North Star Township Biography
JESSEE PARLING
Source: BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF GRATIOT COUNTY, MICHIGAN published by J. B. BEERS & CO., Chicago, 1906
JESSE PARLING, one of the prominent and substantial farmers of North Star township, Gratiot county, Michigan, who has made his own way in the world, was born October 17, 1853, in Rochester, New York, son of James and Harriet (Goward) Parling, natives of England who located in Rochester, New York. His paternal grandfather, also James Parling, never left England, while his maternal grandfather, likewise an Englishman by birth, emigrated to America and located at Rochester. After residing there for twelve years he migrated to Shiawassee county, Michigan, of which he became a permanent resident. As stated, the parents of Mr. Parling also located at Rochester. They afterward removed to Washtenaw county, Michigan, where they lived several years, and later became residents of Shiawassee county, where they passed the balance of their lives. The father, James Parling, was accidentally killed, June 21, 1866, at a barn-raising, passing away in the prime of life at the age of thirty-eight years. His wife, the mother of Jesse, died on March 17, 1894, aged sixty-four years. Their children were: Lucy, who died in infancy; Jesse; Affie, deceased wife of Eugene Scott; Ida B., who married Otis S. Mead, a farmer of Shiawassee county, Michigan; and Ellen, who died young.
Jesse Parling was but thirteen years old when his father died, and, being the eldest of the family, he took charge of the farm, and paid up for the homestead, upon which he resided until March 30, 1895. Mr. Parling was married October 3, 1872, to Miss Mary J. Young, born July 8, 1851, in Shiawassee county, Michigan, daughter of Thomas R. and Nancy M. (Hart) Young, natives of New York, who died in Shiawassee county, Michigan. They were the parents of seven children, and Mrs. Parling was the sixth in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Parling these children were born: James R. married Bertha Alliton, and resides at Akron, Ohio; Nancy H. died December 14, 1890, in Shiawassee county, Michigan, aged fifteen years; Edith M. died November 12, 1895, in North Star township, aged eighteen years; Thomas E., a Washington township farmer, married Carrie Stockwell, and they have one son, Murl C.; John C., a farmer of North Star township, married Mertie Bovie, and has two children, Vernie Iven and Arthur L.; and Jesse W., living on the family homestead, married Hattie E. Rivett, and has one son, Clayton W.
When Mr. Parling located in Gratiot county, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in North Star township, upon which he started farming and there he has since resided. Mr. Parling has been very successful in his agricultural ventures, and has also been prominent in township and county affairs, having held the office of highway commissioner for a year, and has been school assessor of District No. 2, for some time, being chiefly identified with the Republican party. He is a popular member of Heath Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Mahar Tent, No. 640, Knights of the Modern Maccabees. Mr. Parling is a self made man, and the excellence of the work he has turned out bears evidence of his efficiency. He is well known and highly esteemed throughout North Star township.
The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Jesse Parling was William C. Young, a sturdy blacksmith of New York State, while her grandfather on the maternal side was Horace Hart, a farmer of the Empire State. Her father, Thomas R. Young, was a sailor in his early manhood, from 1836 to 1839, but in the latter year located on the farm in Shiawassee on which he lived continuously for sixty years. He died November 3, 1899, at the age of eighty-five; his good wife had preceded him, November 15, 1889, at the age of sixty-six years. To the union of this esteemed and respected couple were born these children: William, who died young; Albert, now a farmer living in Shiawassee county, Michigan; Lucinda, who died in 1889, the wife of Edward Vail; Malinda, wife of Ira Angus, of Shiawassee county; Sarah M., who died at the age of twenty-three; Mary J., wife of Jesse Parling; and Adelia A., who lived to be but six years of age.
Created on ... October 09, 2001