Elizabeth Jane Bibb~Parsons

Elizabeth Jane Bibb b. May 18,1826, Caroline Co. VA., d. March 19, 1894, Greene Co., AR., On October 29, 1845 Elizabeth married Pleasant (P.K.) Parsons, in Carroll Co. TN., who was the youngest of 6 children. He was born August 14, 1826, S.C. d. March 5, 1894, Greene Co., AR. They probably lived on the farm PK had inherited when his father Henry died. When Elizabeth was 5 months pregnant with her first child, PK, seeking adventure enlisted June 4, 1846 as a private in the TN infantry volunteers, Company B,  and served in the Mexican American War. PK was paid $8.00 a month as a private but it must have been hard for Elizabeth, pregnant with her husband away at war. Their first child, Mary was born on October 10, 1846. PK returned home to Maple Creek when Mary was 6 months old. He brought with him the $100 he accepted instead of a land grant when he was discharged.

Their second child, Sarah Frances was born November, 7, 1847, Carroll Co. TN., died February 4, 1922, Lafe, AR., burial is unknown. she married W.H. Harris 1869, Carroll Co. TN. W.H. was born ca. 1845, died April 19, 1893, Greene Co., burial Providence Cemetery.

Third child, W.T. (W. Thomas) b. November 19,1851, Carroll Co. TN., d. May 22, 1899, Greene Co., m. Cordelia Reed, 1887, Greene Co. AR.

Fourth child, Luiza b. ca. 1858, Carroll Co. TN., d. unknown, burial unknown.

With the exception of Luiza, the Parsons family is buried in Providence Cemetery. This family moved to Greene County, Arkansas between 1875 and 1880.

In 1862 PK joined the Union Forces as a Captain. Since Tennessee was a Confederate state, Carroll County was a dangerous place for the wives and children of Union soldiers. PK did not leave his family to join the Union forces until after that area of Tennessee had been secured by the Union. For the first year of his enlistment his regiment was stationed in West Tennessee and the soldiers could often, on patrol, drop by their farms. But still Elizabeth was on her own again, where she lived and how she managed this time with 4 children, is unknown. When PK was discharged on August, 7, 1865 he returned to Maple Creek and reunited with his wife and family.