Columbus "Lum" Parsons

Notes:

Lynell Cordell emailed in April, 2006 that "I may have found Columbus with his parents. In 1860 he was 6 years old with William and Margaret Parsons in Hickory Co. MO. In 1870 he was 18 years old with William and Margaret in Lincoln Co. MO. William and Margaret and more children were still in Lincoln Co. in 1880. Since Pike Co. is next door to Lincoln Co., and if William and Margaret are Lum's parents, then it's possible that Lum and Jennie lived near them during the years between 1880 and 1900 but I'm just wondering where the info came from. This was the only Columbus I found and I tried searching for Parson and Lum and every combination I could think of so I think it's probably him. Makes me wonder what he was doing in Texas in the first place."

Ken Harvey writes that he was known as Uncle Lum. He facinated the younger generation by being able to hold a pencil between his nose and his chin.

Lynell Cordell recalls that after his wife died, Lum lived with his brother-in-law, James Edwin Gentry, in Stephens Couty. Harold Gentry, a great-nephew, repeated a story that his Uncle Lum told about living in Missouri during the Civil War. His father was with the Union forces and Confederate soldiers would regularly stop by their home asking where his father was. One day, as Lum was on his way to the mill with a sack of corn the Confederates stopped him and asked again where his father was. When Lum wouldn't tell them anything, they took his sack of corn and slowly poured it out on the ground as they rode along.

His death certificate showed him as widowed, with an address of Duncan, Oklahoma. He died of benin prostatic hypertrophy with acute urinary retintion. He was buried at Fairlawn, probably in Grady County, Oklahoma. He was shown as being buried at the Fairlawn Cemetery, but Charles Strong was unable to find verification of this after personally visiting this cemetery. Even after consulting the cemetery records, a burial spot was not located.

(Research):

Census Listings:

Lynell also found the following census listings for Lum and Jennie.

Living with Johnson family on 1880 census.
1880 Census Wise Co. TX Pg. 226
Columbus PARSONS Self M Male W 26 MO Farmer MO MO
Jennie PARSONS Wife M Female W 22 MO Keeping House (VA) (VA)
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1900 census Pickens Co., Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory ED 163 Pg. 289B
Twp. 1NR5W
218/221 Parsons, Columbus, head, WM, March 1854, 46, M-20, MO KY MO FARMER
Virginia, wife, W F, JAN 1855, 45, M-20, 5/5 children, MO -- TN
Charles, son, WM, July 1881, 18, TX MO MO
William H., son, WM, Jan. 1884, 16, MO MO MO
Edwin Malcolm, son, WM, Sept.1887, 12, MO MO MO
Edwin Roy, son, WM, Sept. 1887, 12, MO MO MO
Arthur George, son, WM, Nov. 1891, 8, MO MO MO
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1910 census Grady Co. OK ED 90 Pg. 14A
Amber Twp.
185/187 Parsons, Lum, head, MW, 54, M 32, MO KY MO
Virginia, wife, FW, 50, M 32, 6/5 children, MO KY VA
Edwin M., son, MW, 22, MO
Edgar R., son, MW, 22, MO
George, son, MW, 19, MO
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1920 census Oklahoma Co. OK ED 113 Pg. 34B
132/136 Parsons, Columbus, Head, MW, 65, M, MO MO MO
Virginia, wife, FW, 60, M, MO KY TN
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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1925 City Directory Page 563
Parsons, Columbus (Virginia) farmer r1520 E. 34th
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1930 census Oklahoma Co. OK ED 55-156 Pg. 164B
1630 E. 24th (address is hard to read)
18/19
Parsons, Lum, head, MW, 76, M, age when first married 25, MO MO MO
Virginia E., wife, FW, 72, M, age when first married

Columbus married Virginia E. "Jennie" Gentry in 1878. Virginia (daughter of John Melton Gentry and Pamelia C Harpole) was born in Jun 1859 in Missouri; died after 1930 in Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Charles Parsons was born in Jul 1881 in Texas; and died.
2. William Hardy Parsons was born in Jan 1884 in Missouri; and died.
3. Edwin Malcolm Parsons was born on 28 Sep 1887 in Missouri; died in Aug 1910 in Amber, Grady County, Oklahoma.
4. Edgar Ray Parsons was born on 28 Sep 1887 in Ashley, Pike County, Missouri; died in Jan 1976 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.
5. Arthur George Parsons was born on 19 Nov 1891 in Pike County, Missouri; died in Jul 1966 in Oklahoma.