My great grandfather was born in East Palestine, Columbiana County, Ohio, February 26, 1833 and died May 18, 1913, in East Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He began writing a family diary when he was seventy five that continued until he died. It is briefly excerpted here: "I will sketch my life and family using the pronoun (I). I came in number 12 in the family. I was but a child when my sisters Sarah and Jemima were married and I have no recollection of them only as I came to know them in their homes. Mother called me her little black headed boy, and so I was. I was slight in build and small for my years until 14 years old. I then grew rapidly until 6 feet in height. I was not strong but healthy. But when 16 I had a dangerous sickness which left its reminder for a number of years, teaching me to observe danger signals, and therefore of great value to me in my later years. Having several older brothers, I was not urged to do they heavy work on the farm. Yet I was never an idle boy. I went to school whenever there was a school in reach. One winter going to Mount Nebo, Pennsylvania another to a Quaker School in Middleton, Ohio Our home library was meager. The Sunday school had some books, I remember gratefully: Such As Advise to the Teens, Brief History of Greece and Rome, as well as biographies and stories. My parents encouraged me in learning. If the children got presents, I was likely to get a book. At 17 years of age I began teaching and next year began school at Mount Union and alternating taught and went to school until the fall of 1854. I openly began my religious life at 18 years of age. 11 Feb 1854 I was licensed to preach by the Alliance Circuit Quarterly Conference, Dr. S. WAKEFIELD, presiding elder. 6 Nov 1854 I preached my first sermons as an itinerant at Elizabethtown, PA. I retired from pastoral work Sep 1909 at the conference held at Canton OH. For 55 years I did the work of a Methodist preacher. As a young preacher, I became acquainted with many attractive young ladies. Fortunately I soon discovered two things, 1st) I did not know what position I would be able to fill in the ministry; 2nd) until I did, I did not know how to choose a helpmate for me. At the end of three years I thought I could measure my possibilities and began an outlook for one to come into my life and fill a felt want. As a result on the 5th of Apr 1859, I married Miss Sarah Jane PIERCE of North Fayette Twp, Allegheny Co., PA. Mrs. BURT was an only daughter. A graduate of Beaver Seminary. Her two brothers J. N. And D. A. Are both Methodist preachers. How I owe my success to her excellence and cooperation in all my work I can never determine. In all things she has been true and efficient. Three times she seemed near deaths door but graciously spared by our Good Father. In my ministry I had preached on Elizabeth and Rostrver Circuit, Sewickley Circuit, Alliance Circuit and Mt. Pleasant and West Newton Circuit

Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary April 5, 1909: Today we celebrate our golden wedding anniversary, fifty years of life united as one. We have looked forward these years to this day hoping and praying we might live to enjoy it. The day was most delightful, so warm the windows and doors were open and guest promenaded the porch without hats or wraps. The Cleveland Preachers Meeting was largely in attendance and also the wives of preachers, friends near and far increased the company to the number of 100; letters in large numbers came from nearly every field of toil, bearing kindly greetings and good wishes. Of our own kindred we can name -- Mrs. Marie Burt PARR and her son John Burt PARR, Dr. Charles Edgar BURT and Evelyn his wife and Virginia Maud their daughter, Eugene Burt FISHER, Dr. and Mrs. J. F. FISHER, Miss Ida BLOOM and Charles NEWELL. Valuable gifts tender and loving words written and spoken we fondly cherish. Refreshments were served and enjoyed by all. Dr. MORRIS presented a purse of gold in behalf of the Cleveland Preachers Meeting. I have a careful written list of contributors which we will carefully preserve. We will ever cherish the memory of one of our brightest days. We owe much to our daughter Marie in making the occasion so enjoyable.

The full diary is quite large and contains many references to extended family members. If you are a Sylvester Extended family member contact me for additional information.

Copyright 2006 William P Parr Contact [email protected]