***Charles Roome Parmele***
(b. April 16, 1859; d. April 21, 1938)
New York. White.
Occupation: businessman (chemical manufacturing).
Father's occupation: coal dealer, penitentiary superintendent, soldier, U.S. claim commissioner.
Charles R. Parmele (or Parmelee) was born in 1859 in New York City to Emilie Frances Roome and Theodore Weld Parmele. His father Theodore enlisted in the Union army when Charles was 3 years old (in 1862). Theodore commanded the 174th New York Volunteer Infantry and was a colonel in the 71st New York Infantry Regiment.
Charles's maternal grandfather and namesake Charles Roome also served in the Union army. He organized and led the 37th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. By the war's end, he had been made a brevet brigadier general.
Charles and the rest of the family stayed in New York City for the duration of the Civil War. After the way ended, Theodore rejoined the family and worked as a coal dealer. Tragedy struck the family the year after the Civil War (in 1866): Charles's mother Emilie died.
Theodore had moved the family to South Carolina by January 1871 (when Charles was twelve years old). In South Carolina, he married Mary Platt, and they settled in the city of Columbia. There Theodore began work as the state special commissioner for the Southern Claims Commission. (The commission was charged with reimbursing citizens who had provided supplies to the Union army during the Civil War.)
While living in South Carolina, Theodore supported the Republican government and actively campaigned for Daniel H. Chamberlain in the 1874 gubernatorial election. At an October 17, 1874 meeting in Lexington County, he delivered a speech alongside U of SC student T. McCants Stewart. In speeches, Theodore advocated for a mild and conciliatory attitude towards the Democratic Party. For example, in an October 23, 1874 speech in York County, he dismissed as "puerile" the idea that the Democrats would re-enslave African Americans (the backbone of state Republican support) if they achieved political control. He urged voters to support the Republicans but also explained that "outside of politics, the former Democratic slave-owner is the best friend of the black people, and would do more for them than the Northern white man."
Chamberlain won the gubernatorial election, and Theodore was made superintendent of the state penitentiary in 1875. He remained in the position until 1878. The position was a challenging one as Chamberlain's administration was replaced by a Democratic one in the violently contested 1876 election. In 1877, one of the first acts of the state legislature was to mandate a system of convict leasing. The leasing program led to horrific treatment of convicts, and Theodore recommended the practice be discontinued in an annual report. Despite the recommendation, the program persisted until the 1880s.
In Columbia, Theodore's son Charles first attended the Columbia Male Academy. At the time, the academy was run by Hugh S. Thompson. Many alumni of the academy later matriculated at the University of South Carolina. At the academy, future USC students studying with Charles included his brother Holmes Agnew, Charles J. and Edward M. Babbitt (sons of USC Professor Babbitt), Arthur D. Rivers, W. McBirney Sloan, Edwin W. Screven, and Thomas P. Thomas Jr.
Charles registered as a college student at the University of South Carolina on October 5, 1874 (when he was about 15 years old). He had left the university by January 1876 without completing a degree.
Charles, along with his father, had returned to New York City by 1880, and he stayed there for the remainder of his life. Charles worked for five years as cashier for an agent of the Cunard Line of steamships. His next job was at Johnson & Johnson. At the time, Johnson & Johnson focused on selling surgical dressings, and beginning with this job, most of Charles's working life was spent providing business to the medical profession.
Charles was the secretary and treasurer for the California Vintage Company or Calvico. Calvico sold wine and brandies to physicians and, despite its name, was headquartered in New York City. In 1891, he co-founded the medical journal advertising agency of Hummel & Parmele. He left the agency in March 1892 to work at The Papoid Co., a company which sold the digestive papoid for Johnson & Johnson.
In 1894, Charles formed his own company, Charles R. Parmele, Co. (later renamed the Parmele Pharmacal Company). The company manufactured and sold pharmaceutical chemicals. He continued to work in chemical manufacturing until his death.
Charles represented his industry to the federal government. In 1902, he led a delegation that gave testimony at a Senate hearing in support of passing a law authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to investigate the adulteration of drugs. Charle argued that the law was necessary to prevent manufacturers of pharmaceutical drugs from making possibly harmful, cost-cutting substitutions of drugs. The law was passed in June 1902.
In June 1929, Charles submitted a brief to a U.S. Senate hearing on the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. In the brief, he asked the Senate remove a clause concerning tariffs imposed on coal-tar products. Charles's company imported an antiseptic made from coal-tar (which is used in products like shampoo and soap) for manufacturing purposes, and he argued that the proposed tariff would unfairly hurt manufacturers like himself.
Charles died of heart disease in 1938. He is buried in Moravian Cemetery on Staten Island in New York City.
Advertisement for Charles R. Parmele, Co.
Charles R. Parmele
Charles R. Parmele
From the American Druggist and Pharmaceutical Record
Sources
1). "Mr. Chamberlain's Speech". The Yorkville Enquirer, October 29, 1874. p. 2.
2). "Charles Roome Parmele". The Western Druggist, July, 1895. Vol XVII, Num. 7. p. 311.
3). Butler, Henry Langdon. Tales of our Kinsfolk Part and Present: The Story of our Butler Ancestors for Ten Generations from 1602 to 1919. New York, 1919. pp. 397-400.
4). 1880; Census Place: New York City, New York, New York; Roll: 870; Page: 58B
5). 1900; Census Place: Richmond Ward 1, Richmond, New York; Page: 14
6). 1910; Census Place: Richmond Ward 1, Richmond, New York; Roll: T624_1072; Page: 7A
7). 1920; Census Place: Richmond Assembly District 1, Richmond, New York; Roll: T625_1238; Page: 2B
8). 1930; Census Place: Richmond, Richmond, New York; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0101
9). New York City Department of Records & Information Services; New York City, New York; New York City Death Certificates; Borough: Richmond; Year: 1938. Certificate Number: 797.
10). Buffalo Medical and Surgical Journal, August, 1891. Vol. XXXI., No. 1. p. 56
11). Memphis Medical Monthly, January, 1894. Vol. XIV, No. 1. p 90.
12). "Meeting in Lexington". The Orangeburg News, October 17, 1874. p. 2.
13). "Charles Roome Parmele". American Druggist and Pharmaceutical Record: A Journal of Practical Pharmacy.July 10, 1894. Vol XXV, No. 1. p. 278.
14). Hearings before the Committee on Finance on H.R. 2667: An Act to Provide Revenue, to Regular Commerce with Foreign Countries, to Encourage the Industries of the United States, To Protect American Labor, and For Other Purposes. 71st Cong, 1st Session. (1929) (Brief of Charles Roome Parmele).
15). Tindall, George. South Carolina Negroes, 1877-1900. University of South Carolina Press. (2003). Chapter 13.
16). "Legislation in regard to drug adulteration". Washington Medical Annals. July, 1903. Vol II, No. 3. pp. 221-223.
17) "Columbia Male Academy Reunion Now Proposed." The State, May 2, 1926. p. 15.
Posted 5/18/20