California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 EUGENE PARR, who became a resident of Mendocino county m 1876, was born at Barry, Platte county. Mo., November 11, 1852, and was the elder of two sons born to Anthony and Mary J. (Vaughan) Parr, natives of Kentucky. The father, who was a blacksmith in Barry, Mo., removed to Cali- fornia and died in Kern county, while the mother's demise occurred in Tulare county. Eugene Parr received his education in the public schools of Platte county, Mo. In 1875 he came to California, spending the first year at Vacaville. In 1876 he came to Hopland, where he was employed at ranching in Sanel Valley. Finding that some of the soda springs as well as the large fresh water springs were located on school land he purchased two hundred and forty acres, about 1886, and he and his wife began the improvement and development of Duncan Springs, as it was named, the original Soda Springs being located on E. H. Duncan's place. This was the beginning of Duncan Springs as a resort and he ran both his own and that of E. H. Duncan. In this undertaking he was ably assisted by his capable wife. After six years they sold the Springs and engaged in ranching on the Russian river in Sanel Valley until, with Frank Duncan, he leased the Duncan ranch which they operated for six years. They then removed to Visalia, where Mr. Parr followed teaming and draying for a year, and in 1906 they returned to Hopland. Mrs. Parr having become owner of one hundred and four acres of the Duncan estate, they located on it and began improvements. They have sold off some, but retain sixty-five acres about three-quarters of a mile south of Hopland. On the place they have erected a new bungalow with suitable barn and the necessary improve- ments, while the farm is devoted to orcharding, alfalfa and grain. Mr. Parr was first married to Frances M. Day, who died in Woodbridge, leaving a child Verna, Mrs. Leffler of Lodi. Mr. Parr was again married in San Francisco, October 23, 1883, being united with Miss Mary Ellen Duncan, who was born at Mark West, Sonoma county, but from a little child was reared in Sanel Valley, Mendocino county, being the daughter of Elijah Hall and Elizabeth (Craddock) Duncan, honored and prominent pioneers of the valley, who are represented elsewhere in this work. Her education was ob- tained in the local schools, residing with her parents until her marriage with Mr. Parr. They have beautified their place and it is very attractive, and they are doing much to show what can be accomplished with the rich soil and natural resources of the valley. Both are well and favorably known and they have a host of friends. Politically they are firm believers in the straight- out democratic doctrines.