Personal Info

Private William E. Parsons was born on February 23, 1814 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in September 12, 1861 and was mustered into the “F” company of the Pennsylvania 104th Infantry on the same day. He resided in Bucks County with his wife, Rachel Mason, and his son, Isaac Parsons. On August 28, 1862 William died in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA at the age of 47. He was buried in union cemetery Richboro County, Pennsylvania.

Family Connections

William and Rachel had one son, Isaac Parsons, born in September 1845 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Isaac married Anna Bethel (mother: Elizabeth Kroesen and father: Fenton Bethel) on January 28, 1869 at Presbyterian Church, Newtown, Bucks County, PA. Isaac was a blacksmith and a father of three children: two daughters (Jennie and Emme Parsons) and one son (Harry Parsons). Isaac died on December 2, 1917.

William’s granddaughter Jennie Parsons was born in 1870 in Bucks County, PA. She married Joel Topham who she had a son with in 1905 named Elwood Topham. Joel was born on July 5 1843 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England. He had three younger siblings: Harriet, Ellen and Brook. Topham was first married to Martna Singleton and had a son named Arthur with her. After her death Joel married Jennie and their son Elwood was born on March 31, 1905 on Susquehanna Avenue, 19th Ward, Philadelphia, PA. Elwood died in May of 1980 in Columbia, Richland, South Carolina.

104th Infantry

The 1st of October 1861 was the date of organization of the 104th Infantry. This infantry is also referred to as the "Ringgold Regiment" during the Civil War. It recruited mostly from Bucks County, Schuylkill County and Berks County, PA. Camp Lacey was established on the outskirts of Doylestown to train and equip the volunteers of the the 104th infantry. During the battle of Fair Oaks, Va on May 31, 1862 the infantry was protecting a battery of artillery to the north of the Williamsburg Road. They faced constant Confederate attack and were able to hold off for a while but with heavy losses and no support in sight, they had to withdrawal to the rear. Muster date of the infantry was August 25th 1865. 2 officers were killed, 68 enlisted men were killed and 115 enlisted died due to disease or accidents. In total 185 men died from the 104th Infantry. In Doylestown, Pennsylvania there is a monument that honors the regiment. It was paid for by the profits that remained from the enlisted men’s commissary fund at the end of the war. This monument was erected in 1867 and is one of the first Civil War monuments.

Sources:

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William E Parsons