Lewis Eliphalet Parsons was born on April 28, 1817 in Lisle, Broome County, New York, United States. He was the eldest son of Erastus Bellamy and Jennett (Hepburn) Parsons. His father was a farmer and was associated with Governor DeWitt Clinton in the agitation for the building of the Erie Canal.
Lewis Eliphalet Parsons was educated in the public schools of New York and read law in that state and in Pennsylvania.
About 1840 Lewis Eliphalet Parsons removed to Alabama and settled in Talladega, where he formed a law partnership with Alexander White. He was earnest in the practice of his profession and was a methodical, hard-working, but never a brilliant lawyer. The guiding principle of his life during the stormy decade before the Civil War was his ardent belief in the Union. He was much criticized for his political wavering through the period, but every political act seems to have been determined by his hope that some way could be found to preserve the Union. In 1856 he voted for Fillmore. In 1859 he was elected on the American ticket to represent Talladega County in the state legislature, where he attracted attention by his efforts to obtain state aid for internal improvements.
In 1860 he was a delegate to the Democratic convention and supported Douglas at Baltimore because he believed that the election of Douglas was the only way to save the country. While outwardly he submitted to the will of the majority he never gave undivided allegiance to the Confederacy. He was reputed to be the head of the Reace Society during the war, although he had two sons in the Confederate Army. In spite of his Union views he seems to have kept the respect of his neighbors and, when President Johnson appointed him provisional governor of Alabama on June 21, 1865, the appointment was generally approved in the state. He was in hearty sympathy with the president's program of conciliation and made every effort to carry it into effect. He recognized all local and judicial officials who had been in office during the Confederacy and permitted them to perform the duties of their offices if they took the oath of allegiance required by the president. He used his influence in Washington to obtain pardons for those who were exempted from the general amnesty. In spite of the interference of the Freedmen's Bureau and the army officers in the state he was able to reorganize the civil government. Under his supervision a new constitution was framed and on December 20, 1865, he retired from office and handed the government over to a successor chosen by the people
Lewis Eliphalet Parsons was elected to the United States Senate in 1865 without opposition but was denied his seat by the Republican majority. He supported Johnson in his fight against Congress and was a delegate to the National Union convention in Philadelphia in 1866. In his own state he was the leader of the movement that resulted in the rejection of the Fourteenth Amendment and was said to have originated "the white man's movement" against the ratification of the constitution of 1867. The constitution failed of adoption by 13, 550 votes, but was put into effect by an act of Congress. He adapted himself to the situation, and in the session of the Alabama legislature of 1872 - 1873 he was the speaker of the Republican House. That act was political suicide, and he never again held office in the state. He practised his profession in Talladega until his death on June 8, 1895.
Lewis Eliphalet Parsons was a member of Democratic party.
On September 16, 1841, Lewis Eliphalet Parsons was married to Jane Ann Boyd McCullough Chrisman, who bore him seven children.
