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H. F. Parsons Account Book
MS 241
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Title: H. F. Parsons account book
Dates: 1883-1899
Collection number: MS 241
Creator:
Parsons, Henry Fell
Collection Size:
1 portfolio
Repository:
University of California, Santa Cruz. University Library.
Special Collections and Archives
Santa Cruz, California 95064
Abstract: This small collection contains an account book 1883-1890, with cash income and expenses for Parsons and son, William B. Parsons,
as well as loose letters, receipts and ballots for the Democratic Primary Election.
Physical location: Stored offsite at NRLF: Advance notice is required for access to the papers.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Collection open for research.
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permission to publish or to reproduce the material, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
H. F. Parsons account book. MS 241. Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of
California, Santa Cruz.
Gift of Aaron Ashley in 1991.
Henry Fell Parsons was born in England in 1822. Being left an orphan, he came to America at the age of ten years. He lived
in New York until he had attained his majority, and then removed to St. Louis, Missouri, where he engaged in mercantile business
for several years. In 1849 Mr. Parsons came to California, making the trip with three companions. He brought with him a daguerreotype
outfit, under contract with a Philadelphia firm to make views of scenery along the plains. This part of the project was abandoned,
however, for it was found impossible to keep the apparatus in order while transporting it on pack saddles.
Mr. Parsons may be said to have originated the name of two localities in Santa Cruz County, Watsonville and Pigeon Point.
Watsonville was named by Mr. Parsons' first using the name in describing some property on which he served an attachment, and
which was located on the Balsa [i.e., Bolsa] del Pajaro, near land claimed by Watson & Gregory [John H. Watson and Durell
S. Gregory], under Alexander Rodrigues' title [i.e., Sebastian Rodriguez]. Pigeon Point took its title from the splendid clipper
ship Carrier Pigeon, bound from New York to San Francisco, and wrecked on the point which bears the name. At Mr. Parsons'
suggestion, the master of the vessel wrote "Pigeon Point" as the date line of the letter in which he informed the owners of
their loss.
Mr. Parsons is connected in various other ways with the history of the county. He planted the vines and raised the grapes
from which the first wine was made in Santa Cruz County. The vines are growing yet. He also filed the first pre-emption claim
on land in this county, but lost his title on account of conflicting boundaries.
In 1859 Mr. Parsons was married to Miss Emma Marwede in San Francisco. Three other Santa Cruz pioneers, Werner Finkeldy [i.e.,
Finkeldey], Ernest Kunitz, and Charles Bern, married sisters in the same family. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Parsons,
a son and two daughters.
From
History of Santa Cruz County, California, by E.S. Harrison. pg. 241-242
Scope and Content of Collection
This small collection contains an account book 1883-1890, with cash income and expenses for Parsons and son, William B. Parsons,
as well as loose letters, receipts and ballots for the Democratic Primary Election. Included are two ballots, one for John
S. Collins for school trustee and one for H.F. Parsons who is listed as no.3 of 21 on the other ballot for the delegate to
County Convention.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Parsons, Henry Fell
Santa Cruz County (Calif.)--History
Hamilton, Robert E.
Parsons, William B.
Ramarez, Victoriana