John E. Gable's History of Cambria County, V.II, p.1127

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History of Cambria County, V.2

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY 1127

    J. Wesley Parnell, a senior member of the firm of Parnell?Cowher Insurance company, is a well known and highly esteemed business man of Johnstown. He was born in Houtzdale, Clearfield County, Pa., June 12, 1882, the son of John and Emma (Bates) Parnell.
    John Parnell was born in Cornish, England, and came to the United States when a young man and engaged in coal mining. He died in 1885 and is buried in Houtzdale. He was a Republican and a member of the Methodist Church. His widow, who was born in Lycoming County, Pa., lives in Williamsport, Pa. To Mr. and Mrs. John Parnell were born four children, as follows: J. H. Parnell, manager of the Windber (Pa.) office of Parnell?Cowher Company; J. E., manager of the Indiana (Pa.) office of Parnell?Cowher Company; William George, died in 1885, and is buried at Houtzdale, Pa.; and J. Wesley, the subject of this sketch.
    J. Wesley Parnell attended the public schools of Clearfield County and was graduated from the Woodward High School. He began his business career as a foreman for the Berwind?White Coal Company in Houtzdale. In 1900 he entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as a car service clerk and was located at Hays, Allegheny County, Pa. In 1903 he was promoted to agent at Cortney, Pa., and in 1910 was transferred to West Elizabeth, Pa. In 1918 he resigned his position to engage in the general insurance business at West Elizabeth, which he conducted successfully for two years, when he came to Johnstown and opened his present office at 601/602 Title Trust Building. The company has branch offices in the following towns: Johnstown, Windber and Patton, the home office being located at Indiana.
    In 1901 Mr. Parnell was married to Miss Margaret Cole, a daughter of Robert and Mary Ann (Robinson) Cole, natives of England. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cole are deceased. He is buried at Homestead, Pa., and his wife is buried in New Kensington, Pa. Mr. Cole was a coal mine superintendent. To Mr. and Mrs. Parnell two children have been born: Robert E., born Dec. 9, 1902, a graduate of Clairton High School, Allegheny County in 1922, and from State College in the class of 1926. He belongs to the Theta Upsilon Omega fraternity in which he has held various offices, a member of the Inter Fraternity Council, is vice president of the Johnstown Penn State Club, captain in Company E First Regiment State College, honorary member of Scabbard and Blade, and a second lieutenant in the Reserve Officers Corps; and Mildred, a student at Ferndale High School.

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	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY	1127
J. Wesley Parnell, a senior member of the firm of Parnell?Cowher Insurance company, is a well known and highly esteemed business man of Johnstown. He was born in Houtzdale, Clearfield County, Pa., June 12, 1882, the son of John and Emma (Bates) Parnell. John Parnell was born in Cornish, England, and came to the United States when a young man and engaged in coal mining. He died in 1885 and is buried in Houtzdale. He was a Republican and a member of the Methodist Church. His widow, who was born in Lycoming County, Pa., lives in Williamsport, Pa. To Mr. and Mrs. John Parnell were born four children, as follows: J. H. Parnell, manager of the Windber (Pa.) office of Parnell?Cowher Company; J. E., manager of the Indiana (Pa.) office of Parnell?Cowher Company; William George, died in 1885, and is buried at Houtzdale, Pa.; and J. Wesley, the subject of this sketch. J. Wesley Parnell attended the public schools of Clearfield County and was graduated from the Woodward High School. He began his business career as a foreman for the Berwind?White Coal Company in Houtzdale. In 1900 he entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as a car service clerk and was located at Hays, Allegheny County, Pa. In 1903 he was promoted to agent at Cortney, Pa., and in 1910 was transferred to West Elizabeth, Pa. In 1918 he resigned his position to engage in the general insurance business at West Elizabeth, which he conducted successfully for two years, when he came to Johnstown and opened his present office at 601/602 Title Trust Building. The company has branch offices in the following towns: Johnstown, Windber and Patton, the home office being located at Indiana. In 1901 Mr. Parnell was married to Miss Margaret Cole, a daughter of Robert and Mary Ann (Robinson) Cole, natives of England. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cole are deceased. He is buried at Homestead, Pa., and his wife is buried in New Kensington, Pa. Mr. Cole was a coal mine superintendent. To Mr. and Mrs. Parnell two children have been born: Robert E., born Dec. 9, 1902, a graduate of Clairton High School, Allegheny County in 1922, and from State College in the class of 1926. He belongs to the Theta Upsilon Omega fraternity in which he has held various offices, a member of the Inter Fraternity Council, is vice president of the Johnstown Penn State Club, captain in Company E First Regiment State College, honorary member of Scabbard and Blade, and a second lieutenant in the Reserve Officers Corps; and Mildred, a student at Ferndale High School.