Parkman, Samuel Paul Pablo, 1804-1873

Samuel Paul "Pablo" Parkman, an American, was the founder of this Mexican family. From his birthplace in New York, the family moved westward until, in 1829, Samuel went to the Rocky Mountains with William L. Sublette as a trapper. After his return the next year, he became associated with Jedediah S. Smith, and in the spring of 1831, as clerk, accompanied Smith on the journey to Santa Fe on which the latter was killed. Parkman entered into an association at Santa Fe with Smith's younger brother, Peter, and in the fall of 1832, went down into old Mexico. He settled at Guanajuato, famous mining town, and was soon connected with various mining enterprises. There he married Antonia de Vega and became a Mexican citizen. His descendants have continued to live in the country.

From the description of Samuel Paul Pablo Parkman family papers, 1807-1900. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 26561540

Biographical Information

Samuel Paul ["Pablo"] Parkman, the founder of the Mexican branch of the family, was born in February, 1804, in Aurora, New York, and died at Guanajuato May 2, 1875. When he was yet an infant, his parents moved to Parkman Township, Geauga County, Ohio, where he was reared. In 1827 he made his way to Missouri, and in 1828 was named postmaster at Petitsaw Bluffs, Lafayette County, Missouri. In 1829 he went to the Rocky Mountains with William L. Sublette, returning the following year. He then became the clerk of Jedediah S. Smith, and in the spring of 1831 accompanied Smith in the journey on the Santa Fe Trail on which Smith was killed. Briefly he took charge of Smith's affairs, and afterward was associated with Jedediah Smith's younger brother, Peter, in the firm Parkman & Smith. In the fall of 1832 he went down into Mexico and through a series of vicissitudes settled at Guanajuato, connected with various mining enterprises. In 1835 he married Antonia de Vega, and to them 12 children were born, of whom Felipe, Franco, and Juan Ignacio figure in these family papers.

From the guide to the Samuel Paul Pablo Parkman Family Papers, 1807-1961, (The Bancroft Library)