Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

a farm owned by the heirs of an uncle,
where he remained in charge for a year,
removing thence to Sandisfield. There
he engaged in the wagon building busi-
ness in partnership with his wife's
brother, Royal Oatman, under the firm
name of Parsons & Oatman. They built
several buildings and three dwelling
houses for their help, two shops, a store
and barn. Mr. Parsons left Sandisfield
in 1866 and removed to Dorchester, Virginia,
where he engaged in the lumber
business with Lester Oatman, brother of
his former partner, the firm name being
L. H. Oatman & Company. This arrangement
continued for two years, when
it was changed to Oatman, Parsons &
Kinzer. In 1871 the partnership was dis-
solved and Mr. Parsons removed to
Spring Valley, Rockland county, New
York. In 1872 he became a resident of
Ramapo, New York, where he became
one of the most influential citizens.
Mr. Parsons was active in public af-
fairs throughout his lifetime. When but
twenty years of age he was commissioned
lieutenant of the Granville Militia. He
was a member of the Democratic party
and a firm believer in its principles. Sev-
eral times he was honored with public
office. In 1846 he was the choice of his
party as representative to the State Leg-
islature in Boston, and the following year
served as selectman. In 1854 he was
elected assessor and served six years ; was
town auditor from 1843 to l %5°- Upon
his removal to Ramapo he entered in the
public life there and was elected town
clerk, which office he held for twelve
years.
Mr. Parsons married, October 21, 1839,
Maryette Oatman, born September 27,
181 5, daughter of Arnold and Abigail
(Hayes) Oatman. She died in South
Norwalk, Connecticut, April 13, 1898.
Her mother, Abigail (Hayes) Oatman,
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
88
was born May 2, 1788, and died January
24, 1843, daughter of Titus Hayes, and
granddaughter of Richard Hayes, both of
Hartland, Connecticut. She married,
October 14, 1809, Arnold Oatman, of
Arlington, Vermont, born September 22,
1788, died August 8, 1867.
(VII) Milo Holcombe Parsons, son of
William Henry and Maryette (Oatman)
Parsons, was born in Granville, October
5, 1840, and died July 11, 1904, in Stamford,
Connecticut. He was reared in New
Hartford and Collinsville, Connecticut,
and as a young man went into a wholesale
shoe house where he learned the business
and later went on the road as a shoe salesman.
Subsequently Mr. Parsons went
to New York City and engaged in the
wholesale oil business on his own account.
He later formed a partnership, under the
firm name of Parsons & Hastings, with
George S. Hastings. For ten years they
were successfully engaged in this busi-
ness, but in 1878 the development of the
Standard Oil Company forced them to
discontinue. Mr. Parsons went West,
locating in Silver Cliff, Colorado, and became
superintendent of a mine, remaining
for five years. Returning to New York
City, he purchased a membership in the
New York Produce Exchange and engaged
in the grain commission business
until 1885. In the latter year, ill health
forced him to retire from the strenuous
cares of a business life, and he became a
resident of Stamford, Connecticut, where
he took up farming in order to have the
most outdoor exercise possible. Mr.
Parsons regained his health and went to
South Norwalk, where he lived for twelve
years and then went West for the second
time. He was engaged in selling high
grade Percheron horses for breeding pur-
poses. In the last year of his life his
health again became so poor that his
ambitious spirit was overcome and he re-