Philip H. Parsonage was born in March 19, 1846 in Liverpool, England and immigrated to the United States in 1852. He came to Kansas in 1872 and settled in Eskridge on a farm. According to the U.S. Census in 1870, Parsonage was listed as living with William Dooley in Palmyra, Missouri. In 1880, he was listed as living in Wilmington Township in Wabaunsee County, Kansas. Philip married Mary shortly after arriving in Kansas with their first child, Flora, being born in 1875.
Philip retired from farming in 1914 and moved to Topeka to 1013 Morris Avenue, now Mulvane Street. His wife, Mary Southerland, was born in 1849 and spent most of her life in the Eskridge area. They had four children: Flora (1875 - 1929), May (1879 - 1972), and Jennie (1882 - 1971).
Their second child, son Elwood, was born February 25, 1877 in Wilmington Township in Wabaunsee County. He became a carpenter and died July 26, 1962 at a Topeka hospital.
Mount Hope Cemetery, Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas