Henry Fell Parsons was born in England in 1822. Being left an orphan, he came to America at the age of ten years. He lived in New York until he had attained his majority, and then removed to St. Louis, Missouri, where he engaged in mercantile business for several years. In 1849 Mr. Parsons came to California, making the trip with three companions. He brought with him a daguerreotype outfit, under contract with a Philadelphia firm to make views of scenery along the plains. This part of the project was abandoned, however, for it was found impossible to keep the apparatus in order while transporting it on pack saddles.
His first venture on reaching this State was to engage in mining. In the fall of 1850 he came to Santa Cruz. Following the admission of the State into the Union, and the organization of county government, he was appointed deputy by Peter Tracy, the first county clerk, and in this capacity he made out the first assessment roll of the county. For a number of years Mr. Parsons held various positions under the county government, acting at the same time as under sheriff, deputy clerk, and deputy surveyor. At the second election he was elected county treasurer. The following incidents illustrate the difference between holding office in early days and at the present time. In order to turn over to the State treasurer the funds due from Santa Cruz County, Mr. Parsons was compelled to travel on horseback to Sacramento, and carry the money on his person. The country was infested with highwaymen, and the utmost care and circumspection were but small safeguards against molestation. On a trip of this sort Mr. Parsons was warming himself at a camp fire near Alviso, and throwing back his overcoat, accidentally displayed the sacks containing the coin, which were strapped about him. It was noticed by two hard-looking strangers who stood opposite. This circumstance was not lost upon Mr. Parsons, and as soon as possible he procured two small boxes, and transferred the money to them, intending, of course, to secrete the boxes if the strangers should follow him. He was not molested, however, and at Alviso took the steamer for San Francisco. The men who had seen the sacks of coin came aboard soon after, but Mr. Parsons had deposited the money in the purser’s safe. He determined to have some sport with the suspects, so he slipped down to the fire room and filled the boxes with coal, tied them up snug, and returned to the deck, where he pretended to fall asleep while watching them. When he awoke, the boxes were gone. The two strangers wore a very sheepish expression during the rest of the journey.
Mr. Parsons may be said to have originated the name of two localities in Santa Cruz County, Watsonville and Pigeon Point. Watsonville was named by Mr. Parsons’ first using the name in describing some property on which he served an attachment, and which was located on the Balsa Del Pajaro, near land claimed by Watson & Gregory, under Alexander Rodrigues’ title. Pigeon Point took its title from the splendid clipper ship Carrier Pigeon, bound from New York to San Francisco, and wrecked on the point which bears the name. At Mr. Parsons’ suggestion, the master of the vessel wrote “Pigeon Point” as the date line of the letter in which he informed the owners of their loss.
Mr. Parsons is connected in various other ways with the history of the county. He planted the vines and raised the grapes from which the first wine was made in Santa Cruz County. The vines are growing yet. He also filed the first pre-emption claim on land in this county, but lost his title on account of conflicting boundaries.
In 1859 Mr. Parsons was married to Miss Emma Marwede, in San Francisco. Three other Santa Cruz pioneers, Werner Finkeldy, Ernest Kunitz, and Charles Bern, married sisters in the same family. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Parsons, of whom three are living, a son and two daughters.
Mr. Parsons has engaged in active business during most of his residence in Santa Cruz. He is now retired, but his son is at the head of the People’s Transfer and Express Company of the city of Santa Cruz.
History of Santa Cruz County, California
by E.S. Harrison
Published by Pacific Press Publishing Company
San Francisco, Cal., 1892
Transcribed by Yvonne Valentine 1/18/09, Page 241
Santa Cruz County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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