The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, December 2, 1900
pg. 1

CHARLES PENN PARRISH DEAD
A Good Man and a Prominent Pioneer Passes to His Last Rest
There died Monday morning in this city one of the grandest, the most gentle and loving characters one that has made the world better for the living in it.  Charles Penn Parrish was not well known in the popular expression of the phrase.  For several years he had been in delicate health and did not mix much with the world.  He was by nature and inclination a home man.  To him,his home was always his highest ideal of purity.  Under his own roof he ever felt that there were only hearts that could beat in unison with his own.  It was to him of all others the most sanctified and holy place on earth.  In the bosom of a loving and devoted family he found the true solace and joys of life.  There never was, and never will be again,
a better exemplification of what home should be than the household of C.P. Parrish.
For several months the writer has been almost a constant attendant at the bedside of Mr. Parrish, and the more we saw of him the more we loved him, and the devotion of his wife and children have left impressions that will never cease to excite our admiration until we, like him, shall be called on to pay the debt of nature.
At the time of death Mr. Parrish had been confined to his bed 8 months and 1 day.
His wife and his daughters, Mrs. J.E. Harnest and Mrs. A.J. Maul have administered to him.  Time and time again we have seen Mrs. Harnest come from a hard day's work at Madden, Graham & Co's. and then remain up all night at the bedside of her father.  Her presence was always full of comfort and cheer to the sick man.  The devotion of Mrs. Maul was equally heroic.  For 8 months, day and night, the wife and children have never been absent from the bedside.  There were kind and sympathizing friends present to lighten the burden, but the sick chamber was always lighted with the smiles of the members of the family, who spoke words of comfort and held out the hope that he might yet be spared to them.  Now, that he is dead and gone, what a source of comfort it will be in future years to the dear heartbroken wife and children to know that they did their duty.  The outside world will never know, and if it did could not appreciate the devotion of this family to him who lies sleeping beneath the yet unfaded flowers in Fairview cemetery.
Mr. Parrish was the most patient, uncomplaining sick man that we have ever seen or heard of.  Dying, day by day, racked with pain, sometimes almost suffocated, he never for one moment became irritable.  To the contrary, he seemed to think he was giving too much trouble to his family, and fully appreciated every effort of theirs to contribute to his comfort.  His self-sacrifice was one of the noblest traits of his admirable character.  His heart was so big that he thought of everybody before himself.
As he gradually faded away into death his nature seemed to become more angelic.  He did not fear death. Why should he?  No man was more thoroughly a religious man than he.  Death had no terrors for him.
And now we leave him.  Farewell.  As a husband, how gentle and fascinating and lovable he was.  As a parent he made constant companions of his children, teaching them how to be frank of speech and generous of heart and nature.  As a neighbor, the latch string of his door was always out, and none in distress who ever knocked there or entered there ever went away empty-handed.  As a citizen, he was enterprising.  And last, as a man, he possessed the best attributes of the human heart.

SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
Charles Penn Parrish, son of Jefferson Parrish of Baron county, Kentucky, was born in 1837, and came with his parents to Fannin county, Texas, when 8 yeas old.  In the cabin home of the old Kentucky pioneer was learned the rugged, honest independence that was to the end the chief characteristic of his son.  Many and many an anxious night was spent by the family shut up in the barricaded home, the mother molding bullets while the father and uncle fought off the savage onslaught of Indians.  Time and again the home had to be abandoned for the protection of the forts, and in this atmosphere of hardship and danger the 2 young sons, J.M. and C.P. learned life's first lessons.  That the rough school had the benefits as well as dangers the later life of both has proved.
When Charles was about 14 years old he left the parental roof to seek his fortune amid the still wilder scenes of the Indian Territory.  The wild life of the frontier was but another step toward that manly independence that marked the whole life of deceased - boy and man.
For a number of years he carried the United States mail between old Ft. Washita and Ft. Tyson.  Though the way was beset by savage beasts and still more savage men, he was ever punctual, missing but few trips during the entire time.
Returning to Texas, Mr. Parrish was married to Miss Saphronia A. Pope, May 1857, 43 years ago.  Of the marriage 4 children were born, 2 of whom are living, Mrs. Mary Penn Harnest of this city and Mrs. Lee Maul of Camben, Arkansas.  The widow, the companion of the long journey, survives him, who with the 2 daughters, a devoted son-in-law, Mr. Al Maul, a niece, Miss Georgie Groves, and 11 grand-children, will keep in sacred remembrance the many virtues of the deceased husband, father and grandfather.
The first years of married life were spent in the country home, near the Choctaw creek, this county, where Mr. Parrish engaged in farming, merchandising, etc.  22 years ago he came with his family to this city, located at 726 Morgan street and engaged in the grocery business.  The house at the old corner, one of the landmarks of the early days of Denison, is still occupied by the family.  Mr. Parrish was generous and liberal in business transactions, putting into practice the rugged principles of honesty that marked his whole life.  Advantage was often taken of his confiding nature by unscrupulous customers, so that while the business was successful, little provision for a rainy day was realized.
His fellow-citizens honored him, twice elected him to the city council.  The schools being then controlled by that body, Mr. Parrish was ever the friend of education and the warm champion of the teacher.  On account of failing health the business and service to the public had to be given up, and the 12 last years have been spent at home, where, surrounded by the tenderest care, he spent the time in reading - generally the Bible - and in relating reminiscences of his early trials and struggles on the frontier.  Or, accompanied by the ever faithful and devoted wife, he visited the health resorts of Arkansas and Colorado in search of the relief from the dread malady, consumption, he did not find.
Deceased was a consistent member of the Church of Christ for 30 years, and when no longer able to mingle with his fellow members, shut in with his best loved, he found consolation in his religion.  Always a Bible student, he gave still more time to the reading of what to him was, indeed, the book of books.  With cheerful patience he bore the tedium of 8 months confinement to his bed.  The release must have been a happy one.  Now he rests.

THE GRAVE
The funeral was held from the residence at 3 p.m. Tuesday.  Rev. Stinson, for a number of years, pastor of the Christian church here, but now located at Catalee, near Vinita, I.T., conducted the service and a choir of 4 trained voices furnished the music.  A long line of relatives, friends and old citizens followed the remains to their last resting place in beautiful Fairview.  Many flower pieces, the tributes of loving hearts, covered the casket.  The cemetery reached, a few fit words spoken, the last sad farewells uttered, and all that was mortal of the devoted husband, the loving father, the staunch friend, was laid beneath the flower-covered mound to rest until the glad day of reunion comes.

SOCIETY
Mrs. Katie Maddox of Caddo, I.T., sister of C.P. Parrish, and Mrs. S.G. Parrish of Gainesville, sister-in-law to C.P. Parrish and Mrs. T.G. Williams of Gainesville, niece of C.P. Parrish were present at the funeral of C.P. Parrish.
It is a genuine pleasure to pay tribute to Mrs. J.F. Baker, wife of Dr. Baker.  If there ever was a good Samaritan, that person is Mrs. Baker.  For months and months she has ministered at the bedside of C.P. Parrish.
She had a very beautiful and sympathetic manner of expressing her solicitude for the sick man.  Even when there was dangerous sickness in her own family she did not fail to give her presence at the bedside of Mr. Parrish.  These little attentions were very pleasing and highly appreciated by Mr. Parrish.  There is no doubt that the attention he received from his family and friends prolonged his life.  While sick he was  very sensitive to the attention of visitors.
Mrs. C.P. Parrish will probably accompany her daughter, Mrs. A.J. Maul, to Camden, Arkansas on a visit.

PERSONALS
Mrs.A.J.Maul and family arrived last week from Arkansas to attend the bedside of C.P. Parrish.  Mrs. Maul is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Parrish.
G.W. Pope of Whitewright attended the funeral of C.P. Parrish.
Jim Harnest and family of the Warren Flats community and John Pope of the Key community were present at the funeral of C.P. Parrish.

RAILROAD RUMBLINGS
Conductor A.J. Maul of the Cotton Belt, who has been here at the bedside of his father-in-law, C.P. Parrish, will return with his family this week to Camden, Arkansas.
Messrs. Lamar, Estes and McEleer of the Kathy shops were very faithful attending at the bedside of the late C.P. Parrish.

LOCAL CONDENSATIONS
Thursday, November 29 - Dr. J.F.Baker attended C.P. Parrish