My Genealogy Hound

JAMES M. PARK, who since 1873 has resided upon his farm in Liberty township, Woodson County, six miles from Yates Center, has spent his entire life in the Mississippi valley and the enterprising, progressive spirit of the west which has wrought the wonderful development of this section of the country is manifest in our subject. He was born in Fulton County, Illinois, April 24, 1839, a son of Aaron and Jane Park. The father was a native of South Carolina and when a young man went to Illinois, where he was married and spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1846. In his family were nine children, six of whom are yet living, namely: John W., a resident of Yates Center; William J., of Iowa; Nancy A., wife of M. C. McDonald; Mary Kelley and Elizabeth Allen.

In the state of his nativity James M. Park was reared and educated, and the events of his boyhood were of no very important nature up to the time of the Civil war, but when the country became engaged in hostilities over the attempt at secession of some of the southern states, his patriotic spirit was aroused and although he was not in very robust health he enlisted in 1862 as a member of company H, Sixty-third Illinois infantry. He participated in the battles of Vicksburg, Jackson and Missionary Ridge, and at the last named was slightly wounded. At the expiration of his term of service he was honorably discharged in 1864.

On the 11th day of February of that year Mr. Park was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Marple, a native of Bureau County, Illinois, born September 4, 1843. Her father, David Marple, was a native of West Virginia, while her mother, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Watkins, was a native of Ohio, in which state the parents were married. In an early day in the history of Illinois they removed to that state, where the father died in 1890, at the age of eighty-one years. His widow still survives him and is yet living on the old homestead at the very advanced age of eighty-eight years. For sixty years they had traveled life’s journey together when separated by the death of Mr. Marple. They were the parents of eleven children, five of whom are yet living: William; Joseph, who resides in Des Moines, Iowa; Richard; Mrs. Park, and Sarah J., wife of Thomas Maston, of Illinois.

In 1866, two years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Park removed to Iowa, where he purchased a farm, but in 1868 he sold that property and returned to Illinois, where he engaged in the operation of rented land until 1873, when he came with his family to Woodson County and purchased eighty acres in Liberty township, six miles north of Yates Center. Here he has a nice home, which he erected, and many substantial improvements on the place stand as monuments to the thrift and enterprise of the owner. The home has been blessed with five children: Ola, now the wife of Dr. Wood, of Iola; Elizabeth, wife of Fred Park, of Yates Center; Grace, wife of Judson Newton; Richard, who is married and lives on the home farm, and William, who is yet with his parents. Mr. Park exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, but does not seek office, his farming interests claiming and receiving all of his attention. In return they yield to him a good income and he is thus enabled to provide comfortably for his family.