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His energies were too Watched Over Her Infant Footsteps With vigorous to be confined in a shoemaker’s Paternal Solicitude”—A Proposition to shop. He was ambitious ot a wider and Erect a Handsome Monument in the higher field of labor. His shop was his Circle to His Memory. * college and laboratory, and he was professor There is in the minds of many in Easton and student. While his genial wife sang the feeling that the recollections of William lullabies to her babe, Parsons was quietly Parsons shall be perpetuated by a suitable solving problems in surveying aud master¬ monument erected to bis memory. Cir¬ ing the use of logarithmic tables. It is not cumstances of recent occurrence have strange if he had some idea of future fame. brought this matter fresh to the minds of In his new home there was room for am¬ onr people. And while talking to the su¬ bitious minds to expand and grow strong perintendent of opr schools about it he re¬ and reach after and grasp the prizes that marked that but few people 'knew much were in store for the earnest, industrious, about Mr. Parsons. It was thought proper persevering mind. No doubt the star of to have a somewhat extended article pre¬ hope rose brightly and shoue clearly before pared and published in each of the three him while toiliog by day and struggling by daily papers in town simultaneously. Hav¬ night. He seems practically to have adopted ing conversed with the editors, such an ar- the motto of an eminent pram: "Dum vivi- rangmeut has been made. No one of gen¬ mas viva inns ” JIow patiently be toiled, erous sympathies can read Parson’s history how carefully he studied, how successfully in the founding of our city without feeling lie mastered the science of surveying, ap¬ he deserves a monument. Our people pears from his complete success in grasping erected a monument to George Taylor be¬ the object of his ambition. Nineteen years cause he signed the Declaration of Inde¬ after liis marriage, being 40 years of age, pendence, hut we wish to erect a monument and in 1741, he received the appointment of to William Parsons because he was the Surveyor-General of Pennsylvania. He laid Founder of Easton, because of his self-sacri¬ aside his apron, packed his tools, gave his ficing devotion to Easton in her childhood, commission to the care of his loving and ! because of his tender care of the mothers faithful wife for safe keeping, took his sur¬ and children of Easton when threatened by veyor’s chain, theodolite and compass, and the scalping knife of the Indian. The his¬ pluuged into the woods to lay out the torian of Northampton county calls him boundaries of counties and towns in the the “father of the infant town.” The au¬ grand Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He thor of the history of the Crown Inn of had patiently toiled aud nobly won his Bethlehem tells us: “William Parsons I proud position. Those hn3y years of toil rocked Easton in her cradle, and watched had borne fruit. He had risen by his own over her infant footsteps with paternal so¬ industry, and he had an honest right to be licitude.” And Gen. Davis, in his history proud. He came from England a stranger, of Bucks couuty, calls him the “God-father i with no means to help him but honesty of of Easton,” and alter speaking ot the noble (purpose, industrious habits, and indomita¬ character of this remarkable man he says: ble perseverance; aud these lifted him up “And he sleeps in a neglected graveyard.” /from the shoemaker’s bench to the > There are very few communities in the proud position of Surveyor-General of State who would fail to honor the memory I the noble Commonwealth, where of such a mau by a monument, and Easton the spirit of persecution for opinion’s sake never dare raise its head—one of the i will not. William Parsons was horn in England, brightest spots on earth. The success c May G, 1701. In youth he came to Amer¬ Mr. Parsons attracted the attention of leaf, ica and settled in Philadelphia. He was ing men, and he passed for a man of pro married at 21 years of age and worked fin- found knowledge of mathematics and many years at his tfade, being a shoemaker. geographer. He became a member of the There are very few employments in which Benjamin Junto Club, which developed there is so much time, and in which there into the American Philosophical Society. are so many opportunities for study. We He thus became associated with Frankliu, cau easily imagine the care which young Bertram as botanist, aud Thomas Godfrey, Parsons took to employ his spare hours in the inventor of the sextaut. He was thus study. We see him carefully employing moving in the circles of scientific men. Mr. his spare hours in preparing for positions of Parsons was not a man of strong constitu¬ usefulness of which he had not dreamed. tion, aud had to resign his position in 1748. Having a fondness for mathematics, works He then removed to Lancaster and re¬ on geometry, trigonometry and surveying mained till the Penns called him to Easton. were the books which occupied his leisure Parsons, assisted by Mr. Scull, began the hours. While others may have read for survey of Easton in 1750, and Jacob Hay’s pleasure, he was studying for business. great-grandfather carried the chain. Here He was in anew world, aud was inspired the history of Mr. Parsons becomes con¬ ''V his surroundings. The great Commou- nected with onr town. The county of ialth of Pennsylvania was to be surveyed, Northampton was set apart in 1752, and ne one must traverse her vast domain immediately the plan for building a jail «■! I .. .- was formed, and the building soon com¬ pleted. And here the warm heart of Mr. only waited an opportunity for revenge. Parsons is first exhibited for the “infant The fall of Braddock in 1755 called the In¬ town.” The town was in a wilderness, and dians to battle, and Teedyuscung painted exposed to cruelties of savages. Log houses for tbe fight. But suddenly the report came could be burned, but the solid stone walls of the murder of all the missionaries and of the jail could not. Hence his anxiety inhabitants of Gnaden Hutten, now Weiss- for the completion of the jail, that the port. All was consternation at Bethlehem mothers and children might find safety in and Easton. All feared the destruction of an hour of danger. The jail was soon the town. Parsons had “rocked the cradle” finished and one great point was' gained, in sunshine now he must defend it in and all felt secure in case of Indian in¬ the storm. It was the sorest trial of his 1 vasion. The next important matter was a life the best test of his manhood. , school-house and church. The records of He’ wrote to Governor Morris, in- J the Courts must be kept in English, but the forming him of the desperate state of population was a mixture of nationalities, affairs. He had no arms, no ammunition! and a school was absolutely necessary. To and few males to defend the town. On give an idea of the work which this friend page 761, Vol. XI., of Colonial Records, of Easton did, we see the jail was soon he writes: “I make bold to trouble you finished, and the church and school-house once more, and it is not unlikely it may be was finished in 1755. A fund had been the last. ’ ’ The poor man saw death staring subscribed in England to educate the poor him in the face. “I have spent, ” he con¬ Germans in America. A board of trustees had been appointed to take charge of the tinues, “what little stock of cash I had in j fund, and William Smith was the chairman the'-, public service, so that I am compelled of this board. Mr. Smith subscribed £30, to send this by a private hand.” He had Mr. Parsons £5, Peter Kichliue £2, Lewis hist written: “If I can get a wagon to fetch Gordon £3, Nicholas Scull £3, Nathaniel my daughter to Philadelphia I will send Yernon £3, Christopher Brinker £1, Jacob her off immediately.” But failiug to get a. Bachman £1. Jacob Minos, Adam Yohe, wagon, he was compelled to send her in the Lewis Knaus, Lewis Klotz, Henry Becker, saddle. And this was described in a rnaga-j George M. Shurtz, Johu Savitz, Anthony zine published about 1794. There can be* Esser, George Reichert, John Magle, Geo. no doubt that in that darkest hour of Eas¬ E.