Illinois:  History of Cass County, Illinois, ed. William 
Henry Perrin. O. L. Baskin & Co. Historical Publishers, 
Chicago, 1882.  Cass County.

MELBOURNE N. PARSONS, assistant postmaster, Beardstown; was 
born in Chardon, Geauga County, O., April 30, 1841, and 
when thirteen years old, came to Beardstown, and 
apprenticed to the jeweler's trade, with John Putman, with 
whom he worked for four years and three months; then 
engaged in farming. On Aug. 19, 1862, he enlisted in Co. C, 
72d Ill. Vol. Infantry, for three years, his company 
forming a part of the 1st Board of Trade Regiment, raised by 
postmaster Scripps of Chicago, and participated in a number 
of important engagements during his term of service, and 
after being confined by sickness to the Nashville hospital, 
from November, 1864, to May, 1865, he was discharged. On 
his return from the army he began working at the painter's 
trade, which he learned when a boy, and followed painting 
until 1874, when he became assistant postmaster, under his 
father. On March 21, 1861, he married Emma F. Ward, of 
Athens, Ill., who died Nov. 18, 1880. By this marriage four 
children were born, two of whom are living, viz.: Jennie 
and Willie. April 10, 1882, he married Mrs. Loretta H. 
Robinson, of Augusta, Ill. William E. Parsons was born in 
Chardon, Ohio, in November, 1843; enlisted in April, 1861, 
in the 14th Ill. Infantry, in the three months' service, and 
at the end of that time re-enlisted in Co. A, of the same 
regiment, for three years. He was poisoned at Rolla, Mo., 
in 1862, and came home, and at the end of three months, 
joined his regiment, participated in several important 
engagements, and after being confined to the Memphis 
hospital about six months, was discharged in 1864, and 
after returning home, died March 17, 1864.

Parsons Putman Ward Robinson 
=
Geauga-OH TN MO