The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-05-10
Father of Richmond Fire De-
partment and Civil War
Veteran Dead From Heart
Trouble.
FUNERAL WEDNESDAY
Enters Service in 1872, Is
Named Chief in 1886, and
Retires to Private Life in
1906.

James Parsons, II North Fifth
street, aged 70. who retired as chief
of the Richmond fire department Feb.
16, 1906. after having served in that
capacity for twenty years, died at his
home at 10 o'clock last night.
He had been i'll for fourteen weeks,
suffering from organic heart trouble
and acute Indigestion. He had been in
a very weakened condition for several
days prior to his death Mr.. Parsons
is survived by his widow, Mrs. Emma
Parsons. He was a native OF Wayne
county, having been born August 10.
1912 He served throughout the Civil
war in the Sixteenth Indiana Volun-
teer infantry and in the First Cavalry
of the United States regular army.
Escapes Wounds.
From young manhood to well past
middle age. Mr.. Parsons as a soldier
and fireman led life of constant eX-
posture to danger, but throughout his
four years of soldering he escaped
without a wound, although participant
ing in over twenty battles, and during
his thirty-four years of service as
member of the Richmond fire depart
ment the worst injury he ever receiv-
d was a painful scalp wound caused
v falling into a pile of iron while
hitting the flames at factory blaze.
Wien he retired to private life, how
ever, his body bore scars in numerous
places caused by burns-badges OF
gallant and faithful service to his ma
tive city.
Hold Funeral Wednesday,
The funeral of Mr. Parsons will be
held at the home Wednesday after
noon at go the Rev. Hartman OF the
First NJ. E. church officiating. Burial
will be at Earlham cemetery. Friends
may call at any time. 1t is probable
the Sol Meredith post, G. A. r. will
have charge of the funeral services
and it is also possible that the active
pallbearers will be selected from the
members of the fire department.
When Mr.. Parsons resigned as chief
of the fire department in 1906 be-
cause of failing health. the city coun-
Gil. In recognition of his excellent ser
vices to the city, bestowed upon him
a gold medal Similar medals were Ia
ter given to three other veteran fire
men upon their retirement from the
service, David Miller. father of the
present fire chief. Ed. Miller; Rufus
Newman and George Wilson Mr.
Newman died few months ago after
a brief illness with pneumonia.
The Richmond fire department is
recognized as one of the most efficient
for it's size in the United States and
it was Mr. Parsons who formulated
the policy responsible for this high
40 r>fn
cessor, Chief Miller, has wisely pur
sued.
Following lis retirement from the
service nine years ago Mr.. Parsons
continued to take a most enthusias
tic interest in the department and un
til the beginning of his last illness he
was a daily visitor at department
headquarters in the city building, al
ways willing to instruct the younger
members of the service in the fine
points of their important and hazar
dous calling.
Mr.. Parsons became a member OF
the fire department July /, 1872, and
in 1886 was appointed chief. AS CHIEF
he was a firm but kindly disciplinariar
and his fixed policy was never to or
der one of mis- subordinates to perform
a duty he was not willing to do him
self Like the great cavalry leader
he served under during the Civil War
General Sheridan, when there was q
dangerous blaze to fight Chief Par
sons led the charge in person and his
men loved and honored him and would
obey his orders without questioning.
James Parsons war record was ar
excellent one. In April. 1861, he enlist
ed in r company, Sixteenth Indiana
infantry for one year, that regiment
being transferred to the United
States service three months later
With this command he served in the
early Virginia campaign. He was mus
tered out May %, 1862, and three
months later re-enlisted in X com
pany, Sixteenth Indiana. This regi
ment operated in Kentucky agains
the Confederate forces under Kirby
Smith He was captured August 80
1862, and held as a prisoner of wal
until exchanged November /, the same
year.
On November 10 he was transferred
10 the First United States Cavalry
but remained on furlough until Febru
airy Is, 1868. when he joined his new
command With the First u. S. caval
ry Mr. Parsons campaigned in Virgin
ia until Lees surrender. He took par
in Sheridan's famous raid through the
Shenandoah valley in 1864. He wa.
mustered out of the service Novem
Der %, 1865