JAMES H. PARRAMOREJAMES H. PARRAMORE. Cattle raising has long been one of the chief sources for the wealth and prosperity of Texas and a leading representative of this industry if James H. Parramore, a successful business man, who, by the utilization of his opportunities, his unfaltering perseverance, and his capable management of business affairs, has become one of the wealthy citizens of Taylor county and, moreover, he has commanded respect and confidence by reason of his straightforward business methods, showing that prosperity and an honored name may be won simultaneously. Mr. Parramore was born in Early county, Georgia, August 31, 1840, and is a son of William Warren and Rebecca Jane (Norwood) Parramore. The father was a native of Quincy, Florida, while the mother’s birth occurred in either Early or Baker counties, of Georgia. There were only two children in their family--James H. and Susan Jane--the latter, the deceased wife of Hugh Lewis, of Gonzales, Texas. James H. Parramore went to Mississippi from Georgia at a very early period in his boyhood days and in December, 1849, became a resident of Gonzales, Texas. He was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, for the family lived upon a farm about seven miles from the town of Gonzales. In his youth he attended the country schools and after the removal of his parents to Gonzales he continued his education in the college there. When about seventeen years of age he began working on a farm, having charge of cattle. He was thus employed for about three years, when feeling the need of further education he returned to school. At the time of the outbreak of the Civil war in 1861 he responded to the call of the south, enlisting as a member of the Confederate army with Company I, of the Eighth Texas Cavalry known as Terry’s Texas Rangers. He was mustered into service at Houston, Texas, and was wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro on New Years day of 1863. Then obtaining a furlough he returned home, but in April following, having recovered his health, he rejoined his command. From that time on until 1864 he was in every skirmish or active fight in which his company participated, but on the 30th of July, 1864, he was again wounded in an engagement at Newark, Georgia, about thirty miles below Atlanta. He was left at that place with a broken leg and was afterward taken to the hospital at Macon, Georgia, where he laid for over two months. In January, 1865, because of his physical disabilities he was retired from the service. When he joined the army he was made third lieutenant and when he left his command he was the fourth captain of his company. Following his military services Mr. Parramore engaged in farming in Gonzales county in connection with his brother-in-law, Hugh Lewis. They purchased about two hundred acres of land, which they fenced and began to improve, planting cotton, but the first year they only raised about six bales, the worms eating up their corps. They also engaged in the cattle business, driving herds of cattle into Kansas, Mexico and other places. In May, 1879, Mr. Parramore took his cattle to Runnells county, and in August of that year the family removed to that county, living on a ranch there for nearly three years. In October, 1881, he removed to Abilene, which town had been established in the spring of that year and here he has since resided. He is yet interested in the cattle industry and in this way has become a man of wealth. He is a most excellent judge of stock and it is said that his eye is so well trained that he can describe and pick out a missing cow from a large herd of cattle. He is very careful of his interests in all business dealings and while he never permits any one to overreach him in a business transaction he is equally careful of the rights of others. He has invested largely in real estate and his purchases and sales of property have resulted very advantageously. Mr. Parramore built one of the first permanent residences in Abilene, having determined to make his home here. He was married October 28, 1866, to Miss Jane Goodson, of Gonzales, Texas, and they have a family of seven children--four sons and three daughters. In politics Mr. Parramore has always been a Democrat. He is one of the representative men of Abilene, deeply interested in its welfare and progress and his labors have proved far-reaching and beneficial in advancing its growth and material improvement. B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906 |
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