Charles Parrish was born on August 27, 1826 in Dundaff, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. He was the son of Archippus and Phebe (Miller) Parrish. Shortly after the birth of the child, the family moved to Wilkes-Barre, where the father was proprietor of a hotel.
Charles Parrish attended the Wilkes-Barre Academy and at fifteen became a clerk in the store of Ziba Bennett of Wilkes-Barre.
At twenty-one, Charles Parrish became a partner in the firm, but in 1856 he withdrew and began to speculate in coal lands. He founded the Kembleton Coal Company and for years originated and developed important and far-reaching business schemes in the fields of mining and transportation. He was a director of the Jersey Central Railroad. The Sugar Notch and Pine Ridge mines in the Wyoming Valley coal region were operated by the Parrish & Annora Coal Company. For twenty years Parrish was president of the First National Bank of Wilkes-Barre. He was interested in a number of manufacturing concerns and served as president of the Hazard Manufacturing Company which made wire rope. During the early part of the Civil War he organized troops and made generous contributions of money for the prosecution of the war. Parrish's name is closely associated with the growth of the Wyoming Valley region of Pennsylvania and with the development of its resources.
Charles Parrish died suddenly on December 27, 1896 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, although he had been in ill health for some years.
Charles Parrish was a member of Republican party.
Charles Parrish was a life member of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. He was also a member of the Sons of the Revolution.
Charles Parrish was married on June 21, 1864, to Mary Conyngham, the daughter of John Nesbit Conyngham. They had four children.
