W. A. Parr

W. A. Parr was an American politician from Arizona. He served a single term in the Arizona State Senate during the 4th Arizona State Legislature, holding the seat from Navajo County.[1] In addition, he served two terms in the Arizona Territorial Legislature, both in the lower house. He was a contractor and an undertaker.

W. A. Parr
Parr, ca. 1920
Member of the Arizona Senate
from the Navajo County district
In office
January 1919  December 1920
Preceded byF. O. Mattox
Succeeded byJames Scott
Personal details
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
ProfessionPolitician

Biography

Parr was born in Canada in 1855.[2][3] Parr moved to Arizona in 1891, settling in Winslow.[4] Parr was a building contractor in both Arizona and New Mexico,[5][6] as well as running an undertaking business in Winslow.[7][8] In the mid-1890s, Parr served as the justice of the peace for the Winslow district.[9][10]

He served in the 20th and 22nd Arizona Territorial Legislatures, both time in the House.[11][12][13] During the 20th Legislature, his eight-year-old daughter, Essee, served as his page in the House.[14] In 1900 he ran for the 21st Arizona Territorial Legislature, but this time for the upper house, which was called the council during the time Arizona was a territory.[15] However, he lost narrowly to Republican Colin Campbell in the general election.[16] In 1902 he again ran for the legislature, this time for the House,[17] defeating Republican J. F. Mahoney in the general election.[18][19] He did not run for re-election in 1904.[20]

In December 1902 his wife died of "congestion of the brain" after an illness of several weeks.[21] The couple had two children, both girls, Essie and Vina Alberta.[14][22]

In 1904 Parr was elected to the Winslow City Council.[23] On July 27, 1904, Parr remarried, this time to Frona A. Philipps of Lineville, Iowa, where the wedding was held.[24] In 1914 Parr ran for State Treasurer.[25] However, he was soundly defeated in the primary by fellow Democrat Mit Simms.[26][27] In 1918, Parr announced his intention to run for the Arizona State Senate. He was opposed in the Democrat primary by C. C. McCauley.[28] He defeated McCauley in the primary, and went on to win the general election in November.[29] He did not run for re-election in 1920.[30]

In May 1922, Parr was working on one of his houses in Winslow when he fell from a ladder, seriously injuring himself. He was found unconscious, and was taken to a hospital in Los Angeles. He never regained consciousness and died several days later, on May 25.[2]

References

  1. "History of the Arizona State Legislature 1912-1966". State of Arizona. p. 82. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  2. "Former Territorial Senator In Arizona Dies At Los Angeles". The Arizona Republican. May 28, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. "Brief News Of Arizona". Williams News. July 18, 1903. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. "Winslow Couple Are Honored On Fiftieth Anniversary". Arizona Daily Sun. March 5, 1957. p. 2. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. "Arizona Day by Day". The Arizona Republican. October 12, 1899. p. 3. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  6. "Untitled". Holbrook Argus. March 16, 1901. p. 1. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  7. "W. A. Parr, Prominent Winslow Man, Killed". The Coconino Sun. June 2, 1922. p. 6. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  8. "News of the Territory". The Coconino Sun. July 20, 1901. p. 6. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  9. "Fires At Winslow". The Coconino Sun. July 23, 1896. p. 2. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  10. "Untitled". The Holbrook Argus. August 28, 1897. p. 3. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  11. McClintock, James H. (1916). Arizona, Prehistoric, Aboriginal, Pioneer, Modern Vol. II. Chicago: S. J. Clarke. p. 373.
  12. Wagoner, Jay J. (1970). Arizona Territory 1863–1912: A Political history. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. p. 526. ISBN 0816501769.
  13. "Arizona Legislature". The St. Johns Herald. December 3, 1898. p. 44. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  14. "Essie P. Lancaster". Arizona Republic. June 17, 1959. p. 40. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  15. "Arizona Candidates". Arizona Silver Belt. October 18, 1900. p. 7. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  16. "Proceedings, of The Board of Supervisors of Navajo County". Holbrook Argus. November 24, 1900. p. 1. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  17. "Local Brevities". The Coconino Sun. October 11, 1902. p. 6. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  18. "Wilson For Congress". The Holbrook Argus. November 8, 1902. p. 1. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  19. "XXII. Legislature". Arizona Daily Star. November 20, 1902. p. 5. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  20. "Navajo County Conventions". Snips & St. Johns Herald. October 29, 1904. p. 2. Retrieved July 28, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  21. "Death Of Mrs. Parr". The Arizona Republican. December 30, 1902. p. 4. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  22. "Byrd-Parr Marriage". Holbrook Argus. July 2, 1912. p. 3. Retrieved July 28, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  23. "Winslow Returns". Williams News. April 9, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  24. "Parr-Philipps". Holbrook Argus. August 6, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  25. "Political Line-Up of the Parties". The Copper Era and Morenci Leader. June 5, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  26. "Smith Defeats Ling; Hunt Prevails Over Hughes". The Arizona Republican. September 9, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  27. "Canvass of Primary Votes Shows Total". Bisbee Daily Review. September 27, 1914. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  28. "County Democrats Hold Caucus". The Holbrook News. July 19, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  29. "Personnel of the Fourth State Legislature". Arizona Daily Star. January 26, 1919. p. 6. Retrieved July 28, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
  30. "The Last Echoes of the Pesky Primaries". The Holbrook News. September 17, 1920. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2022 via Newspapers.com. open access
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