1914 Biography - James Randlett Parkerson

Parkerson, Hon. James Randlett, state senator and member of constitutional convention, successful lawyer of Franklin, La., was born at Franklin, La., Dec. 3, 1879; son of Gen. John R. Parkerson whose birth occurred Aug. 30, 1853, in the same locality as that of the son. The paternal grandfather, Judge J. G. Parkerson, also was born at Franklin Oct. 22, 1829. The paternal great-grandfather, John Parkerson, married Mary Dreher, who died in the year 1896 at the age of near 100 years. Gen. John R. Parkerson, the father, was educated at Louisiana state university, then located at Alexandria. He became a merchant at Franklin, and afterward was clerk of court of St. Mary parish during a term of 4 years. Following this he conducted a general insurance agency until about the first of the year 1913. From 1880 to 1884, under the administration of Gov. McEnery, he was a commander of state troops, Gen. Beauregard being at that time Adjut.-General. It was during this time that so much trouble was had with the negroes. Gen. Parkerson at this time occupies the position of confidential clerk and keeper of records of the board of control of the Louisiana state penitentiary, which he has filled since Jan. 1, 1913. The paternal grandfather, Judge J. G. Parkerson, was educated at Philadelphia, Pa., and shortly following the completion of his educational term was elected recorder of St. Mary parish, which office he filled until the beginning of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Confederate army and served as a staff officer throughout the term of the war. After the surrender he returned to Franklin and engaged in sugar planting until 1878, when he became a general agent of the Southern Pacific R. R. and removed to Lafayette. He remained active incumbent of this office until Jan. 1, 1903, when, on account of age, he was retired on half pay for the remainder of his life. He died Nov. 5, 1913. The paternal great-grandfather, John Parkerson, came from South Carolina and located at Franklin in 1825, at the time when the town of Franklin consisted of only 7 houses. He followed the vocation of a planter, and died in 1847. James Randlett Parkerson was second of 5 children born to his parents, as follows: Mrs. Wilbur Kramer, James Randlett, John T., now chief assistant editor of the New York Journal. The fourth and fifth children--a boy and girl--died in infancy. James Randlett Parkerson, in the course of his education, attended the public schools of Franklin, and when he received thorough preparation in these, entered the academic department of Louisiana state university, where he prosecuted his studies until a portion of his junior year had been completed, when it became necessary for him to return home. In 1899 he entered the law department of Tulane university and graduated with the class of 1900. Shortly following the completion of his professional education he began the practice of law at Franklin, and has remained so actively engaged until the present time, with the exception of a short while during which he was absent on account of ill health. The mother, Bettie (Taylor) Parkerson, was born near Monroe, La., Nov. 4, 1853, and died Sept. 3, 1891. She was a daughter of Richard Taylor, a native of Louisiana and a distant relative of Gen. Richard Taylor, and also of Gen. Zachary Taylor. The Taylor family in Louisiana traces its ancestry back through many generations. Jan. 4, 1910, Mr. Parkerson was married to Miss Claremont Jones, a daughter of the Rev. R. T. Jones, an Episcopal minister originally of Virginia, but now stationed at St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Parkerson has voted the democratic ticket since beginning the exercise of the elective franchise. In 1912 he was elected a member of the Louisiana state senate from the 11th senatorial district, composed of Vermilion and St. Mary parishes. During the succeeding session of the senate he served on the judiciary, education, railroad, fish and fisheries (conservation) and the penitentiary committees. In Oct., 1913, Sen. Parkerson was elected a member of the Louisiana state constitutional convention, and during the succeeding session of the constitutional convention was the author of the anti-trust law adopted as an amendment to the constitution.

Extracted 2020 Nov 01 by Norma Hass, from Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, published in 1914, volume 3, pages 560-561.

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