Elizabeth B. Parshal, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Elizabeth B. Parshal
MRS. ELIZABETH B. PARSHAL.
This worthy woman has been a resident of Porter County, Indiana, for half a century, and although she has attained the age of seventy-two years she is still in the enjoyment of fair health, is very intelligent and retains her mental faculties to a remarkable degree. She is possessed of more than ordinary executive ability, and has ever been interested in the welfare of her section and noted for her kindness of heart and numerous noble impulses. She was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, and resided there for two years thereafter when she was taken by her parents, James and Maria (Kauffman) Buudy, to Fayette County, Indiana, where she lived until she was ten years old, then moved with them to Elkhart County, Indiana, coming to Porter County about 1844, and in 1845 to the farm of sixty-four acres where she now lives. Her parents were married in 1820 and she was one of the fifteen children born to them: Elizabeth (Mrs. Parshal), Sarah (single), Susan (Huritz), James, Julia Ann (Johnson), Phoebe (Cross), Maria (Billings), William, Catherine (Baum), Daniel, Rebecca (Keeler), Marinda (Davison), George, and two children that died in infancy. All the living members of this family reside on farms and are honest, industrious and law abiding people. The paternal grandfather Bundy came from New England and his wife from New Jersey and they were for a number of years residents of Pennsylvania, but after the grandfather's death, his widow and one of her sons removed to Illinois, where she made her home until her death. In 1844 Miss Elizabeth Bundy was united in marriage with George L. Parshal and moved at once into her present home from the farm owned then by her father but which is now the property of Thomas Wilson. Mr. Parshal's father and mother were born and reared in Seneca County, New York, and there spent their last days. Their family consisted of three sons and two daughters, one daughter being now a resident of Racine, Wisconsin. In 1842 Georg L. Parshal came to Elkhart County, Indiana, where he taught school for two years, then came to Porter County and for a number of years thereafter followed the same occupation. He then tilled the soil up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1880. To this happy union three children were born: George Halsey, who died at the age of two and a half years, James, who died at the age of twenty- one, and Abby, who married Ed Crumpacker, and died at the age of twenty-two years. Mrs. Parshal has a remarkably clear recollection of her past history and she well remembers the time when Indians were numerous throughout this section and she says that they were friendly and peaceable. In the pioneer days of the State snakes were very numerous of the rattle and black racer species, and she recalls killing a large rattle snake by pouring boiling water upon it. They would harbor under the house and would enter the rooms if a window or door were left open. She is now spending her old age in peace and comfort and can look back over life without regret and forward to a bright future when it comes her turn to pass "over the river."
Source: Goodspeed Brothers. 1894. Pictorial and Biographical Record of La Porte, Porter, Lake and Starke Counties, Indiana. Chicago, Illinois: Goodspeed Brothers. 569 p.
Page(s) in Source: 237-238
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook