Bethuel Parrish

Bethuel Parrish, eldest son of 'Squire Parrish, was born in Canada, September 15, 1832. He was educated in this county, receiving a liberal education in the high schools of Toulon and Galva. For two years after coming of age he worked on his father's farm. He married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John Strayer, born in 1839 and married in 1856, as told in the marriage record. To them one son was born, February 16, 1857 — William H., now a farmer of this township. Since this time Mr. Parrish has been engaged in agriculture and stock growing. He first purchased eighty acres of the homestead farm on section 11, three years later he acquired the other eighty acres. To this he has since added 240 acres, or the "Bowen Farm;" also 80 on section 10, which Samuel Parrish; also 80 acres on section 11, purchased from Samuel Burge; again he purchased 200 acres from A. N. Harris, on sections 9 and 10 —aggregating 760 acres fully improved. After the death of his wife, and on February 4, 1861, he married Miss Celestia (born June 24, 1842), daughter of Elijah and Lydia Ferris, both natives of Canada. To them ten children were born: Lillie M., born December 14, 1862, died in 1877, and George F., born October 7, 1864, deceased in 1883; Bertha A., born September 28,1866; Herman A., born August 22,1868; Blanche S., born August 11,1873; Lizzie E. and Lucy M. (twins), born September 18, 1877; Sarah P., born November 8, 1880; Jessie L. and Bessie L. (twins), born October 16, 1883. Mr. Parrish is not a politician, although when a boy he remembers the voters taking a "jug" of whisky with them to the polls; he also remembers the corn mortar and mill, and fully appreciates the improvements in voting and milling. In school matters he is earnest, and has for eighteen years been a director; in agriculture he ranks among the first farmers in the state, and as a citizen among the most useful and excellent. (Vide history of Joel and Ruloff Parrish.)