Henry Parkhurst
PARKHURST, CUSHING, ELLIOTT
Posted By: CJeanealogy (email)
Date: 12/14/2017 at 00:00:30
The Marion Weekly Register, Thursday April 14, 1870
OBITUARY.
Henry Parkhurst, an old citizen of this place, died at Moingona, March 26[sic], 1870, aged 40 years.
Fatherless at the early age of fourteen years, he at once became the head of the family, and the only support of an invalid mother and two younger sisters.
HE came to Marion over twenty years ago. His capacity, energy and integrity soon attracted attention, for they were each great and marked. For several years he was engaged in the store of A. Daniels & Bros.
In 1855 he commenced the mercantile business for himself--and just in time to have large sums outstanding when the crash of 1857 came. By reason of some bad debts and a general inability to pay, he became somewhat embarrassed, but steadily refused to fail or compromise with his creditors.
When the war broke out, by dint of the most wonderful perseverance and energy, he had collected debts that lawyers thought uncollectable: had grasped the wreck of 1857 with such such[sic] a masterly hand that he had been able to pay all his liabilities, dollar for dollar, principal and interest, and was on a firm financial basis.
Upon the suspension of all business by the war, it being deemed imprudent by his friends that he should enter active service in the army, on account of his mother's feeble health, he entered the Pay Department, where he displayed the skill, tact and ability always so marked in whatever he undertook.
At the close of the war his business ability and integrity had become so well known and recognized, that Hon. John I. Blair selected him as general managing agent of the Moingona Coal Company. He immediately entered upon his duties, and for four years he had the sole management of two of three hundred miners and laborers, and of a large capital. The mines were to be opened and the whole business was to be organized and set in motion on a large scale. All his operations and investments for the company were successful and profitable. He worked night and day--seemed to be everywhere and watched everything. He displayed an extensive ability in the management of large affairs that at once pleased and astonished the stockholders.
Although a man of remarkable physical endurance, he finally broke down under the great strain, and for more than a year past he has been gradually sinking away.
Nothing could be more admirable and pure than his home life.
As a friend he was the soul of honor, self-sacrifice and kindness. A man of great sympathy for the suffering, he was always first in watching and nursing in sickness everywhere, and full of liberality and kindness to the poor. As a companion, he was high minded, amiable, and a universal favorite. Every instinct was that of a gentleman.
He may have had faults, but an intimate acquaintance of sixteen years never revealed any to me. If he had any, they were so over balanced by many virtues that they escaped the notice of his friends.
As an affectionate, dutiful son, brother, husband and father, he was the praise and model of all.
In many respects he was a remarkable man, and will long be remembered by our people as one of the noblest natures that ever lived amongst us.
His large circle of bereaved friends have the consolation that his life and character are spotless, and adorned by all the virtues that are most coveted and esteemed by mankind.
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