of the Brook
haven Bank & Trust Co.
Mr.. Parsons was active and po-s
tent in political affairs, in civic
duties and in religious matters as
well as in his own business. As
young man he served his district as
justice OF the peace before he NOV
ed TO Brookhaven. During his res
idence here served two terms as
president of the Board cf Supervis-
ors and was the father of the road
contract system introduced in the
county in 1887 and maintained
since, and it was he who, after
much effort and many discourage
ments, secured the consent Of the
Board to build the steel bridge
over Homochitto river on the I'm
ion Church road, the first structure
Of the kind ever introduced in the
county. He also took the initia-
tive IN establishing the county con-
vict and poor farm. which have
proved q great saving to the coun-
y over the old system. After his
retirement from the Board Of Sup
arvisors, he served the city two
years as a member Of the Board Of
Aldermen. Under appoip tnent IF