Lawrence Parnell (1856 - 1937)

Born 13 Jul 1856 in Wisconsin

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Belisle) Parnell — married 6 Jul 1880 in Somerset, St Croix, Wisconsin

Descendants

Died 26 Feb 1937 at age 80 in Somerset, St. Croix, Wisconsin, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Cliff Parnell [send private message]

Biography

Lawrence Parnell was born July 13 1856 in Wisconsin, to Thomas Parnell & Angele (Parent). He showed up in the 1860 US census as a 4 year old boy.^[1]

He was raised on his parents farm near the point where the Apple river empties into the St Croix, close to Somerset Village, and he attended the nearby country school.^[2] As a young man of 14, he worked on his father's farm, alongside his 4 brothers.^[3] As Lawrence got a little older, he spent the winters at one of the logging camps. He drove a team of oxen, later horses, that towed huge sleds of logs to the river, to float them down to the mills in Stillwater when the spring thaw came.

The 1880 census finds him at his father's house, just one month before his wedding, as a 24 year old farmer.^[4]

He married Elieze Belisle July 6th, 1880, at St Anne church in Somerset Wisconsin.

The 1885 Wisconsin state census shows tick-marks for 2 males and 2 females in the young Parnell family.^[5]

Lawrence was a successful farmer, and worked 160 acres near the St Croix river.^[6] Lawrence was involved in other local ventures, was the first Somerset bank president^[7], and a trustee of St Annes parish. He served on the school board, village board, and the St Croix County board for many years.

The 1900 US census finds Lawrence farming, and Elieze managing the home with 9 children.^[8]

The 1905 Wisconsin state census counted 10 children in the Parnell home.^[9]

The 1910 US census.^[10]

The 1920 US census.^[11]

The 1930 US census.^[12]

50th Wedding Anniversary

In 1930, Lawrence and Elieze celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, with over 100 persons in attendance. The full day celebration included a renewal of vows, official photographs, a reception, a formal dinner, followed by a program including speeches and musical numbers. Presentation of gifts was next, and visiting, after which a buffet dinner was served, then the dance with 7 piece band. See the Free-Space Profile by the name of: Space_Parnell_50th_Wedding_Anniversary for photos and more details.^[13]

Lawrence passed away Feb 26th, 1937 in Somerset, Wisconsin.^[14]

Known children of Lawrence Parnell & Elieze (Belisle)

Lawrence and Elieze raised 13 children, 9 boys and 4 girls, as follows:

• 1. Edward born 1881
• 2. Angele 1883
• 3. Louis Alexander 1885
• 4. Edmond Adelard 1887
• 5. Rose 1890
• 6. Narcisse Eugene 1893
• 7. Albert August 1895
• 8. Laura 1897
• 9. Edwidge Hilda 1900
• 10. Andrew Wilford 1902
• 11. Raymond J 1904
• 12. Clarence Robert 1906
• 13. Elmer L 1909

Research Notes

• The Lawrence Parnell bio in the book "History of the Saint Croix Valley" has several mistakes in the list of children's names, do not trust it. Use the list in this profile.
• The Somerset Triple Centennial Book, 1956 bio for the Parnell family on page 79 has several glaring errors in the first few sentences. In fact, his father's name, Thomas Parnell, is about the only thing that's correct... William, Mary, and the birth and marriage dates and places given for Thomas are total rubbish. It should read: Thomas Parnell, son of Michael Parnell and Margaret (Moore), was born at Drummondville, Quebec, Canada on March 1st 1824. He (Thomas) was married in Drummondville in 1848.
• In the 1880 US census, Lawrence is misspelled as Lorenz. This was apparently a mistake by the enumerator. Lawrence is the correct spelling.
• In the 1905 Wisconsin State Census Lawrence is misspelled Laurence.

Sources

1. ↑ 1860 US census https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW9X-59B
2. ↑ History of the Saint Croix Valley, vol 2, by Augustus B. Easton, Lawrence Parnell bio on page # 938 & 939. https://books.google.com/books?id=CF40AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA938&
3. ↑ 1870 US census https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNSW-BV4
4. ↑ 1880 US census https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNHF-P9D
5. ↑ "Wisconsin State Census, 1885", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMS7-CPV : 20 February 2021), Lawrence Parnell, .
6. ↑ 1897 plat map, St Croix Cty https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~261387~5523407:Somerset,-Saint-Croix-County,-Wisco?sort=Pub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:somerset%2C%20wisconsin;sort:Pub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=0&trs=2
7. ↑ Wisc public documents https://books.google.com/books?id=HG1DAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA531&lpg=PA531
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM2Z-9JR : accessed 6 December 2022), Lawrence Parnell, Somerset town, St. Croix, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 156, sheet 10B, family 167, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,815.
9. ↑ "Wisconsin State Census, 1905", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMQ4-MXM : 2 March 2022), Laurence Parnell, 1905.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPV9-KGD : accessed 6 December 2022), Lawerence Parnell, Somerset, St Croix, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 205, sheet 8A, family 92, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1736; FHL microfilm 1,375,749.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFKX-DFD : 4 February 2021), Laurence Parnell, 1920.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9ST-H73 : accessed 6 December 2022), Lawrence Parnell, Somerset, St Croix, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 27, sheet 3B, line 80, family 68, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2611; FHL microfilm 2,342,345.
13. ↑ Space_Parnell_50th_Wedding_Anniversary https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Space:Parnell_50th_Wedding_Anniversary&public=1
14. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87295042

See Also

• FamilySearch profile for reference, may contain errors. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/K4BZ-RS8
• Somerset 125 Book - Lawrence Parnell family page https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A23WQTMQXYHUOX8S/pages/A7HMRHPEAC6UDI8S?view=one
• Somerset Triple Centennial Book, by Fr John Rivard 1956. Lawrence Parnell Family bio on page 79 https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AFFZSSWNO63AZK8D
• WikiTree Freespace Profile for Somerset, Wisconsin. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Somerset_Wisconsin