Kentucky: A History of the State, Perrin, Battle, Kniffin, 8th ed., 1888,
Jefferson Co.

CHARLES BOOTH PARSONS.  In the space allowed by the plan of this work it is
impossible to do justice to the memory of this remarkable man.  Yet we have
deemed it appropriate that a record of the salient points of his life
should be made in the biographical portion of this volume.  Charles Booth
Parsons was born in Enfield, Conn., July 23, 1805, of humble, but
respectable parentage.  He was the eldest of four children, and having the
misfortune to lose his father when fifteen years of age it became necessary
for  him to leave home in search of some means by which he could maintain
himself.  He went to New York, where, being of an active temperament, he
soon found a situation as store boy in the lower part of the city, whereby
he obtained his board and occasionally a trifle besides.  He learned that
his companions in the store were members of an amateur dramatic society,
and was early induced to enroll himself as a desciple [sic] of the Muses.
In the hall, where the juveniles performed, regular actors were often
present to witness their efforts.  On one occasion, when young Parsons had
been "cast" to appear as Sir Edward Mortimer, in the play of the "Iron
Chest" some one in the city papers compared the acting of the chief
character to the elder Kean, who was then esteemed great in the part.  This
fired the ambition of our subject to become an actor.  Accepting a position
in a company being formed for a Southern theater, he embarked on a little
coasting schooner that had been engaged to take them to Charleston, South
Carolina.  After a perilous voyage he made a successful debut, and by dint
of hard study, and the unceasing cultivation of the talents with which
nature had favored him, he continued on a course of almost unparalleled
success for about fifteen years.  At the time when his fame in the world of
histrionism was at its height a change took place which revolutionized the
whole course of his life and turned his eminent talents to account in
another field of labor.  We quote an account of these events from that
gentleman himself in "Pulpit and Stage": "There was to be a communion in a
presbyterian church where I had been attending meeting in the afternoon
of the Sabbath, to which the preacher invited all to attend who felt
interested in that ordinance, whether they were professors or not.  They
might show by their presence that they desired to honor the feast, though
they might not be entitled to participate in it at the present time.  It
was a stormy afternoon, but I determined to attend.  When I arrived at the
church I took a seat back and by accident on the left hand.  It might have
been providential.  It so happened too that I was the only person present
who was not entitled to partake of the sacred elements.  The preacher very
touchingly alluded to the circumstance in his prayer, the full force of
which fell upon my heart--the isolated stranger who was on the left of the
fold, who had come through the storm to be a spectator to the feast.  He
prayed that the stranger might be converted and be admitted to the
fellowship of the righteous through the spirit of God.  My heart said
`amen' while a flood of tears I could not restrain attested to myself at
least the sincerity of my feelings.  I retired to my hotel after service,
and, locking myself in my room, knelt down by my bedside overwhelmed with
agony of mind and almost the victim of despair.  The prayer of the poor
publican was uppermost in my mind, and I exclaimed aloud: `Lord be
merciful.'  What was that?  Did some one speak?  A voice close to me
seemed to say: `Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou hast eternal
life.'  I raised my head and gazed around the room, but saw no one.  I then
looked under the bed, thinking some one of my friends perhaps in order to
play a trick had concealed himself there.  But all was vacant and silent.
Again I addressed myself to my prayer, and again seemingly the same
response was made.  `Surely,' thought I, `this is the Lord and so I will
receive it.'  My heart beat heavily and seemed to labor within me as if
difficult to keep life within me.  My tongue faltered, but faith helped me
to ejaculate: `Lord, I do believe; help thou my unbelief.'  A flood of
light flashed through the room; I sand down in rapture upon the floor, my
head grew joyous, and I was a converted man."  Having traced this great
and good man to the point of conversion we may remark that he had
previously perfected professional engagements for nearly a year ahead,
which, after much anxious thought and earnest prayer, he concluded it was
his duty to fulfill, although he knew it would subject him to the
uncharitable criticisms of many in the religious world.  At length he bade
farewell to the stage forever, and as he was possessed of new objects and
aims, he devolved himself to the study of the scriptures with an
earnestness that bespoke his gratitude.  He soon became a local preacher
in a Methodist Episcopal Church, and after a probation of one year, dating
from June 1, 1839, the probation was renewed, and on the 15th of September
1841, he was admitted on trial to the traveling connection.  In this
position he remained two years, preaching with happy effect in the
Jefferson Circuit.  In 1843 he was admitted into full connection, and
during the conference was ordained a deacon, in accordance with the rules
and usages, by Bishop Morris.  He was then sent to labor in Frankfort,
Kentucky, where he remained two years with much acceptance.  At the
conference of 1845, on the 14th of September, he was ordained elder by
Bishop J. Soule, at Frankfort.  He was clothed with the full power of a
minister and sent to St. Louis, Missouri, to become the pastor of the
Fourth Street Church.  This was October, 1846.  Here he was unusually
successful and gathered numbers into the fold.  During his term of two
years at this station the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon
him by this board of curators of St. Charles College, Missouri.  In 1854,
after his return to Kentucky, he was requested to return to St. Louis to
preach the dedication sermon of a large and magnificent church, and in
1855 he was pressingly called to become the pastor of the same.  Here,
having at first but few members, he labored with such effect that at the
close of his administration they numbered over five hundred souls.  His
name was again registered upon the roll of the Louisville conference in
1857 or 1858, and he was made presiding elder of East Louisville District,
comprising several churches and circuits.  Subsequently to this he was
appointed by the conference regular pastor of the Walnut Street Church. It
may be observed that this church was erected under the administration of
Dr. Parsons, and that he was at different times its pastor, greatly beloved
by the people.  We believe he was again called to St. Louis and served the
third term in that city, but at precisely what date we have been unable to
ascertain.  In the celebrated church difficulty among Methodist brethren
Dr. parsons was appointed one of the peace commissioners for the
settlement of the same, and after adjustment of the matter by a division
between the North and South he cast his lot with the latter branch, where
he remained till [sic] the breaking out of the war; but always true to his
manhood when affairs assumed such shapes as produce unpleasant feelings
with his brethren, he served his connection therewith and returned to the
mother church, where his views were in harmony with those with whom he was
associated.  The latter portion of his life was therefore spent in the
ministry of the original Methodist Church.  About the middle of the year
1868, while suffering from disease of the heart, he went to Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, to dedicate a church.  This was more than his system could
endure, although he completed the object of his visit and took passage for
home without any perceptible injury.  But on reaching the Louisville
wharf early in the morning he found he had become paralyzed in his lower
limbs.  During his protracted affliction every available means was
resorted to and frequently encouragement was given to himself and friends,
at least to hope for a partial restoration of health.  But all was in
vain; the disease progressed until it became too evident that it would
soon terminate in death.  He died December 8, 1871, his last hours being
marked by a confidence in Jesus Christ as his all in all.  Dr. Parsons was
married to Miss Emily C. Oldham.  Mrs. Emily C. Parsons is still living.
She was born in 1813, and has five children living.  She is a daughter of
William and Elizabeth (Field) Oldham, both born in Jefferson County, Ky.
Her maternal grandfather, Captain Reuben Field, a native of Culpeper
County, Va., immigrated to Kentucky before the close of the last century,
was a prominent pioneer and served as captain in the war for American
Independence.  Hon. Edward Y. Parsons, who was elected to congress in
1875, and died the following year, was a son of this eminent divine, the
subject of this sketch, as is also Mr. Frank Parsons, a brilliant young
lawyer of the Louisville bar.  All through life Doctor Parsons maintained
a most honorable character.  Even when engaged as an actor it was
impossible to know him without being struck with the marked propriety and
dignity of his conduct.  As a minister he was one of the most able and
eloquent in the pulpit.  Processing in an eminent degree all the requisites
of a true orator in happiest combination, great emotion and passion, with
correct judgment of human nature, genius, fancy and imagination, gesture
and attitude, intonation and countenance, his whole nature blended to
accomplish the mighty purposes of his heart.  He was a good citizen as well
as a successful minister.  He was a devoted husband and an affectionate
father, and in fact faithfully discharged all the duties of the various
stations in life which he was called to fill.  Requiesat in pace.

Parsons Oldham Field Soule
=
Frankfort-Franklin-KY Culpeper-VA MO NY SC CT

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jefferson/parsons.cb.txt