California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

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 the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


 JASPER PARNELL. Among the native born citizens of California who have spent their lives within 
its precincts aiding in every possible way its growth and development, whether relating to its 
agricultural, industrial or financial prosperity, is Jasper Parnell, one of the best known and most 
highly esteemed residents of Merced county, owning and occupying a ranch near Ingomar. Of 
pioneer ancestry, he was born November 14, 1853, in Calaveras county, a son of John Parnell. 

A native of England, John Parnell grew to manhood in the British Isles, living there until 1846. 
Immigrating then to the United States, he settled first in Galena, Ill., as a steamboat engineer, 
but subsequently became a pioneer resident of Wisconsin. Crossing the plains with horse 
teams in 1850, he located in Calaveras county, Cal., where he followed mining and ranching for 
a number of years. In 1867 he located on the west side of Stanislaus county, near Grayson, 
where he took up one hundred and sixty acres of government land, from which he improved a 
good ranch. As a tiller of the soil he met with unbounded success, and from time to time 
bought more land, increasing his estate until he had one thousand acres of land. Far-sighted, 
capable and practical, he accumulated much wealth, and, on retiring from active pursuits, 
purchased a residence in Stockton, and also had a beautiful summer home at Pacific Grove. 
Monterey county, where his death occurred July 28, 1902. Pie was a man of unblemished 
character, deeply respected by all, and was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. His wife, whose maiden name was Julia Stevens, was born in Cornwall, England and 
died, January 2, 1903, in Stockton, Cal. She was laid to rest beside her husband, and on the 
monument that marks the place their son Jasper has had this epitaph carved, "They lived to 
enjoy this life, and by faith to enjoy Eternity." Of their happy union three boys and one girl 
were born, Jasper being the second child and the oldest son. 

Having completed his early education in the common schools of Calaveras county. Jasper 
Parnell came with his parents to Stanislaus county, where he assisted his father in improving a 
homestead, becoming familiar at the same time with the various branches of farming. In 1887 
Mr. Parnell bought his present ranch of four hundred and eighty acres, which is advantageously 
located in Merced county, near Ingomar, and about ten miles south of Newman. He has also 
other valuable real estate, owning a cattle ranch of four hundred and eighty acres in the 
mountains, and having a farm equally as large in Stanislaus county, not far from Grayson, where 
he raises large crops of wheat and barley. On his home farm he makes a specialty of growing 
alfalfa. 

In Stockton, Cal, Mr. Parnell married Cassie Barney, a native of Pennsylvania, and they are the 
parents of three children, Stella, Harold and Cora. Mr. and Mrs. Parnell live on the home ranch 
the greater part of the year, although they spend their summers at their home in Pacific Grove, 
where they enjoy the invigorating sea breezes. Politically Mr. Parnell is an earnest supporter of 
the principles of the Democratic party, and fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows and to the Woodmen of the World.