One of the well known farmers of Nowata County is W. T. Parrish, who is residing five miles southeast of Nowata. He is a native of this County, his birth having occurred in Alluwe township on the 18th of February, 1881, a son of Holland L. and Cynthia J. (Daniel) Parrish, the latter being of Cherokee extraction. Extended mention of Mr. and Mrs. Parrish is made in the sketch of A. H. Parrish, on another page of this work.
In the acquirement of an education W. T. Parrish attended the common schools of Nowata County. Putting his textbooks aside at an early age, he engaged in farming. His present farm, five miles southeast of Nowata, consists of one hundred and thirty acres and he likewise owns a homestead of fifty acres on the Verdigris River, three miles northeast of the home place. The farm on which he resides has a fine house and outbuildings and he does general farming on an extensive scale. Oil has been discovered on the land and there are several wells in operation.
In 1900 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Parrish to Miss Pearl Starr, a native of Iowa. To their union thirteen children have been born: William R., Jr., twenty-two years of age; Sada B., who is the wife of Albert Young, a veteran of the World war having served for one hundred and four days with the artillery in the front line trenches in France ; Berley E.; George H. ; Charles F.; Robert ‘Earl; Bonnie L.; Joseph W.; Lolo M.; Neoma Fay; Melvina; Raymond T.; and Wendle Wayne. All but the first two children are living at home.
Mr. Parrish is readily conceded to be one of Nowata County’s most progressive and public-spirited citizens and as a stanch advocate of education he has been a member of the school board of Palestine District, No. 39, for many years. Although his agricultural interests take up the greater part of his time, Mr. Parrish is always active in every movement for the general development of the community, for he recognizes the duties and responsibilities as well as the privileges of citizenship.