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The following is a letter written to Julia Gove Parsons, wife
of Dr. Warren Parsons of Rye, New Hampshire by her
cousin Lewis Gove. Circa 1863.
I should have answered your very welcome letter long ago had not my old habit
of procrastination prevented me. I was at Kansas City or vicinity, when I
received your letter, in command of the Johnson County militia organized for
the protection of the border against bushwhackers. At the time of the
Lawrence massacre, I was in Kansas City on business and immediately started
in pursuit with four citizen volunteers well armed.
They were desperate fellows and former members of the “Red-Legs” or “Forty-
Thieves” a secret organization of desperados lately disbanded. We met
Quantrell near the state line coming out of Kansas and being alone could not
fight ,of course, but in the course of the day killed two stragglers, and the next
day another of the scoundrels to his long home and left his carcass decorating
the limb of a tree in the timber. We then joined the soldiers and, although other
rebels were killed by different detachments, yet we had no more good luck and
pursued their scattered forces several days without killing another man.
We then got tired of such incessant riding and my second horse being very near
used up we returned to Kansas City. My company had then been stationed at
this place which is 125 miles west of the Missouri and upon the frontiers of
civilization. Two or three months and I became apprehensive that I would be
ordered back to the border on account of the trouble there existing before I
should have an opportunity of visiting home. Manattan where father lives is
only 18 miles east of Fort Riley. I made frequent application to the General to
send me to my company and finally succeeded in accomplishing my object. I
found the folks all well and the company newly mounted and their thin ranks
enlarged by 25 recruits.
I have now been here not far from two months and have enjoyed myself
unusually well. A small party of us have just returned from a buffalo hunt.
Our trip was rendered unusually agreeable by the presence of several beautiful
and accomplished ladies who enjoyed the sport with a keen relish and actually
wounded several of the unwildly brutes themselves. Three of the ladies were
under my charge and gay girls they were I assure you. They are tolerably
expert in the use of firearms and can ride, hunt and xxxx with rare dexterity.
The ladies mostly rode in the ambulance drawn by four splendid horses and our
tents, forage, provisions, arms etc, were carried by a mule team. We had
saddle horses along for both the ladies and ourselves and men to drive the
teams and do the necessary work. The 2nd day from the fort we saw a herd of
buffalo and immediately gave them chase and succeeded in killing one after a
hard chase of several miles. We finally brought him to bay after we had
wounded him about twenty times and shot out one of his eyes.
The ladies soon overtook us and we waited to allow them an opportunity of
dispatching the huge monster. He was infuriated with his many wounds and
stood sullenly shaking his head as the beautiful Miss Maggie Wilson rode up at
full charge, her rosy cheeks glowing with excitement and her long curls floating
in the wind. He prepared to rush at her and we shouted to her to keep away
but she fearlessly rode around him and came up to where he was standing. We
thinking him nearly exhausted had dismounted and were standing upon blind
side. I had just handed Maggie my Enfield Rifle when he rushed into our midst
with the velocity of a small locomotive scattering us right and left in great
confusion. He was driving directly at Capt. Adams when Maggie very coolly
fired and broke his fore-shoulder at the same time when the Capt’s wife shot
him with a revolver. The Capt’s dog seized him in the flank and turned him
just in the nick of time. Even then we had a considerable difficulty in killing the
tough old rascal.
One of the girls, to show her skill, leaped her horse several times over the dead
buffaloes. We had many such adventures while out and had several narrow
escapes from wounded buffaloes, nearly every one in the party being chased by
them at different times. Evenings are used to sit around the campfire and listen
to beautiful singing discoursed by the ladies. Never was an excursion more
satisfactory to all participants.
We finally returned to Fort Riley perfectly satisfied with our trip, which we
considered a perfect success. I have never heard before of ladies going on a
buffalo hunt and participating directly in the chase. But few women have
sufficient courage to do so for a wounded buffalo is, I assure you, a very
formidable adversary. I would prefer being attacked by a bear every time.
One of the girls while out somewhat startled by finding a live rattlesnake in her
bed. We killed the snake and she soon recovered from her alarm.
Life upon the frontier here is very rough and the lawlessness engendered by the
present unsettled state of affairs is everywhere apparent. Many men have been
killed of late in personal affrays and many horrible murders have been
committed. Pechner(?) who came out with us from Boston was killed in a fight
here and Father narrowly escaped in another by seizing an uplifted dagger just
in time to prevent it from being buried in his bosom. I was engaged in one in
Kansas City and cut my antagonist severely but not dangerously. He has since
recovered. All horse thieves whenever found are immediately hung or shot and
it seems to the rule of the day that every man is a law unto himself and acts
accordingly. We have this afternoon put in the guardhouse three men for killing
a neighbor a day or two ago. But enough of this disagreeable subject. Please
write as soon as convenient and direct to Lieut. Gove, Fort Riley, KS.
Affectionately Yours, Cousin Lew.
P.S. Love to your husband and children.
Submitted by Ann Parsons Klump, Carol Thoreen Parsons
and John R. Parsons
________________________________________________________________
I recently came upon a box of family materials my mother had safely packed
away in a box, hoping that possibly some day one of her children would
discover it. Well, I happened to be the lucky one and I’m learning things about
my family for the first time.
I have found most interesting two diaries dated 1884 and 1894. The diaries
give a day by day description of what life was like in those days, especially the
weather, and a few of the folks referred to I vaguely remember as a little girl,
1894 my grandmother writes about my father, Robert Smith Parsons “who was
playing in the barn with some children, fell from the scaffold to the barn floor
and struck his head just above the temple. Nellie, his mother, carried him into
the house and I don’t know how she could have done it because he was a large
boy for his age, 6½ years. Robert was unconscious for over a day and the
doctor said he wouldn’t be out of danger for 21 days,” I’m glad to report he
fully recovered.
My father was the middle child of Clayton and Nellie Parsons of Northampton,
MA. His oldest sister was Ethel Earle Parsons and her birth, October 31, 1884,
was recorded in one of the diaries. His younger brother was Earle Milton
Parsons, born December 22, 1895 and father of Earle Proctor Parsons whom
most of you know through the Parsons Family Association.
I also found a newspaper clipping describing the Blizzard of “88”, the year my
Mother and Father were born.
It may interest you to know that my home here in Bernardston, MA. was
formerly Aunt Ethel’s summer home – yes, my father’s sisters – so there are
many special memories I hold dear. I vacationed here as a child.
I thought I’d share a bit of family history with you and let you know how I am
spending my winter.
Submitted by Shirely E. Parsons
________________________________________________________________
A Notable Parsons
When driving past the Cobbleskill (New York) Community College, one sees
the “Parsons Residence Hall” which was dedicated on April 28, 1973. Who
was this Parsons for whom a residence hall was named? He was George
Augustus Parsons (1868—1926) who lived in Sharon Springs, New York.
George Augustus Parsons was the Grandfather of Past President, Nancy
Parsons Armstrong and current Second Vice President James E. Parsons. Our
grandfather managed a farm of 270 acres; was a founder and President, for
many years, of the Farm Bureau of Schoharie County, N.Y.; elected Justice of
the Peace in 1895 and 1911; elected as Supervisor of the Town of Sharon in
1910 until 1917 when he was elected a member of the New York State
Assembly. As a member of the State Assembly Committee on Internal Affairs
and Agriculture, he was instrumental in creating the Agriculture College in
Cobleskill. In 1921–1926, he was a member of the College Board of Trustees.
Another interest of George Augustus Parsons was his concern about farm fires,
and, as such, he helped organize and led the Sharon, Seward and Carlisle
Cooperative Fire Insurance Company. Additionally, he was Sunday School
Superintendent and Treasurer of the Sharon Dutch Reformed Church. So,
when you drive past the residence hall in Cobleskill, one of our “Cousins” was
the reason. George Augustus Parsons was the descendant of Cornet Joseph,
Joseph, Daniel, Aaron, Elijah, Elijah, Peter and Augustus. He married Emma
Gordon, and they had four children Seth, Julius (our father), Bernice and
Leland.
Submitted by James E. Parsons and Nancy Parsons
Armstrong.
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