Richard Parriott is numbered among the oldest settlers of Stephenson County, of which he became a resident in the spring of 1836, when the settlers were few and far between and the larger portion of the land was in its original state. He first drew breath in Tyler County, W. Va., Feb. 21, 1818, and is the son of Richard Parriott, a native of Anne Arundel County, Md., where he was reared to manhood and married. Afterward, about 1808, he removed to Tyler County, W. Va., where he purchased a partially cleared farm and brought a considerable portion to a good state of cultivation. This he occupied until 1826, when he started for the prairies of Illinois, via the Ohio and Wabash Rivers. He stopped a few months in Vermilion County, then removed across the line into Indiana, where hr purchased a partially improved farm and lived until 1836. He then sold out his possessions in the Hoosier State and, accompanied by his family, started for Northern Illinoia. The removal was made with ox-teams and they proceeded in the pioneer fashion of camping and cooking by the wayside, and sleeping in their wagons at night. They stopped for a time at the home of William Robey, and then Mr. Parriott, proceeding to Green County, Wis., looked about for a location, but not finding anything to suit him, came back and made a claim on what is now section 12 of Buckeye Township. This locality was then a part of Jo Daviess County and the land had not been subdivided. The father of our subject put up a log cabin and commenced the improvement of his land, but was cut off in the midst of his labors, his death occurring tlie following spring.
The mother of our subject was before her marriage Miss Deborah Robey, a native of Washington County, Md. Her death took place in Buckeye Township, this county, in 1849. The parental household included thirteen children, the result of two marriages of the father.
Richard Parriott of our sketch was a youth of eighteen years when he came to this country with his parents. His elder brothers soon purchased claims, but our subject and his younger brother improved the claim which had now become their mother's. This she sold in the fall of 1839, and purchased a claim on sections 12 and 13, containing 160 acres. Here her two sons assisted in building up a homestead, and when the land came into market, she secured the title and occupied it until her death, which took place in 1849. Richard remained under the parental roof until after both father and mother had passed away. At the time of their coming here Galena, nearly fifty miles distant, was the nearest market; and later, Chicago, to which their grain and other produce was laboriouslytransported by horse and ox teams, the journey consuming from seven to ten days. Mr. Parriott has lived to see great changes since he became a resident here fifty years ago, and has watched with deep satisfaction the development of the resources of one of the richest sections of the State. He has also contributed his full quota toward its present prosperous condition, and is numbered among the useful and enterprising citizens of Northern Illinois.
The marriage of Richard Parriott and Miss Perdita Chilton took place at the home of the bride in Green County, Wis., in 1849. Mrs. P. was born in Sangamon County, Ill., in 1829, and was the daughter of Joshua and Nancy Chilton, who were among the earliest pioneers of that region and from which they afterward removed to Wisconsin. After having been the companion of her husband for a period of over thirty years, Mrs. Parriott closed her eyes upon the scenes of earth in November, 1882. She is remembered as an affectionate wife and mother, and her memory is held sacred by a large number of friends. Of her union with Richard Parriott there were born ten children, of whom the record is as follows: Minerva, the wife of Charles Cochran, resides with her husband on the home farm; Joshua C. is a resident of Pipe Stone County, Minn.; Cleanthy married Peter Bova, a prosperous farmer of Ogle County; Mary J., Mrs. Samuel Rathbon, lives in West Point Township; Nancy, the wife of Wilson Oswalt, lives on a farm in Red Willow County, Neb.; Richard J. remains on the homestead; Thomas W., and Sarah C., the wife of Marcus Barker, are residents of Oneco Township; Francis E. and George W. H. also remain at home. Mr. Parriott meddles little with politics. He was in early manhood a member of the old Whig party, but since 1856 has been a straight Republican.
The likeness of Mr. Parriott herewith presented, will be looked upon with sincere pleasure by the people of Stephenson County, to whom his genial face has so long been familiar.
Contributed by Karen Hammer
Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Illinois Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1888 p. 457
