Joseph "Joe" Stephen Parsons

Joseph S. Parsons Prominent Natrona County Rancher and Former Harrison Resident Succumbs to Heart Ailment

Last rites were held for Joseph Steven Parsons on Tuesday, November 16th, at the Bustard Mortuary in Casper, Wyo. Rev Hawes, pastor of the Methodist Church of Casper, officiated. Following the services, the remains were taken to Denver for cremation, and his ashes were placed in the family lot of the Highland Cemetery at Casper on Friday, November 19th, with graveside services being conducted.

Joseph Steven Parsons, son of Joseph and Martha Parsons departed from this life Sunday morning, Nov. 14th, at his ranch home near Edgerton, Wyoming. He had been afflicted with a heart ailment for the past several years, and this was said to have been the cause of his demise, He was the fifth of a family of nine children and the third to cross the great divide.

Joe was born in born in the Bodarc community in Sioux County, Nebraska and resided in Sioux County until he became sixteen years of age. At that time he saddled his horse and pointed him toward Montana where an older brother resided.

Here he worked on different ranches for a few years, and then selected a ranch location in the vicinity of Jordan, Montana, a hundred and twenty miles north of Miles City, Montana. Miles City, being the railroad from which all supplies for this sparsely settled country had to be brought in by wagon freight outfits. At first, Joe established a freight outfit and hauled in supplies. It took from two weeks to a month to make a round trip, depending on the weather and the roads.

After a try at freighting he stocked up his small ranch with cattle and horses.

After experiencing a few hard winters and dry summers, he sold out and moved south into Wyoming. After looking around a year or two he settled near Teapot Dome and Salt Creek oil fields. Here he again started ranching operations and stocked up with cattle and horses. As his operations grew he quit the horse business and ran several bands of sheep in connection with his cattle.

In the meantime, he had married a Montana girl, Clara Bellanger, and they built up and maintained a home on the ranch. Here two sons were born and they grew to manhood on the ranch. As their ranching operations grew, the sons were taken into the business with their father and the company was known as the Salt Creek Land and Livestock Co.

Ten years ago they built a lovely home in Casper where the mother resided. The sons married and established homes on the ranch and the father made his home on the ranch and in Casper taking care of the business ends of the company.

Since his ranch was near the oil fields it was natural for Joe to become interested in oil activities, which proved financially remunerative.

He was well known in Natrona and adjoining counties as a capable operator and his advice was often sought by others.

He was reared a Methodist. While ranching in isolated areas he seldom had access to church services, but his religious training in childhood followed him through life, and he was a faithful contributor to the financial needs of the church.

In the passing of Joe Parsons, another member of a pioneer family has left the scene. His parents came west when, what is now the C. & N.W. railroad extended less than a hundred miles west of Omaha. His father and a partner by name of Cunningham started a freight route from the end of the railroad to points west in Nebraska, the Black Hills and eastern Wyoming. As the end of the railroad moved gradually west their freight routes were shortened until they finally quit business.

The elder Parsons and a brother-in-law at one time operated a grocery store at Silver Cliff, Wyo. which was a mile west of where Lusk, Wyoming is now located.

The days of the pioneer is now history. As we look back we begin to realize the progress made in the past 75 years. As we stand on the threshold of a new era may we bear the torch of progress as faithfully as our forebearers.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife Clara; two sons Joseph Jr. and Robert; six grandchildren; four brothers, Con, John, and Frank of Harrison, Nebr., and Charles of Torrington, Wyo.; two sisters, Mrs. Virginia Monroe of Ismay, Montana and Mrs. Clarence Carley of Dalton, Nebr. and a host of friends and acquaintances.

The Lusk Herald
December 9, 1954
Joseph Parsons Dies November 14

Joseph Stephen Parsons, 61, a prominent Natrona County rancher and brother of Con, Frank and John Parsons, all of Harrison, died early Sunday, Nov. 14, at his ranch six miles east of Edgerton, following a brief illness. Funeral services were held in Casper November 16.

A native Nebraskan, Mr. Parsons was born in May, 1893, at Harrison. He grew up in Nebraska and Wyoming and at the age of 16 started ranching near Miles City, Mont. In 1921 he moved to his present home near Edgerton. He was married to Miss Clara Bellanger at Hot Springs, S. D., July 1, 1922. During World War I he served in the Navy.

Besides his widow he leaves two sons, Joseph C. Parsons, Midwest, and Robert V. Parson, Edgerton; two sisters, Mrs. Virginia Monroe, Ismay, Mont., and Mrs. Mattie Carley, Dalton, Neb.; four brothers, Charles Parsons of Torrington and the three above mentioned.

Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, in the chapel of the Bustard Funeral Hoe in Casper with the Rev. C. T. Hawes of the First Methodist Church officiating.

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