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 666, Farmers' Township
S. E. Parsons, sec. 26, Farmers’ tp.; P. O., Ipava; was born in
Huntingdon Co., Pa., Sept. 22, 1820; son of Samuel Parsons, who was
born, raised and died on the same farm in that county. He was a very
prominent hatter in his early and middle life, and was known as “Hatter
Sam.” Our subject was known as “Little Sam,” and his father’s cousin
was known as “Long Sam.” Mr. Parsons was raised a farmer’s boy. His
early educational advantages were limited, but by hard study he has
made a well-informed scholar of himself. He came to Fulton county in
1847, and settled in Farmers’ township. When he landed at Point Isabel
he had but $29.75. The first night they slept in a warehouse on a pile
of corn sacks. He is regarded as one of the pioneer Methodist ministers
of this county. He has ridden 40 miles and preached 3 sermons in one
day. His services were highly appreciated by the settlers, and he has
been very successful in winning souls to Christ. He was class-leader
and exhorter for about 8 years, when he was licensed to preach. He was
married, Feb. 11, 1841, to Susanna Jeffries, by whom he had 10
children; of these but 3 are living, viz: Rebecca M., Lewis E. and John
Wesley.
