John F. Parmeter, farmer, section 1, Ashland Township, was born in Addison Co., Vt., Sept. 22, 1811 , and is a son of Jesse L. and Elizabeth (Goo) Parmeter. The father was of English parentage and the mother of French descent. The parents removed to Herkimer Co., N. Y., in 1819, and four years 1ater made another transfer of their interests to Allegany County, in the same State.
Mr. Parneter there passed the years preceding the period of his legal freedom in a manner common to farmers' sons, and on attaining his majority purchased a small farm. Shortly after he disposed of the property, and in the fall of 1833 came to Michigan and engaged in farming in Concord, Jackson County.
The malarial climate of the Peninsular State in those days found in Mr. Parmeter an easy victim, and,
thoroughly worn out with his sufferings, he returned to the Empire State, where he spent four years.
The attractions of Michigan as an agricultural State had never lost their force, and he resolved on recovering his health once more to contest issues with the climate for the sake of securing the benefits of her wonderful farming possibilities; and he came to Van Buren County and managed a farm until 1846, when he established a hotel at Mattawan, where he operated upward of ten years. Meanwhile he went to California in search of gold and to recruit his health, making a successful effort in both avenues. In 1861 he came to Newaygo County and located on a farm in Sheridan, where he pursued agriculture until the fall of 1866, when he sold out. He bought 40 acres of land on section 1, Ashland Township, where he has made extraordinary progress and improvements. He has, among other attractions, an orchard composed of fine and varied fruit trees, and is just completing a, convenient and commodious residence.
He was married June 27, 1840, in Kalamazoo, to Sarah A., daughter of John and Mary E. (Ensley) Kyle. She was born Nov. 4, 1821, in Tioga Co., N. Y. , and removed when she was 12 years old to Kalamazoo Co., Mich., where she resided until her marria,ge. Her father died in her infancy. Two of four
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Parmeter are living,- Orlando and Mary M. (Mrs. M. H. Britton, of Ashland). Marcellus and one other are deceased. Mr. Parmeter is an adherent of the principles and issues of the National party, and has acted as Justice of the Peace four years.