George S. Park
Encyclopedia
George Shepherd Park was a Texas War of Independence hero and founder of Parkville, Missouri
, Park University
and Manhattan, Kansas
.
.
In 1835, he served under James Fannin
in the Texas War of Independence. More than 400 of Fannin's troops were killed by troops of Antonio López de Santa Anna
in the Goliad Massacre
and Park was one of the few survivors.
In 1836 he moved to Jackson County, Missouri
where he taught school. Following the Platte Purchase
, in which Native Americans sold what is today northwest Missouri in 1838, Park took on a 99-year-lease of a steamboat landing site in the purchase area building a home on the bluffs above the Missouri River and platted the town of Parkville which he formally platted in 1844.
In 1845 he organized the Parkville Presbyterian Church. In 1853 he started the Industrial Luminary, a newspaper some believed to abolitionist. Park, however, owned slaves and termed the newspaper pro-commerce. Park generally believed that slavery
in Kansas
would be bad for business there.
In 1854 while leading a trip up the Kansas River
, he established the town of Polistra near the mouth of the Big Blue River
.
Park's newspaper was raided by a pro-slavery mob on April 14, 1855, and the printing press
was thrown in the Missouri River
. Park was in Polistra at the time closing a deal to turn over the town into a newly named Boston, Kansas to be run members by members of abolitionist New England Emigrant Aid Company (who in turn would rename it Manhattan
). The Parkville Luminary, a newspaper based on the original Luminary, began publishing again in 2004. The newspaper's first issue contained unpublished letters from Park's last issue and frequently reprints Park's own editorials from the original Luminary.
In 1858 Park would pledge $500 toward the establishing of a college in the newly named Manhattan. The school, Bluemont Central College, would later become Kansas State University
.
Immediately after the 1855 incident, he moved to Magnolia, Illinois
where he made a fortune in real estate, but he returned to Parkville again in late 1855.
In 1859 he promoted a railroad from Cameron, Missouri
to Parkville to be called the Parkville and Grand River Railroad. The road would then cross the Missouri River at Parkville. However in 1869 Kansas City won the race for the first bridge across the river at the Hannibal Bridge
which was to transform it into the dominant city in the region.
Park was elected to the Missouri State Senate in 1866 where he introduced a bill to establish an industrial college. The bill failed.
Park formally moved back to Magnolia in 1874. He donated part of his land on the bluffs for a college to be headed by John A. McAfee, then president of Highland College in Highland, Kansas
. The school which became known as Park College was initially a school aimed at preparing students for missionary life for the Presbyterian Church. Among the training was students building the school structures including its landmark MacKay Hall.
Park is buried on the Park College plot in the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Parkville.
Parkville, Missouri
Parkville is a city in Platte County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,059 at the 2000 census. Parkville is known for its antique shops, art galleries, and historic downtown. The city is home to Park University and English Landing Park....
, Park University
Park University
Park University is an independent, private institution of higher education based in Parkville, Missouri. Established in 1875 as a small church-related college, it has now expanded into an electronic learning institution and provider of education courses for the U.S...
and Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
.
Biography
Park was born in Grafton, VermontGrafton, Vermont
Grafton is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 649 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was founded as Thomlinson, but renaming rights were auctioned in 1791. The high bidder, who reportedly offered "five dollars and a jug of rum," changed the name to Grafton after...
.
In 1835, he served under James Fannin
James Fannin
James Walker Fannin, Jr. was a 19th-century U.S. military figure on the Texas Army and leader during the Texas Revolution of 1835–36...
in the Texas War of Independence. More than 400 of Fannin's troops were killed by troops of Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
in the Goliad Massacre
Goliad massacre
The Goliad Massacre was an execution of Republic of Texas soldiers and their commander, James Fannin, by Mexico, reluctantly carried out by General Jose de Urrea.-Background:...
and Park was one of the few survivors.
In 1836 he moved to Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
where he taught school. Following the Platte Purchase
Platte Purchase
The Platte Purchase was a land acquisition in 1836 by the United States government from Native American tribes all of which was east bank lands along the Missouri River that added to the northwest corner of the state of Missouri. The area acquired is almost as large as the states of Delaware and...
, in which Native Americans sold what is today northwest Missouri in 1838, Park took on a 99-year-lease of a steamboat landing site in the purchase area building a home on the bluffs above the Missouri River and platted the town of Parkville which he formally platted in 1844.
In 1845 he organized the Parkville Presbyterian Church. In 1853 he started the Industrial Luminary, a newspaper some believed to abolitionist. Park, however, owned slaves and termed the newspaper pro-commerce. Park generally believed that slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
would be bad for business there.
In 1854 while leading a trip up the Kansas River
Kansas River
The Kansas River is a river in northeastern Kansas in the United States. It is the southwestern-most part of the Missouri River drainage, which is in turn the northwestern-most portion of the extensive Mississippi River drainage. Its name come from the Kanza people who once inhabited the area...
, he established the town of Polistra near the mouth of the Big Blue River
Big Blue River (Kansas)
The Big Blue River is the largest tributary of the Kansas River. The river flows for approximately from central Nebraska into Kansas, where it intersects with the Kansas River east of Manhattan. It was given its name by the Kansa tribe of Native Americans, who lived at its mouth from 1780 to...
.
Park's newspaper was raided by a pro-slavery mob on April 14, 1855, and the printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
was thrown in the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
. Park was in Polistra at the time closing a deal to turn over the town into a newly named Boston, Kansas to be run members by members of abolitionist New England Emigrant Aid Company (who in turn would rename it Manhattan
Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
). The Parkville Luminary, a newspaper based on the original Luminary, began publishing again in 2004. The newspaper's first issue contained unpublished letters from Park's last issue and frequently reprints Park's own editorials from the original Luminary.
In 1858 Park would pledge $500 toward the establishing of a college in the newly named Manhattan. The school, Bluemont Central College, would later become Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
.
Immediately after the 1855 incident, he moved to Magnolia, Illinois
Magnolia, Illinois
Magnolia is a village in Putnam County, Illinois, United States. The population was 279 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Magnolia is located at ....
where he made a fortune in real estate, but he returned to Parkville again in late 1855.
In 1859 he promoted a railroad from Cameron, Missouri
Cameron, Missouri
Cameron is a city in Clinton and DeKalb Counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 8,312 at the 2000 census.The Clinton County portion of Cameron is part of the Kansas City, MO–KS Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the DeKalb County portion is part of the St...
to Parkville to be called the Parkville and Grand River Railroad. The road would then cross the Missouri River at Parkville. However in 1869 Kansas City won the race for the first bridge across the river at the Hannibal Bridge
Hannibal Bridge
The First Hannibal Bridge was the first bridge to cross the Missouri River and was to establish Kansas City, Missouri as a major city and rail center....
which was to transform it into the dominant city in the region.
Park was elected to the Missouri State Senate in 1866 where he introduced a bill to establish an industrial college. The bill failed.
Park formally moved back to Magnolia in 1874. He donated part of his land on the bluffs for a college to be headed by John A. McAfee, then president of Highland College in Highland, Kansas
Highland, Kansas
Highland is a city in Doniphan County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,012. It is part of the St. Joseph, MO–KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Highland is located at...
. The school which became known as Park College was initially a school aimed at preparing students for missionary life for the Presbyterian Church. Among the training was students building the school structures including its landmark MacKay Hall.
Park is buried on the Park College plot in the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Parkville.