The History of Hendricks County (Chicago: Interstate Publishing, 1885)--Center Township, page 532
Adrian A. Parsons, Recorder of Hendricks County, was born in Guilford County, N. C., Nov. 7, 1846. His parents, Nelson and Elvira (Swain) Parsons, came to Indiana in 1852, first settling in Bridgeport. His father was a millwright by trade. Mr. Parsons lived with his parents in Hendricks and Marion Counties until he was seventeen years of age. He enlisted in the Union army in Company I, Ninth Indiana Calvary, Dec. 23, 1863, to serve three years, or during the war as a private. He was discharged at the close of the war at St. Louis, Mo., in August, 1865, having participated in numerous battles and skirmishes during Hood's raid in Tennessee. After his discharge he returned to Washington Township, Hendricks County, and being disabled by a gunshot wound received at the battle of Spring Hill, Tenn., he attended the Danville Academy two years and the Earlham College at Richmond, Ind., one term, when, having expended all his money, he taught school during the winters and worked on farms in the summer seasons until 1872. He then engaged solely in farming in Washington Township till 1876 when he added bee-keeping to his farming pursuits. In the fall of 1882 he was elected on the Republican ticket Recorder of Hendricks County for a term of four years, which office he still holds. April 10, 1870, he was married to Miss Mary M., daughter of Barney and Hannah (Gossett) Fox, of Washington Township, Hendricks County. They have six children--Lester, Norman, Ethel, William, Edith and Gilbert. He is a member of Jesse S. Ogden Post, No. 164, G.A.R.