| Joseph R. Parrott |
| Joseph R. Parrott (1859 - 1913) Joseph R. Parrott was born in Oxford, Maine on Oct 30, 1859. His father was a Maine woolen manufacturer. He graduated from Phillips Exeter. He was a graduate of Yale University Law School with and A.B. degree and an LL.B degree. While his undergraduate record was undistinguished he graduated cum laude from Yale Law school. He was a member of the skull and bones society at Yale. Parrot wanted to work in Atlanta but chose Jacksonville when Atlanta didn't work out. He started as a lawyer for the Jacksonville, Tampa, Key West System in the law firm of Duncan Fletcher. In 1890 he became involved with Flagler. He was hired as a lawyer for the Flagler system. In 1892 he became vice-president of the short-line railroad and by 1899 he was vice- president and general manager of the Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway. He later became a receiver for the railroad. His wife was Helen L. Mercer from New Haven Connecticut. He was also president of the Florida East Coast Hotel Company. Three years before Flagler's death he was named vice president of all Flagler corporations. In 1909 he became the president of the Flagler system after Flagler retired. Flagler urged the company to continue with Parrott in charge of the railway after his (Flagler's) death. Parrott was an active pallbearer at Flagler's funeral and received $100,000 in Flagler's will. He was one of the three trustees to cary out Flagler's will. Unfortunately, Parrott only lived a five months after Henry Flagler. He died of an illness while at his home in Maine. His early death became a rather difficult problem because of the amount of trust that Flagler had placed in Parrott. He was the executive head of Flagler's vision in Florida after Flagler's death. |
