1914 Biography - William Stirling Parkerson

Parkerson, William Stirling, distinguished lawyer and citizen, is a native of Louisiana; born on Stirling plantation in St. Mary's parish, April 24, 1857, and is a son of James G. and Elizabeth Hall (Stirling) Parkerson. He is descended from a line of ancestry in whose veins mingled the blood of the sturdy English and Scotch races. His father was born in St. Mary's parish, La., and has reached the 84th milestone in the journey of life; is a planter and resident of St. Mary's parish, where his father, John Parkerson, was a pioneer settler, coming to the state of Louisiana in 1806. John Parkerson was a surveyor and planter, and likewise James G. Parkerson has been a surveyor and planter. For 20 years James G. Parkerson served as recorder of his parish and he has long been one of the most extensive planters of Louisiana. He is a veteran of the Confederate army, and one of the best known and highly esteemed citizens of the state. The mother of William Stirling Parkerson died in 1875. She was a member of the well-known and prominent family of Stirling of Louisiana. Of 8 children William S. Parkerson is the eldest. He attended Rugby school at Franklin, La., until he was 17, and then entered St. Stephen's college, New York, from which institution he graduated in 1879. In the fall of that same year Mr. Parkerson entered the law department of the University of Louisiana, now Tulane university of Louisiana, and graduated in law May, 1880, being chosen valedictorian of his class. In Jan. of 1881 Mr. Parkerson began the practice of law in New Orleans. Very soon after beginning his professional career be began to rise in his profession, and his has been an active and successful career as a lawyer. He is numbered among the leaders of the Louisiana bar; profound in the law, gifted as a trial lawyer, and being eloquent of speech, Mr. Parkerson has won his way to high rank in his profession. He has always taken an active and commendable part in politics, and has been a consistent democrat, but never held public office, his chief ambition being to devote his time and talents to his profession. In public affairs Mr. Parkerson has been a prime mover in many things which have tended to the betterment of the public weal. In 1888 Mr. Parkerson married Miss Alice P. Putnam of New Orleans. She died leaving 3 children. In 1894 Mr. Parkerson married a sister of his first wife, Camilla Davis Putnam, who has borne him 5 children. Stirling Parkerson, one of his sons, is associated with him in the practice of law. His life has been an active one; he has achieved an enviable reputation as a lawyer, and is held in highest esteem as a citizen.

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 346-347.

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