W.K. Parsille, the efficient manager of the mercantile department of the Hall & Munson Company, one of the largest lumber firms of Michigan, doing business at Bay Mills, Chippewa county, was born in Bruce county, Ontario on the 27th of June 1859 and comes of a family of English origin. His paternal grandfather left N.J. during the war of 1812, and went ot York county, Ontario, where in 1822 James D. Parsille, father of our subject, was born. About 1858 the latter located in Bruce county, where he is still living. He is a blacksmith by trade, and has followed that business throughout the greater part of his life. He married Eliza Kennedy, daughter of Wm. Kennedy, whose ancestors came to America from the north of Ireland, and settled in Maryland in the early part of the 17th century. They were loyal to their mother country, and when the Declaration of Independence was published they l eft Maryland and sought a home in the land not in rebellion against the crown. It was then they located in New Brunswick, whence they afterward removed to York county, Ontario about the year 1800.

Mr. Parsille is the fifth in a family of nine. Herbert L. and D.B. are residents of Chicago; and John E. makes his home in Sault de Ste. Marie, while the others, with the exception of our subject are residents of Ontario. On leaving school W.K. Parsille began learning the foundry business, which he followed for a time. He then engaged as bookkeeper for a veterinary surgeon at Brantford, Canada, and on leaving that service came to Bay Mills, dating his residence here from 1882. He was employed as manager by R.D. Perry, who was then a partner with James Norris & Co. This firm established the business, in 1875, which has developed into the extensive interests of the Hall & Munson Lumber Co. On the 1st of May 1883, James Norris & Co. sold out to the firm of Hall & Buell, who on the 1st of April 1891 was succeeded by the present company. The plant and its auxiliary concerns cover more than a quarter section of land on which is located the village of Bay Mills, a town of 900 people, nearly all interested in the work of the Hall & Munson company. In their plant they have a capacity of about 40 million feet of lumber annually, and they own more than a mile of dock frontage, covered with millions of feet of lumber ready for shipment.

Mr. Parsille has entire charge of the mercantile department, in which are sold all commodities usually found in a general mercantile establishment. In addition he is acting as Postmaster of Bay Mills, which position he has filled since 1884. In his political views he is a stalwart Republican, and in 1885 was elected Supervisor. Four years later he was again elected to that position, which he has filled since. He is devoted to the best interests of the community and whether in public or private l ife labors for the general welfare. Socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity, holding membership with DeWitt Clinton Cnsistory adn Saladin Temple of the Mystic Shrine of Grand Rapids.

On the 4h of July 1887 he led to the marriage altar Juli Chisholm of Thesalon Canada, who died within a year, and on the 5th of Feb. 1894 he married May McBride a daughter of Moses McBride of Sault De Ste. Marie and formerly of Port Elgin, Canada. He is a man of good business ability, who has the confidence of the company and his business associates, and in the community where he lives he is recognized as a valued and honored citizen.

Northern Peninsula of Michigan 1895