My Genealogy Hound

JONATHAN PARK, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Shirley; the son of Eli Park, of North Carolina; was born on a farm in Madison Co., Ky., July 14, 1815, and remained there until 1853; engaged in farming for his father and teaching until 1836, when he married Borthana Quinn, who was born in Kentucky Oct. 27, 1818; they immediately began farming, renting of Moberly for one year; he afterward bought 64 acres, paying for it by his own labor; they settled on this farm and improved and increased it to 119 acres, when, in 1853, they sold out and came by team to McLean Co., Ill., settling in Dale Township, on their present farm of 226 acres, which they have made and improved; the whole country was then mostly raw prairie. Mr. Park is very careful in business, keeps an account of every cent received and paid out, not even the least item being left out; he also keeps a diary of every day. Has held office in the militia, in Kentucky, for ten years; as Captain and Major; Township Trustee, Assessor five terms, Commissioner two terms, Justice, of the Peace seven years, School Director ten years. He does his own carpentering. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, of which denomination he has served as a minister for twenty years; has also auctioned goods. Their marriage blessed them with eight children, all of whom are church members — Minerva E., Sydney I., Alwilda J., William E., Hiram R., Rhoda W., Sallie, Lucy, Mary.