Mary (Cook) Parrish is a part of US Black heritage.
Mary Virginia Cook Parrish was born in 1862, the daughter of Ellen Buckner[1]. She passed away in 1945. She lived most of her life in Louisville, Kentucky. Parrish was a notable African-American educator, advocate, and civil rights activist who expanded opportunities for African-Americans and Women through her work in local, regional, and national arenas. She was married in 1898 to Charles Henry Parrish , also known for his community advocacy work. They had one biological child, Charles Henry Parrish, Jr., also a teacher and advocate as his parents were, and one adopted child, Frank Hawkins Parrish.
Life Facts
Mary Virigina Cook entered the world on 8 August 1863 in Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky.[2]
Mary entered the teaching world early on. In the 1887 Louisville City Directory, she is listed as a teacher at the State University. There is a discrete "c" listed after her name, which appears to stand for the term "colored". She would have been 24 years old in 1887.[3]. She also taught Latin and mathematics at the Eckstein-Norton Institute [4][5]
Mary Cook married Charles Henry Parrish, several years her senior, on 29 Jan 1898 in her home town of Bowling Green, Kentucky, In the newspaper article that appeared, she was listed as a teacher working in Louisville, KY.[6]
Their one son, Charles H. Parrish, Jr., was born 13 Jan 1899 in Louisville, Kentucky where they made their home.[7]
In the 1900 census, two years into her marriage, the Parrish family was living at 764 Fifth Street in Louisville's Ward 8, Jefferson, Kentucky. The family was composed of Charles Parrish, 43, Mary Virginia, 33, his wife, Charles Jr, 1, their son, and a 19-year-old boarder, Jennie Marshall.[8]
Ten years later, the 1910 census, shows that Mary Virginia and her family had moved to the next street over--Sixth Street. Mary V. Parrish is described as a 43-year-old Black female who was able to read and write. In addition to her husband, Charles, 51, Charles Jr. 11, is at home. Now, however, there are a number of boarders living with them in the house. These include the Browns--James, 33, and Jennie, 28 (could Jennie Brown be the former Jennie Marshall who was a 19-year-old lodger living with them 10 years earlier?). Another couple lodging in their home was the Hamiltons--Richard, 56, and Sarah, 50. Finally, there were two more, who may or may not have had a family connection with each other--Frankie Hawkins, 3, and Amanda Harper, 61.[9]
The Parrish family is still at the same location on South Sixth Street in 1920. Interestingly, Mary Virginia, 48, is described as Mulatto (rather than Black as she was in the 1910 census). She is living with her husband Charles, 55, minister of a Baptist Church, her son Charles Jr., 21, and Frank Parrish, 14, who is listed as "son".[10]
Frank Parrish, 14, is most probably the young boarder Frank Hawkins, 3, from the 1910 census. In the 1920 census document he is described as "son". Later documentation also supports this relationship as a family member. He lists Mary Virginia Parrish as his mother on his draft card. In this record he describes himself as 34 years-of-age, born on 14 Nov 1905. He is self-employed.[11]
Likewise, on his death certificate (22 April 1963), Charles H. Parrish Sr. and Mary Virginia are listed as his father and mother, and C. H. Parrish (Charles Parrish, Jr.) is the informant.[12]
Still in Louisville in 1930 when another census rolls out, Charles Parrish Sr., 70, is working as both a minister and a College President. Mary Virginia, was erroneously listed as 34 years of age (she would have been 67 years of age in 1930). Charles Jr, 31, is working as a teacher, and Frank, 24, is employed as a life guard. Mary Virginia's employment was, ironically, listed as "none".[13]
Mary Virginia's last appearance in the U.S. census was in1940. She is described as widowed, 83, and born about 1857. (Her established birthdate was 1862, which would have made her 77 years of age in 1940, and when she died in 1945, she was then described as 83 years of age). Her son, Frank, 34, is living with her. He is employed as a carpenter in general contracting work.[14]
Mary Parrish passed away 11 Oct 1945. She was buried in the Louisville Cemetary.[15]
Actions and Activism
If one were only to read the hard facts related to birth, marriage, residency, and death, Mary Virginia Cook Parrish would appear to be a faceless housewife, but this was hardly the case.
Sources
↑ Smith, Gerald L., Karen Cotton McDaniel, and John A. Hardin, eds. The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 2015. Print. p.p. 397-98
↑Burial:
"U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current"
URL: Find A Grave: Memorial #218366182 Ancestry Record 60525 #187981893 (accessed 15 September 2022)
Mary Virginia Parrish burial (died on 11 Oct 1945) in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States of America.
↑1887 Directory:
"U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995"
Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2469 #785105579 (accessed 16 September 2022)
Name: Mary V Cook; Residence Year: 1887; Residence Place: Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Occupation: Teacher; Publication Title: Louisville, Kentucky, City Directory, 1887.
↑Birth of son Charles Henry Parrish:
"Kentucky, U.S., Birth Records, 1847-1911"
Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives; Frankfort, Kentucky; Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records - Microfilm (1852-1910) Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1213 #300158912 (accessed 15 September 2022)
Charles Henry Parrish born to M V Cook and Chas H Parrish on 13 Jan 1898 in Jefferson, Kentucky, USA.
↑1900 Census:
"1900 United States Federal Census"
Year: 1900; Census Place: Louisville Ward 8, Jefferson, Kentucky; Roll: 531; Page: 17; Enumeration District: 0073; FHL microfilm: 1240531 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #5260754 (accessed 15 September 2022)
Mary Parrish (33), wife, in household of Charles Parrish (43) in Louisville Ward 8, Jefferson, Kentucky. Born in Kentucky, USA.
↑1900 Census:
"1900 United States Federal Census"
Year: 1900; Census Place: Louisville Ward 8, Jefferson, Kentucky; Roll: 531; Page: 17; Enumeration District: 0073; FHL microfilm: 1240531 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #5260754 (accessed 15 September 2022)
Mary Parrish (33), wife, in household of Charles Parrish (43) in Louisville Ward 8, Jefferson, Kentucky. Born in Kentucky, USA.
↑1920 Census:
"1920 United States Federal Census"
Year: 1920; Census Place: Louisville Ward 8, Jefferson, Kentucky; Roll: T625_581; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 145 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6061 #86307537 (accessed 16 September 2022)
Mary V Parrish (48), wife, in household of Charls H Parrish (55) in Louisville Ward 8, Jefferson, Kentucky. Born in Kentucky.
↑Military:
"U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947"
National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Kentucky, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 487 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2238 #67738953 (accessed 15 September 2022)
Name: Mary V Parrish; Gender: Female; Relationship to Draftee: Mother; Household Members Relationship: Frank Hawkins Parrish Self (Head) Mary V Parrish Mother.
↑1887 Directory:
"U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995"
Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2469 #785105579 (accessed 16 September 2022)
Name: Mary V Cook; Residence Year: 1887; Residence Place: Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Occupation: Teacher; Publication Title: Louisville, Kentucky, City Directory, 1887.
↑1930 Census:
"1930 United States Federal Census"
Year: 1930; Census Place: Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 0104; FHL microfilm: 2340491 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6224 #81687701 (accessed 16 September 2022)
Mary V Parrish (34), wife, Boo President Of University, in household of Charles Parrish (70) at 847 Sixth Street, Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, USA. Born in Kentucky.
↑1940 Census:
"1940 United States Federal Census"
Year: 1940; Census Place: Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky; Roll: m-t0627-01373; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 121-264 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2442 #50555799 (accessed 16 September 2022)
Mary V Parrish (83), widowed head of household in Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky. Born in Kentucky.
↑Burial:
"U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current"
URL: Find A Grave: Memorial #218366182 Ancestry Record 60525 #187981893 (accessed 15 September 2022)
Mary Virginia Parrish burial (died on 11 Oct 1945) in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States of America.
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