Thomas H. Parrott
Encyclopedia
Thomas Henry Parrott was an English
musician
. He operated a music business in East Portland, Oregon
, which was noted as energizing the communities business environment.
. His mother's family were notable musician
s in England. In 1854, the Parrott family emigrated to the United States
. They eventually settled down in Oregon
. However, the family moved without Thomas H. Parrott, who stayed behind to study to become a shoe maker. Two years later, he came to Oregon and worked as a shoe maker.
. For US$40, Parrott purchased a home on the corner of Fourth and H street. He would go on to operate the business at that location for 30 years. It was noted in the book An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon that Parrott was instrumental in growing the business community of East Portland. He worked as a music teacher and played in many ballroom
s across Portland. Parrott could play any musical instrument
in a brass band
. His specialty was the piano
, violin
and organ
. In 1889, Parrott opened another music store which featured different instruments, including hand-made pianos and cabinet organs. He also sold music sheets and instruction books. Another business venture of Parrotts was landlord
. He rented out two farms in Yamhill County, Oregon
.
who was the daughter of pioneer
A. Rhodes. Together they had eight children. All of their children had a trough education in music. Two of his sons, Jiggs Parrott
and Tom Parrott
, went on to play Major League Baseball
. Thomas H. Parrott was independent politically.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. He operated a music business in East Portland, Oregon
East Portland, Oregon
East Portland was a city in the U.S. state of Oregon that was consolidated into Portland in 1891. It was founded on a land claim by James B. Stephens in 1846, who bought a land claim from John McLoughlin of the Hudson's Bay Company...
, which was noted as energizing the communities business environment.
Early life
Parrott was born in Kent County, England on 17 October 1836 to Samuel Henry Parrott and the former Maria Everest, both of EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. His mother's family were notable musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s in England. In 1854, the Parrott family emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They eventually settled down in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. However, the family moved without Thomas H. Parrott, who stayed behind to study to become a shoe maker. Two years later, he came to Oregon and worked as a shoe maker.
Music and business career
In 1862, Parrott moved to East Portland, OregonEast Portland, Oregon
East Portland was a city in the U.S. state of Oregon that was consolidated into Portland in 1891. It was founded on a land claim by James B. Stephens in 1846, who bought a land claim from John McLoughlin of the Hudson's Bay Company...
. For US$40, Parrott purchased a home on the corner of Fourth and H street. He would go on to operate the business at that location for 30 years. It was noted in the book An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon that Parrott was instrumental in growing the business community of East Portland. He worked as a music teacher and played in many ballroom
Ballroom
A ballroom is a large room inside a building, the designated purpose of which is holding formal dances called balls. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions contain one or more ballrooms...
s across Portland. Parrott could play any musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
in a brass band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
. His specialty was the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
. In 1889, Parrott opened another music store which featured different instruments, including hand-made pianos and cabinet organs. He also sold music sheets and instruction books. Another business venture of Parrotts was landlord
Landlord
A landlord is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called a tenant . When a juristic person is in this position, the term landlord is used. Other terms include lessor and owner...
. He rented out two farms in Yamhill County, Oregon
Yamhill County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 84,992 people, 28,732 households, and 21,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 119 people per square mile . There were 30,270...
.
Personal life
On June 8, 1861, Parrott married the former Eliza A. Rhodes of IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
who was the daughter of pioneer
Pioneer
A pioneer is a soldier employed to perform engineering tasks. The term is in principle similar to sapper.Pioneers were originally part of the Artillery branch of European armies. Their primary job was to assist other Arms in tasks such as construction of field fortifications or military camps...
A. Rhodes. Together they had eight children. All of their children had a trough education in music. Two of his sons, Jiggs Parrott
Jiggs Parrott
Walter Edward "Jiggs" Parrott was a professional baseball player whose career spanned eight seasons, four of which were spent with the Major League Baseball Chicago Colts...
and Tom Parrott
Tom Parrott
Thomas William "Tacky Tom" Parrott was a former professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of four seasons with the Chicago Colts, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Browns...
, went on to play Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Thomas H. Parrott was independent politically.