Front L to R: Wesley Abner Parrish and wife Susan Emma Davis Parrish

Standing L to R: Flossie Parrish Kirtley, Addie Cloud Parrish wife of Wesley Otto Parrish, Rosa Lee Parrish and Elizabeth (Lizzie) M. Parrish of Burke, Texas

This is exciting to update. Patsy Colbert at The History Center in Diboll has been speaking with the community gathering information for me. Ms. Ara Wilkerson was kind enough to share the above photo and others of which I will upload soon. Patsy and the community have been so kind and loving. Thank you so much for sharing such precious photo's!

I wanted to give Wesley Abner Parrish and Family of Lufkin some type of memorial from the family who never had a chance to meet them or get to know them. Wesley Abner, son of Allen Wesley Parrish left the Mousetail/Spring Creek, Tennessee area around 1880. He lived and married in Dyer County area. Wesley Abner Parrish married Mary Frances Dixon October 7, 1886. They had two children, Wesley Otto Parrish born October 5, 1888 and Dolly M. Parrish born May 1894 in Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee. Mary Frances Dixon Parrish died October 18, 1894. She is buried in the Poplar Grove Cemetery in Dyer County, Tennessee. 

When he left Dyer County it seemed the trail was lost. In 1998 we were notified that a Rosa Lee Parrish, daughter of Wesley Abner had past away in Lufkin, Texas. I have been trying to learn about this family and finally received a few of Rosa Lee Parrish's personal belongings September 21, 2006. I become more amazed by this family with each little tidbit I learn.

Wesley Abner's wife Susan Emma died in 1947. Wesley Abner died in 1950. All the documents listed him as W. A. "Dad" Parrish. It appears he was known by most as "Dad."

The oldest child, Wesley Otto died June 1978. His wife Addie "Cloud" Parrish past away November 1982. I am so happy to correct the report that Otto and Addie had no children. I am so excited to learn not only did they have a daughter but also a granddaughter who loved them dearly. It turns out Addie's sister Myrtle past away at a young age leaving her five year old daughter. Myrtle requested that Addie raise her precious child. Irma Lee Lauter became the beloved daughter of Otto and Addie. Irma then had a daughter Catherine Lockhart who dearly loved her Papaw Otto and Nannie Addie. Welcome to the family Irma and Catherine, I am so excited you found us!

The oldest daughter, Rosa Lee Parrish was a teacher all her life. She did not marry or have children. It appears she traveled the East Coast with great pleasure. The records seem to show she lived at other areas for short periods of time for teaching jobs but she mainly remained  at the family home until she could no longer care for herself and Elizabeth could not care for her. Rosa Lee past away September 2, 1997

The second daughter, Flossie Parrish married a Mr. John Edwin Kirtley. She was a school teacher all her life. Her husband died February 1964. Flossie returned to the family home and lived the remainder of her life with her sisters. She past away November 9, 1996.

The third daughter, Elizabeth "Lizzie" M. Parrish was a post mistress all her life. Lizzie was described as a spit fire. She never married and lived at the family home until her death February 21, 1997. None of Wesley Abner's daughters had children.

I have many photo's from Rosa's belongings but no identifications. I plan to have pages for documents and photo's so please follow the links. If you know any of the photo's or have information about this family, please contact me.