Andrew Parsons
Encyclopedia
Andrew Parsons was a politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
. He was the son of John Parsons, and the grandson of Andrew Parsons, a Revolutionary soldier, who as the son of Phineas Parsons, the son of Samuel Parsons, a descendant of Walter Parsons, born in Ireland
in 1290.
in 1835 and spent the summer teaching in Ann Arbor
. In the fall, he explored nearly the entire length of the Grand River
valley by canoe, from Jackson
to Lake Michigan
. He spent the winter working as a store clerk in Ionia County
and in the spring went to Marshall
to live with his brother, Luke H. Parsons. In the fall of 1836, he moved to Corunna
in what was to become Shiawassee County
. This area at that time was mostly wilderness, and when it was organized into a county in 1837, Parsons was elected the county's first clerk at the age of nineteen.
Parsons became an attorney, and in 1840 was elected Register of Deeds
, and reelected in 1842 and 1844. In 1846, he was elected to the Michigan State Senate from the sixth district and was appointed Prosecuting Attorney in 1848. He became a Regent of the University of Michigan
in 1851 and was also elected as ninth Lieutenant Governor
in 1852.
Parsons became the tenth Governor of Michigan when Robert McClelland resigned in March 1853 to become the Secretary of the Interior
under U.S. President Franklin Pierce
. Parsons did not receive the Democratic Party's nomination for governor in 1854, at least partly because the party was split by question of slavery and by the formation of the Republican Party (which held its first convention that year in Jackson, Michigan
). During his twenty-two months as governor, tax laws were improved and the practice of depositing surplus state funds in banks was opposed.
He was married to Marrietta Clason and had four children.
His brother, S. Titus Parsons, years later, was also a member of the state house from the same district from 1863-64 and 1867-68, as well as a delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention in 1867.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Early life in New York
Parsons was born in Hoosick, New YorkHoosick, New York
Hoosick is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 6,759 at the 2000 census.The Town of Hoosick is in the northeast corner of the county.- History :...
. He was the son of John Parsons, and the grandson of Andrew Parsons, a Revolutionary soldier, who as the son of Phineas Parsons, the son of Samuel Parsons, a descendant of Walter Parsons, born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1290.
Life and politics in Michigan
Parsons moved to Michigan TerritoryMichigan Territory
The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan...
in 1835 and spent the summer teaching in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. In the fall, he explored nearly the entire length of the Grand River
Grand River (Michigan)
The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
valley by canoe, from Jackson
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
to Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. He spent the winter working as a store clerk in Ionia County
Ionia County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 61,518 people, 20,606 households, and 15,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 107 people per square mile . There were 22,006 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
and in the spring went to Marshall
Marshall, Michigan
Marshall is a city located in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,459. It is the county seat of Calhoun County...
to live with his brother, Luke H. Parsons. In the fall of 1836, he moved to Corunna
Corunna, Michigan
Corunna is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,381. It is the county seat of Shiawassee County. The City of Corunna is located within Caledonia Charter Township, although it is an independent political entity.Michigan Governor Andrew Parsons was...
in what was to become Shiawassee County
Shiawassee County, Michigan
-Transportation:-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 71,687 people, 26,896 households, and 19,849 families residing in the county. The population density was 133 people per square mile . There were 29,087 housing units at an average density of 54 per square mile...
. This area at that time was mostly wilderness, and when it was organized into a county in 1837, Parsons was elected the county's first clerk at the age of nineteen.
Parsons became an attorney, and in 1840 was elected Register of Deeds
Recorder of deeds
Recorder of deeds is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over that property.-Background:...
, and reelected in 1842 and 1844. In 1846, he was elected to the Michigan State Senate from the sixth district and was appointed Prosecuting Attorney in 1848. He became a Regent of the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1851 and was also elected as ninth Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
The Lieutenant Governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor, and one of four great offices of state...
in 1852.
Parsons became the tenth Governor of Michigan when Robert McClelland resigned in March 1853 to become the Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
under U.S. President Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
. Parsons did not receive the Democratic Party's nomination for governor in 1854, at least partly because the party was split by question of slavery and by the formation of the Republican Party (which held its first convention that year in Jackson, Michigan
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
). During his twenty-two months as governor, tax laws were improved and the practice of depositing surplus state funds in banks was opposed.
Retirement and death
In 1855, Parsons was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives from Shiawassee County, first district. He soon fell ill and retired to his farm in Corunna where he died at the age of 37, just five months after leaving office as governor. He is interred at Pinetree Cemetery in Corunna.He was married to Marrietta Clason and had four children.
His brother, S. Titus Parsons, years later, was also a member of the state house from the same district from 1863-64 and 1867-68, as well as a delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention in 1867.
External links
- Biographical Portrait 1892 Portrait & Biographical Album of Genesee, Lapeer & Tuscola Counties, Chapman Bros.
- Memorial Library
- Political Graveyard
- Parsons' Corunna Home
- National Governors Association
- Michigan Historical Marker: Governor Andrew Parsons