Henry and Sarah Parsley told many interesting stories of early pioneer days. They filed on June 29, 1903 and settled early in 1904.  They came from their old home at Glenburn, North Dakota, driving through with a little old covered wagon.  Henry and Sarah had four children at that time: Ellen, Walter, Glen, and Marie.  To the Parsley's and their four small children that little old wagon was "home sweet home".  The little wagon carried many cherished memories. Many times the team was hitched to the wagon and off they went to a dancing party or picnic and the worries of home were forgotten. Mr. Parsley was a real artist on the violin and on such occasions his services were always in great demand. 
[Ed. note: The 1964 DC History book says they came from Brookings, S. D. and stopped for a while in Glenburn, N. D..]

Henry & Sarah Parsley Family around 1941

Children:  Daughter of Walt & Jean, Merle, Darrel, son of Walt & Jean, daughter of Walt & Jean, Kay Thomte
Adults (middle row):  Walt Parsley, Jean (wife of Walt), Sarah Parsley, Henry Parsley
Adults (back row): Jim Feeney, Glen Parsley, Isabelle Thomte, Kermit Thomte

The Parsley's cash surplus was scant during the first years. The Parsleys seeded rutabagas and beans on new breaking the first spring and a fine crop was harvested, thus being a great asset to the family larder. All supplies that were needed that first year were hauled from Portal, N. D.  During the first summer Henry put up a fine lot of hay in what was then a large slough west of the homestead. This was sold to the homesteaders the following spring for $4.00 per ton.

During the fall he went to Bowbells for the thrashing season to earn a few extra pennies. Mrs. Parsley tells how she worried when being left alone during the early years. She had heard how terrible the cowboys were when they a swept down on the settlers, but to her surprise there never was a more considerate lot of fellows when they called, and always willing to lend a hand when needed.

During their first summer in 1904 Parsley became lost one dark night in the long grass in the slough west of the shack and had considerable difficulty in locating the shack.

The following winter brought heavy snow and again conditions caused him to become lost. A storm came up about 3 p.m. one December day while Parsley had gone to the spring some short distance away. After wandering for some time he sighted a lantern his wife had hung in the window and finally reached the shack, although he suffered a badly frozen face.

The same winter Sarah was taken seriously ill very suddenly.  Henry had gone to the coal mines at Noonan for coal.  Dr. Lancaster was called in. He started for the farm immediately, accompanied by Grandmother Feeney. Snow was so deep in several places the horses went down many times. Suffering from chill the doctor and Mrs. Feeney finally arrived at the shack. Christ Monson volunteered to go to the mine after Henry and he, too, had one of the most severe trips. Sarah said that “the kindness shown by those pioneer neighbors are cherished memories which can never be forgotten.”

In 1906 a grand 4th of July celebration was staged at Soo Valley, as Ambrose was then known, and this was the first real celebration ever held in Ambrose Township. All kinds of sports, including horse racing, baseball, and a bowery dance with the Parsley Brothers furnishing the music helped to make the day a pleasant one for the pioneers. The baseball team scored a real success on this day, or so it is reported. For several years Ambrose Township boasted of one of the fastest baseball teams in northern Williams County.  Martin Monson and Hilder Strand comprised the battery. 

Both Mr. Parsley’s and Mrs. Parsley's (Sarah Feeney) fathers were Civil War veterans.

Mr. Parsley passed away May 18, 1943 at the age of 73, and Mrs. Parsley followed him in November 1956 at the age of 80.

Mr. and Mrs. Parsley were the parents of six children:

Ellen (Mrs. Britt Chandler) of Plentywood, Mont.
Walter - who died in 1953
Glen - who died in 1946
Marie (Mrs. H. F. Nagel) of Bismarck, N. D.
Violet, who died in infancy in 1903
Isabelle (Mrs. Kermit Thomte) of Ambrose, N. D.

Isabelle was the only child born in the homestead shack.  The Parsley’s also had an adopted son, Jimmy Feeney, who they raised since he was eleven days old.  Jimmy was killed in a car accident in 1948.

There are now seventy-five living descendants who enjoy the fruits of the labor of these two true pioneers.

Margaret and Glen Parsley in the mid-1930's

Glen Parsley and his children around 1939

Glen Dale Parsley, Merle David, Margaret Marie, Charles Dean, John Darrel, Robert Duane

Merle lives in Boise, ID; Margaret is Mrs. Arden Hanson, Crosby, ND;
Charles lives in Minneapolis, MN; Darrel lives in Sand Point, ID;
Glen and Robert are both deceased.

Family History taken from "A History of Ambrose" by Delroy J. Gorecki, 1962
and from page 43 of the Stories and Histories of Divide County 1964, Crosby, North Dakota
(Edited for content)

Photos from the collection of Merle Parsley