History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with
Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious,
Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons
and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 455, Astoria Township
Lewellian Parry, farmer, sec. 1; P. O., Astoria. Caleb Parry,
the father of our subject, was born in Virginia in 1798, and in that
State was married to Miss Rebecca Engle. While this newly married
couple were residing in Tuscarawas Co., O., Lewellian was born to them.
He grew up and learned the carpenter s trade there. In 1836 he came to
Illinois, settling in Menard Co. In search of employment he went to
Springfield: while there he was united in marriage with Miss Maria,
daughter of Alexander Crawford. In 1836 he came to Astoria tp., where
he entered a tract of heavy-timbered land on sec. 1. He was an
excellent mechanic and set about to provide a home for his family. In
the erection of a hewn-log cabin he displayed much skill, and took
great pride in his new western home. He found the township but little
improved and neighbors by no means plenty; the fare was frugal;
horse-mills then in vogue, and long trips were made by Parry to them,
where he patiently waited his turn. His marriage with Miss Crawford has
been blessed with 6 children, 4 of whom are living.
submitted by Carla Finley
