The Parsons family moved to Monett between 1900 and 1904. Jesse Gilbert's father was David D. Parsons (1847 - 1905) and he was a school teacher, born in New York, and his mother was Amy Meeker Parsons (1856 - 1928) and she was born in Wisconsin (she was one of his pupils). Other children in the family were John David Parsons (1873 - ?), Eugene Thomas Parsons (1876 - 1950, buried IOOF Cemetery, Monett), Alice Matilda Parsons Reese (1882 - ?), Geneva Grace Parsons Brown (1889 - 1978), and Hazel Amy Parsons Spain (1889 - ?).

J. G. didn't get past the 5th grade, but his father bought a newspaper in Camden, MO, for he and sister Alice to run so they could get an education that way. He tried his hand at several jobs around Monett and about age 18 he got a job on the Frisco railroad between Monett and Ft. Smith. It was there he met and started courting Dollie Lamar Hink, but unfortunately she died in 1905 at age 23. J. G. married her sister Hazel Dell Hink (1884 - 1981, we always called her Petie) in 1907. They had three children all born in Monett: James Eugene Parsons in 1908, Iva Evelyn Parsons (later changed to Evelyn Jessedel) in 1910 and Jesse Gilbert Parsons, Jr. (we knew him as Jerry) in 1913.

They left Monett about 1914 and after that lived in Colorado, Wyoming briefly, Northern Idaho, Colorado again (where Evelyn died of TB), and to California from 1933 to 1992 when he died. Except for Wyoming all the moves were connected with the small town newspaper business, several of which he owned.

This family picture might be have been taken in Monett, because my uncle Jerry is not there and my Dad and Aunt Evelyn could be about 5 and 3.

  Submitted by: Bob Parsons