Obituary – O. R. Parmelee
East Liverpool Tribune
O. R. Parmelee,
the venerable traveling salesman, for over 25 years connected with the Cleveland Paper Company, dropped dead in a hotel at Bellaire on Tuesday night of last week. His health had not bee good for several months, and in consequence he was able to appear upon the road at irregular intervals. His home was in New Philadelphia. We have been buying print paper from Mr. Parmelee since early 1876, until a few months ago, he was compelled to give up his position after being taken very ill at Shelby. The last time he was in East Liverpool was this summer, when he brought a Massachusetts grandson here to see how dishes were made, and took him through the K. T. & K. pottery, to which he sold wrapping paper for nearly a quarter of a century. He was at one time a paper mill owner at Holyoke, Mass., and quite wealthy, but losses came, and the Cleveland Paper Company, knowing his worth, offered him a position, which he kept as long as they were in business. No man in the country was better informed on paper. He was a gentleman at all times, and had warm friends in every town he visited. He wore a very long white beard, and was a veritable Santa Claus in looks, and in other ways, for he always made his patrons glad to see him. He was about 75 years of age.
(Note – died on October 9, 1900)