Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 361.
 
THOMAS H. PARROTT

    Thomas H. Parrott, the eminent musician and teacher, who made his advent in
Oregon, April 1, 1857, arriving in Portland, was born in Kent county, England,
October 17, 1836. His parents, Samuel and Mariah (Everest) Parrott, were both
natives of England and of English descent, his mother's family being notable
musicians. In 1854, his parents and seven of their children emigrated to Oregon.
    The subject of our sketch remained two years longer in England, completing
his apprenticeship to the shoemaker's trade. He then followed the family to this
State, where he worked for some time at his trade. He came to East Portland in
1862, when there were but three houses in the place. He then purchased a lot on
the corner of Fourth and H streets, for $40, on which he erected his house and
music store, where he has resided for thirty years, the property being now, in
1892, valued at $10,000.
    His service as a musician became so greatly in demand that he finally gave
it his entire attention, and has acted as musician for balls in several
Territories and taught music for nearly thirty years.
    June 8, 1861, he married Miss Eliza A. Rhodes, a highly esteemed lady, and a
native of Illinois, who is a daughter of Mr. A. Rhodes, a widely and favorably
known Oregon pioneer of 1845. They have eight children, the eldest of whom was
born in Yam Hill county, and all the others in East Portland. They are, Samuel
H., Armond G., Thomas W., Walter Edward, George Clarence, Jennie L., Archie R.
and Richard L. They have all been given a thorough musical education under the
personal instruction of their father, and the older sons are now among the
finest musicians in the city, making that their business. Two of the boys, Tom
and Walter, are great ball players. Walter is playing and hired for three years
at Chicago, in the National League.
    The subject of our sketch can play on any instrument in a brass band and has
made the teaching of those instruments a specialty, -- with violin, piano and
organ. In 1889, he erected and opened his music store in East Portland, where he
is handling all kinds of musical instruments, including several of the best made
pianos and cabinet organs. He also keeps sheet music and instruction books,
having the principal establishment of the kind in East Portland.
    Besides his city property, Mr. Parrott has two farms in Yam Hill county,
which he has rented.
    Politically, he is independent, voting for the man who, in his opinion, is
the best calculated to fill the office with ability and integrity.
    He is a charter member of Multnomah Lodge, No. 1, Red Men.
    His principal delight is in music, in which he excels, his ability in that
direction being allied rather to genius than to talent, and which he inherits
from his mother and her family, which numbers some notable musical artists.
Besides he is a great sportsman, and many are the deer, bear, ducks and geese he
has brought down with the gun. It does him good yet to entertain his friends as
they call and spend a few hours, in rehearsing his exploits and hairbreadth
escapes. He is now fifty-six years of age, and is able to, and does, bag as much
game as any of the sportsmen in the vicinity where he resides.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2006 by Sharon Engle.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.