W. G. Parr

 

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: CORRICK, DELATOUR, MITCHELL, PARR

W. G. PARR, of Champaign, is filling an important place in its business interests, and is at present employed as wholesale presser and shipper of hay, his business being located on Lynn street, north of the C. H. & W. R. R. Mr. Parr was born near Greenville, Bond Co. Ill., Oct. 2, 1832, and is the son of Samuel and Nancy (CORRICK) PARR, natives respectively of Ireland and Virginia. The mother of our subject descended from substantial Scotch ancestry. Her father, Samuel CORRICK, emigrated to America with his parents when four years old. They located in Harrison County, Ohio, and engaged in farming pursuits, and Samuel resided in that county until twenty five years of age. He then removed to Illinois and settled near Greenville on the east fork of Shoal Creek, where he built a grist mill, and was occupied in running these until 1847. In the meantime he had entered 400 acres of timber land, of which he cleared 100 acres. In the year named he sold out and removed to La Salle County, purchasing 320 acres of land near Peru, where he engaged in farming and remained until his death, in 1860. He was married in 1816, to Miss Nancy CORRICK. They became the parents of eight children, and the mother departed this life upon the homestead of her husband in 1859. Of the eight children comprising the parental household, three only are now living, namely, Mrs. Sarah J. DELATOUR, of Chicago; James, a resident of Wilmette, Cook Co., Ill., now retired from active business, and W. G. our subject.

Young Parr was reared on his father's farm and remained under the home roof until twenty-six years of age, taking care of his parents until they passed to their final rest. He was married, in 1859, to Miss Maria L. MITCHELL, of Wisconsin, who was the born in 1839, and was the daughter of Samuel MITCHELL, of Virginia. Two years previously our subject had engaged in the dry-goods trade at Granville, Putnam County, but after eighteen months sold out and took charge of the old homestead until 1864. He then sold this also, and removing to McLean County, opened up a stock of goods at Normal, selling the first commodity of the kind in that town. He remained there until the fall of 1870, and the following spring removed to Bloomington, where, in company with Mr. Aldrich, he engaged in the buying and shipping of hay. They left Bloomington in 1871, and established a similar business at Henderson Station, where our subject remained one year, and in 1875 came to Champaign, where he established his present business and has operated since that time. Here he has thirteen acres of land, which he purchased in 1884, supplied with a shapley and convenient residence, and the requisite machinery and buildings for carrying out his business. He employs upon an average six men the year round, and has a profitable and constantly increasing trade.

Mr. and Mrs. Parr became the parents of three children: Nora is a graduate of the High School; Harry G. is in the insurance business in Chicago; Katie is studying art in college. Mr. Parr is Republican in politics, and with his wife and two daughters is prominently connected with the Congregational Church. While living at Normal the first society of this denomination there, was organized, in the parlor of our subject, in 1864, and he was Secretary and Treasurer for seven years afterward. He has taken a genuine interest in the progress of morality and education, and has contributed his full share toward the building up of society since coming here.