George W. Parlette

From: A History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania and its People; Author Jordan, John Woolf; pub. Louis Historical New York, 1914; p. 633

          Parlette. This family has been identified with some of the most important interests of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and its various member have always show a public spirit in all matters concerning the welfare of the community in which they have lived, which has been highly commendable.  The name would indicate that this family is of French origin, and they are probably descended from the French Huguenots, many of whom sought and found refuge in this country.

          1.  George W. Parlette was born near Baltimore, Maryland, Mary 7, 1870, and died in South Media, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, in 1888.  He was a farmer by occupation, and the greater part of his life was spent in Harford County, Maryland.  He married Ariel Standeford and they had children: Elizabeth, born December 25, 1837, died July 31, `862; David Oliver, born February 25, 2839, died in 1912; Dennis Standeford, born April 25, 1840; George W., born May 23, 1842, lives in South Media; William Henry; Hannah Ann, born January 2, 1846, now deceased; Zachariah  Taylor, and Winfield Scott, twins, born May 19, 1847, W. Scott, deceased; James W., born March 19, 1849; Cordelia S., born July 11, 1850; Claudius Richard, born January 28, 1855.  Mrs. Parlette died in 1893.  She and her husband were members of the Methodist church.

          2.  William Henry, son of George W. and Ariel (Standeford) Parlette, was born in Harford county, Maryland, March 18, 1843, and died in South Media, Pennsylvania, in November, 1882.  His childhood was spent in Harford county, and it was there that he learned his trade as a wheelwright.  About 1870 he located in Wilmington, Delaware, and lived there about ten years.  He then removed to South Media, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where he was identified with his trade until his early death.  He had a shop at Hinkson Corners, which was destroyed by fire in 1881.  He then established a shop in Media, on the same site and in the same building as the present post office, where he carried on his business until his death.  Mr. Parlette married Margaret, born in Wilmington, Delaware, 1850, died in Philadelphia 1907, a daughter of Benjamin Franklin McDaniel, a millwright in Lee’s Mills, Wilmington, Delaware, where he died in 1856.  She had one brother, Benjamin Franklin McDaniel, Jr., who lives in Wilmington.  Children of Mr. And Mrs. Parlette: Frank M., unmarried, lives in Philadelphia; William P., unmarried, lives in Media; H. Leslie; William A., married, lives in Philadelphia; May, died in infancy.

        3.  H. Leslie, son of William Henry and Margaret (McDaniel) Parlette, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, March 19, 1877.  He was a very young child when his parents removed to Media, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and he there attended the public schools.  He completed his education in Upper Providence School No. I.  He commenced his business career at the early age of eleven years, becoming clerk in a grocery store, a position he retained for one year.  He then worked two years in the mills at Rose Valley and at the age of fourteen years began an apprenticeship in a blacksmith’s shop in Media where he remained seven years and then entered the employ of J. W. Moyer & Company, who were engaged in the manufacture of Overhead Tramrail Systems.  He remained with this concern for a period of four years, at which time they went out of business.  He then established himself in Washington, District of Columbia, later making his head quarters in Baltimore, Maryland, and after he had completed all of his contracts in and around that city, he shipped his equipment to Media, Pennsylvania, opened a factory there in 1905, and has since been located in that place.  Some of the important contracts he has been called UPON TO ENGINEER HAVE BEEN Cuba; South America; Baltimore; Washington, Dist of Columbia; Racine, Wisconsin; Houston, Texas; Charles, West Virginia; Hartford and Bridgeport, Connecticut; Concord, New Hampshire.  The goods are now made in Media and shipped all over the county, being used in abattoirs, factories, etc., wherever heavy shifting is done.  In political matters, Mr. Parlette favors the Republican party, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.

Mr. Parlette married, February 4, 1903, Elizabeth, born in Manayunk, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1876, a daughter of Liewellyn Clevenger, Sr., a native of Philadelphia, who died in South Media, October 11, 1907; he was a carder in a woolen mill, and married Mary Smith, who was born in Shrewsbury, York county, Pennsylvania.  They had children: Elizabeth, mentioned above; Algernon, married Mamie Wetzel; L. M., married Edith Harrison Black; Oliver, married Mae Meridith; Albirdie, died unmarried; Annie; John; Louis; Lettie.  Mr. And Mrs. Parlette have had children: H. Leslie, Jr., born March 31, 1904; Elizabeth, born December 3, 1905; Liewellyn, born August 2, 1907; William H., born December 28, 1908; Robert W., born January 11, 1910.

Carol’s note:  Ariel Standiford was the daughter of Claudius and Cordelia Hitchcock Standiford.  Claudius was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Robinson Standiford.

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