W. A. Parr (1855 – May 25, 1922) 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

edit

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

edit
  1. ^ "History of the Arizona State Legislature 1912-1966". State of Arizona. p. 82. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Former Territorial Senator In Arizona Dies At Los Angeles". The Arizona Republican. May 28, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "Brief News Of Arizona". Williams News. July 18, 1903. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ "Winslow Couple Are Honored On Fiftieth Anniversary". Arizona Daily Sun. March 5, 1957. p. 2. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "Arizona Day by Day". The Arizona Republican. October 12, 1899. p. 3. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ "Untitled". Holbrook Argus. March 16, 1901. p. 1. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ "W. A. Parr, Prominent Winslow Man, Killed". The Coconino Sun. June 2, 1922. p. 6. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  8. ^ "News of the Territory". The Coconino Sun. July 20, 1901. p. 6. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  9. ^ "Fires At Winslow". The Coconino Sun. July 23, 1896. p. 2. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  10. ^ "Untitled". The Holbrook Argus. August 28, 1897. p. 3. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  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.  
  14. ^ a b "Essie P. Lancaster". Arizona Republic. June 17, 1959. p. 40. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  15. ^ "Arizona Candidates". Arizona Silver Belt. October 18, 1900. p. 7. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  16. ^ "Proceedings, of The Board of Supervisors of Navajo County". Holbrook Argus. November 24, 1900. p. 1. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  17. ^ "Local Brevities". The Coconino Sun. October 11, 1902. p. 6. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  18. ^ "Wilson For Congress". The Holbrook Argus. November 8, 1902. p. 1. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  19. ^ "XXII. Legislature". Arizona Daily Star. November 20, 1902. p. 5. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  20. ^ "Navajo County Conventions". Snips & St. Johns Herald. October 29, 1904. p. 2. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  21. ^ "Death Of Mrs. Parr". The Arizona Republican. December 30, 1902. p. 4. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  22. ^ "Byrd-Parr Marriage". Holbrook Argus. July 2, 1912. p. 3. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  23. ^ "Winslow Returns". Williams News. April 9, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  24. ^ "Parr-Philipps". Holbrook Argus. August 6, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  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.  
  26. ^ "Smith Defeats Ling; Hunt Prevails Over Hughes". The Arizona Republican. September 9, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  27. ^ "Canvass of Primary Votes Shows Total". Bisbee Daily Review. September 27, 1914. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  28. ^ "County Democrats Hold Caucus". The Holbrook News. July 19, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  29. ^ "Personnel of the Fourth State Legislature". Arizona Daily Star. January 26, 1919. p. 6. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.  
  30. ^ "The Last Echoes of the Pesky Primaries". The Holbrook News. September 17, 1920. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.