Dr. Joseph Green Parmley was born on a farm near Golconda on October 24, 1876, the son of Rev. George W. Parmley and Mary Daniel.
He attended Creal Springs Academy and Southern Illinois University before teaching school in Marion for four years. In 1904, he entered the University of Louisville, School of Medicine and graduated in 1908.
Dr. Parmley practiced medicine in Marion for 41 years after opening his office in 1908 with his brother-in-law Dr. Curtis Brown, who was married to his sister Emma.
He was married to the former Miss Sophia Gibson at Creal Springs on September 5, 1909.
The 1910 federal census found the newly married couple renting a home at 701 S. Market Street in Marion. Joseph was aged 33 and Sophia was 23.
In 1911, the couple gave birth to their one and only child, Margaret Parmley.
On September 10, 1918, when Dr. Parmley registered for the WWI draft on the square, he was 41 years old and described as medium height and slender build with grey eyes and dark hair with no impairments. Judge Rufus Neely signed his registration card. Since the 1910 census the couple had purchased a permanent home for themselves located at 1004 N. Market Street.
In the 1920 census, Joseph was then aged 43 and Sophia was 32. Their daughter Margaret was 19 and they are living at their home on N. Market which is mortgaged.
All through the 1920’s, directories indicate that Parmley’s doctor office was located at 204 ½ Public Square which would have been an upstairs office over the building just west of the old City Hall, he doesn’t appear to have changed his location over time.
In the 1930 census, Joseph who was then 53, he owned his home which he valued at $16,000. His daughter, Margaret, was still present in the home at was then 19 years old.
By the time the 1930’s were over with, when the 1940 census was taken, Parmley had devalued his home considerably to $5,100. He had reached 63 years of age but was still actively working. Their daughter had married Dr. Allen Pierce and was no longer living with them.
He was an active member of the Williamson County Medical Society, serving as its secretary for 18 years and as its President for four years. During the time he was secretary of the Society, he published the Williamson County Physician, a monthly publication for county doctors. He maintained a devoted interest in his profession and was active in the practice until 1953.
Dr. J.G. Parmley, of 1004 N. Market Street, died at his home at 12:05 p.m. Thursday, April 15, 1954, at the age of 77.
Funeral services for Dr. Parmley were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, at the Mitchell Funeral Home by Rev. Thomas E. Morton and Rev. T.W. Nelson. Interment was in New Rose Hill Cemetery.
Surviving were his wife, Sophia, one daughter, Mrs. Margaret Pierce of Dunkirk, New York, the wife of Dr. Allen Pierce; three grandchildren, Joe, Judy, and Susan Pierce; one brother, Ben Parmley, Marion and six sisters, Mrs. Emma Brown, Mrs. Lula Pillow, and Mrs. Dollie Pillow, all of Marion; Mrs. Mamie Mitchell and Mrs. Sula Trovillion, both of Carbondale and Mrs. Mallie Bridges, Brownfield.
Parmley’s wife Sophia passed away in early July 1985 and was interred next to her husband. Mrs. Parmley was a member of the Marion Woman’s Club.
(Extracted from Marion Daily Republican obit, April 16, 1954; Federal Census Records; Marion City Cemetery Records; Marion Street Directories; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 12/14/2104)