Major John Parsons was born on January 4, 1816 in Rye, New Hampshire to parents Dr. John Wilkes and Abigail Garland Parsons.  The Parsons Family was very prominent in New Hampshire politics and were engaged in many mercantile businesses in the area. In 1836, at the age of 20, John Parsons enlisted for service in the Florida Seminole Indian Wars.  He first served under General Harney and was then transferred to the staff of General Reed, where he was promoted to a rank of major.   After his service in the Florida Seminole Indian War, on August 8, 1855, Major John Parsons married to Susan Decatur.  After his marriage to Susan, he and his new wife permanently moved to Florida settling in Cedar Key.  By 1859 Major Parsons had acquired property in Cedar Key where he began construction of a commercial building.  The walls of the building were made from mixed oyster shell, limestone and sand and were nearly 10 inches thick.  Massive 12 inch oak beams were cut and framed making a basement and support for the wooden framing of the building.  Upon completion Parsons and co-owner Francis E. Hale opened the Parsons and Hale's General Store in the building, becoming the first general and commercial building in Cedar Key.  Today the Parsons building still stands serving as the Island Hotel, the building has survived for over 140 years. By the late 1850's Major Parsons had partnered with David Levy Yulee and the Florida Railroad Company with Parsons becoming an invested stockholder in the Florida Railroad Company.  Through his partnership with David Yulee, Parsons acquired large property holding throughout the State of Florida, much of this property being situated along the proposed routes of the Florida Railroad. Eventually Major Parsons would relocated his family to Hernando County.  Just as in Cedar Key Parsons began acquiring property and building his interest in Hernando County.  On February 1, 1854 John Parsons acquired large property interests along the coast of Hernando County, here he had dreams of building a small port community similar to the town where he was born, he named his new town Bay Port.  Immediately John Parsons began to finance numerous improvements to the town by building wharfs, storage houses, school house, hotels and even a general store, which he owned and operated.  Parsons small town of Bayport was increasing in size until the outbreak of the Civil War. Being an experienced was veteran, at the outbreak of the Civil War Parsons began to raise and enlist a company of men at Bayport.  Parsons Independent Company was mustered into service in July of 1861.  With this company of men fortifications of Bayport began with the building of earth works and a gun battery.  By June of 1862 many of the men who had enlisted in Parsons Independent Company were mustered out and re-mustered under several new companies being formed in Hernando County.  By 1863 Parsons had once again raised a company of men and the second Parsons Independent Company was mustered into service.  This second Parsons Independent Company was engaged in the running of the Union blockade and also acted as local home guard.  Throughout the war Parsons remained in Hernando County protecting his town and interest at Bayport. Before the end of the Civil War John and Susan Parsons had two children John Decatur born June 5, 1862 and Susan born Sept. 3, 1864; both born in Hernando County.  After the Civil War Parsons continued to live in Hernando County and promote his town of Bayport.  In addition he and his wife acquired more property along the Weeki Wachee River.  Parsons also acted as agent for the Eberhard Pencil Company who had mills in Cedar Key and offices in New York.  As agent Parsons purchased cedar trees that were hewn by residents and floated down the Weeki Wachee River to Bayport.  These cedar trees were then shipped to Cedar Key and made into pencils. Major John Parsons lived the remainder of his life in Bayport until his death on May 28, 1888.  Funeral services for Major John Parsons were held at the Holy Communion Church in New York City followed by internment in the Parsons/ Decatur Family plot in the Evergreen Cemetery in New York along with his wife and children. For more information on Major John Parsons please see the following links: Bayport Community Bayport Civil War History (Photo courtesy of the Parsons Family, research by Jeff Cannon)