Frank Nesmith Parsons

Who was Frank Nesmith Parsons?

Frank Nesmith Parsons was a lawyer, politician, and Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court from 1902 to 1924. Some sources spell his middle name "Naismith".

Parsons was the son of Rev. Benjamin F. Parsons, a prominent New Hampshire Congregational minister. Parsons was educated at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, New Hampshire and at Dartmouth College, graduating in the class of 1874. After teaching for several years, Parsons studied law and passed the bar in 1879. He became the law partner of Austin F. Pike, a successful lawyer and politician; their partnership continued until Pike's death in 1886. Parsons married Pike's daughter Helen on October 26, 1880. Parsons was appointed the State Law Reporter in 1891. From 1893 to 1894 he served on the New Hampshire Executive Council. In 1895 Parsons was elected to be the first mayor of Franklin, and in the same year he was appointed an Associate Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. In 1902 he became Chief Justice, and continued in this post until 1924. From 1925-1928 he served as a state representative. In 1889 and 1930 he represented Franklin at state constitutional conventions, serving as president of the convention in 1930.