James was the son of William and Hily A. Farris Parman.

The following from THE SAGA OF THE PARMAN FAMILY
written by Opal Soetaert:

James Parman with fiery patriotism and love for his country went to Iowa (where he was not known) when he was seventeen years old, gave his age as eighteen and enlisted in CO. 1, 8TH Iowa Cavalry. A few months later he was advanced to corporal.
On November 14, 1864, he started with General Sherman on the march to Atlanta. James was captured, perhaps in the Battle of Fredricksburg, and was placed in the Andersonville prison. He was there seven months. Many there died of starvation and dehydration. There was a dead line between the prisoners and a muddy creek, which was the only source of drinking water. If a prisoner attempted to cross the dead line he was shot by a guard. Some decided to cross the line to end their suffering. The prisoners prayed. A spring broke the earth and furnished all the water needed. One day a fat dog wondered into the prison stockade. James and others killed the dog and ate it.
When the Union Army was advancing toward Andersonville, orders came to move the prisoners deeper into Confederate territory. James weakened by starvation fell by the roadside. He crawled into the brush and escaped. Eventually, he found his comrades and was sent to Jefferson Barracks Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He was there when the war ended. He was discharged in 1864 and joined his relatives in Harrison CO., MO.

James was very handsome. The Southern girls came often to look at the handsome prisoner, who they spat on and called a "DAMN YANKEE." More girls joined the parade each time they came to see him.

James married Martha Catherine Edson at the home of her parents on Jan 1, 1866. They settled near Brooklyn, MO.

James W Parman