Briscoe, Parmenas, 1839-1906

Parmenas Briscoe, the eldest son of Mary Jane Harris Briscoe and Andrew Briscoe, was born in 1839 in Houston, Texas. Parmenas served in Company 1, 2nd Battalion of the Infantry of Waul's Texas Legion during the Civil War. He ran a sawmill, worked briefly as an agent with Houston East and West Texas Rail Road, and clerked in the Harris County Clerk's office. As the eldest male in the family, Parmenas handled the legal and financial transactions for his immediate and extended family. He died in his home in Houston, Texas, in 1906.

From the description of Parmenas Briscoe papers, 1867-1909, (bulk 1879-1899). (San Jacinto Museum of History). WorldCat record id: 50045877

Parmenas Briscoe, the eldest son of Mary Jane Harris Briscoe and Andrew Briscoe, was born in 1839 in Houston, Texas. In 1840 after his father completed his term as Chief Justice of Harrisburg (Harris) County, the family moved to Harrisburg, Texas, where they made their home. Andrew closed his Texas businesses and moved to New Orleans in 1849 to further his children's education. He died of yellow fever on October 4, 1849. Mary Jane and her four children moved to the Briscoe family plantation in Claiborne County, Mississippi, and lived there for 3 years until returning to Texas.

Parmenas served in Company A, 2nd Battalion of the Infantry of Waul's Texas Legion otherwise known as Sam Carter's Company during the Civil War. He ran a sawmill with his cousin, A. W. Scoble, in Harrisburg until ca. 1881, worked briefly as an agent with Houston East and West Texas Rail Road in 1893, and clerked in the Harris County Clerk's office. As the eldest male in the family, Parmenas handled the legal and financial transactions for his siblings, mother, unmarried female relatives, and distant cousins.

Parmenas Bub had a lifelong passion for fishing and sailing and was a member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas. He never married. His mother, Mary Jane Briscoe, lived with him until her death in 1903. After his sister Adele's husband, Michael Looscan, died in 1897, she also moved into the house at 620 Crawford Street. Parmenas died in his home in Houston, Texas, in 1906.

From the guide to the Parmenas Briscoe papers MC058. 50045877., 1867-1909, (Bulk: 1879-1899), (Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library, )