John Parson’s Family

Major John Parsons was born on January 4, 1816 in Rye, New Hampshire to parents Dr. John Wilkes and Abigail Garland Parsons. The Parsons Family was very prominent in New Hampshire politics and were engaged in many mercantile businesses in the area.

John traveled to Florida and enlisted in the state military in 1836, when he was 20. He began his military career serving under General Harney fighting in the Seminole Wars and later rose to the rank of Major while serving under General Leigh Read

By the late 1850's John Parsons had partnered with David Levy Yulee and Parsons became an invested stockholder in the Florida Railroad Company.  John invested in David Yulee's dream of the first railroad to cross from the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico (Fernandina to Cedar Key) in Florida. 

Cedar Key was rich in the cedar wood. John understood that building such a railroad would greatly enhance the area's ability to not only economically ship quantities of cedar, but bring greater commerce and businesses into greater Cedar Key. Started in 1855, the railroad was completed in 1860, with the first locomotive arriving in Cedar Key on March 1, 1861.

Through his partnership with David Yulee, Parsons acquired large property holdings throughout the State of Florida, much of this property being situated along the proposed routes of the Florida Railroad. Around February 1854 Parsons acquired large property interests along the coast of Hernando County, and named a new town Bay Port.  He began to finance numerous improvements to the town by building wharfs, storage houses, school house, hotels and even a general store, which he owned and operated. On August 8, 1855, Parsons married Susan Decatur and they moved to Cedar Key, Florida. 

In 1854-55 he was the state representative for Hernando County, and he was also the first receiver of public lands in the U.S. land office at Newmansville, Florida.

By 1859 Major Parsons had acquired property in Cedar Key where he began construction of a commercial building. The walls of the building were made from mixed oyster shell, limestone and sand and were nearly 10 inches thick. Massive 12 inch oak beams were cut and framed making a basement and support for the wooden framing of the building. Upon completion Parsons and co-owner Francis E. Hale opened the Parsons and Hale's General Store in the building, becoming the first general and commercial building in Cedar Key. Today, the Parsons building still stands serving as the Island Hotel.

Parsons began to raise and enlist a company of men at Bayport. Parson's Independent Company was mustered into service in July of 1861. With this company of men fortifications of Bayport began with the building of earth works and a gun battery. By June of 1862 many of the men who had enlisted in Parsons Independent Company were mustered out and re-mustered under several new companies being formed in Hernando County. 

By 1863 Parsons had once again raised a company of men and the second Parsons Independent Company was mustered into service. This second Parsons Independent Company was engaged in the running of the Union blockade and also acted as local home guard. Throughout the war Parsons remained in Hernando County protecting his town and interest at Bayport.

Before the end of the Civil War John and Susan Parsons had two children John Decatur born June 5, 1862 and Susan born Sept. 3, 1864; both born in Hernando County. 

After the Civil War Parsons continued to live in Hernando County and promote his town of Bayport. In addition, he and his wife acquired more property along the Weeki Wachee River. 

Parsons also acted as agent for the Eberhard Pencil Company who had mills in Cedar Key and offices in New York. As agent Parsons purchased cedar trees that were hewn by residents and floated down the Weeki Wachee River to Bayport. These cedar trees were then shipped to Cedar Key and made into pencils.

Major John Parsons lived in Bayport until his death on May 28, 1888. Funeral services for Major John Parsons were held at the Holy Communion Church in New York City followed by internment in the Parsons/ Decatur Family plot in the Evergreen Cemetery in New York along with his wife and children.