Volume 1, Number 6 - Winter 1962
Joseph Calvin Parrish
By Sibyl Parrish
Joseph Calvin Parrish was born in Polk County, Missouri, June 18, 1853, the son
of Barnett and Emily (Wright) Parrish, both from Illinois. They had moved to Missouri
in the early 1840's and settled in Polk County.
There were twelve children in their family: Mary, Ira O., Thomas, America, John, Landon S., Robert, Nancy, Sarah, A. Lincoln, one who died in infancy, and Calvin.
Barnett Parrish came to Taney County in 1866 and was in the hotel business. He died in 1894; his wife had died in 1864.
After moving to Taney County, Joseph Calvin and his two brothers, John and Landon S., walked back to the old home, eighty miles away, in order to attend school. They remained there until the term was completed for that year and then walked back the same distance. Afterward, Joseph Calvin attended the Forsyth school for four years.
He rented a farm which he cultivated until he was thirty years of age, and bought land with the money he had earned. He had sixty acres under cultivation, and was now thirty-five years old.
He and his brother John were in the merchandising business in Forsyth. He, Sam Boswell, Lincoln, and I. H. Arnold owned the Forsyth Milling Company located on Swan Creek northeast of Forsyth.
In 1891 he assisted in organizing the Bank of Taney County. One of the largest stockholders, he served for two years as president. He was also part owner of the City Drug Store.
He was interested in raising high grade livestock and kept a fine saddle horse. He was also fond of fishing and hunting.
On October 24, 1875, he was married to Mary J. Jennings, a native of Missouri and a grand daughter of Jesse Jennings, Who represented Taney County in the Missouri State Legislature for eighteen years. He was the first man to bring a threshing machine to Taney County, and Cal was the first to bring a mowing machine here.
Cal and Mary Parrish were the parents of eight children: Lonnie Lee, Lillian, Carl, Bernice, Bessie, Oma, Helen, and one child who died in infancy. They had one grandchild, Sibyl, daughter of Lonnie and Bertie Parrish.
Calvin Parrish-"Uncle Cal" as he was known to his friends-belonged to the Republican Party. He served as school director for twenty-three years. He was a Mason and held all of the offices in the local lodge except that of secretary. His death occurred February 26, 1929.
In the days gone by, he was captain of a company of "Bald Knobbers", and was one of the first members of his company.
And that's my Grandpa, Cal Parrish.
JOSEPH CALVIN PARRISH
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