Eli Bailey Park b. 18 Jan 1846 Little Creek, Franklin Co., MO d. 19 Dec 1922 Stanton, Franklin Co., MO: The Schrock-Birkey Connection

Eli Bailey Park

Male 1846 - 1922  (76 years)


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  • Name Eli Bailey Park  [1
    Birth 18 Jan 1846  Little Creek, Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Census 1880  Boone Twp., Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    • #73, age 32, farmer, with wife and five children
    HIST Place name: Stanton

    Description:
    A small mining community in the east central part of Meramec Township. It is the successor to a vanished town on a site a short distance to the south, originally called Reedville. Reedville was named for its founder, Dr. Silas Reed, a physician who was born in Ohio in 1810. He came out to Franklin County and became surveyor for Missouri. When the post office was established at Reedville on July 25, 1856, he was its only postmaster. A few months later in the same year, Dr. Reed discovered a very rich copper deposit nearby in the southern part of Meramec Township. These were given the name of the Stanton Copper Mines, for John Stanton, an Eastern man who had come out to Missouri and was proprietor of a powder mill in the vicinity. John Stanton had died a few years earlier, about 1850. On November 11, 1856, the name and location of the post office was changed to Stanton Copper Mines. August Wengler was the first postmaster, and was succeeded by Dr. Silas Reed. The first mine was opened in 1860 and the yield proved abundant. From 1865 to 1867 the town was one of the most flourishing in Franklin County. By 1868, however, deterioration set in, and the population steadily dwindled. In 1920 there was only one person, a renter, living at the former site of Reedville. Meanwhile another community began to grow up a short distance to the north. Charles Gallaher was the first white person to settle there. Bennett Thurmond built the first house in 1866. In 1868 a new town was platted by Theophile Papin, H.W. Leffingwell, R.S. Elliott, Sylvester Papin, and Henry T. Mudd, and given the name of Stanton, shortened from the name of the copper mines. A post office by the name of Stanton was finally established here on August 19, 1880, and has since remained. Also spelled Staunton. (Postal Guide; Davis & Durrie, 364; COUNTY ATLAS 1878, 13, 16; HIST. FRANKLIN, 338-9; Eaton; Kiel's BIOG. DIR., 209; 211; Miss Johnson: Charles Ripley)
    Source:
    Harrison, Eugenia L. "Place Names Of Four River Counties In Eastern Missouri." M.A. thesis., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1943.

    Place name:
    Stanton Copper Mines
    Description:
    See Stanton.
    Source:
    Harrison, Eugenia L. "Place Names Of Four River Counties In Eastern Missouri." M.A. thesis., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1943.

    Stanton
    Description:
    A small mining community in the east central part of Meramec Township. It is the successor to a vanished town on a site a short distance to the south, originally called Reedville. Reedville was named for its founder, Dr. Silas Reed, a physician who was born in Ohio in 1810. He came out to Franklin County and became surveyor for Missouri. When the post office was established at Reedville on July 25, 1856, he was its only postmaster. A few months later in the same year, Dr. Reed discovered a very rich copper deposit nearby in the southern part of Meramec Township. These were given the name of the Stanton Copper Mines, for John Stanton, an Eastern man who had come out to Missouri and was proprietor of a powder mill in the vicinity. John Stanton had died a few years earlier, about 1850. On November 11, 1856, the name and location of the post office was changed to Stanton Copper Mines. August Wengler was the first postmaster, and was succeeded by Dr. Silas Reed. The first mine was opened in 1860 and the yield proved abundant. From 1865 to 1867 the town was one of the most flourishing in Franklin County. By 1868, however, deterioration set in, and the population steadily dwindled. In 1920 there was only one person, a renter, living at the former site of Reedville. Meanwhile another community began to grow up a short distance to the north. Charles Gallaher was the first white person to settle there. Bennett Thurmond built the first house in 1866. In 1868 a new town was platted by Theophile Papin, H.W. Leffingwell, R.S. Elliott, Sylvester Papin, and Henry T. Mudd, and given the name of Stanton, shortened from the name of the copper mines. A post office by the name of Stanton was finally established here on August 19, 1880, and has since remained. Also spelled Staunton. (Postal Guide; Davis & Durrie, 364; COUNTY ATLAS 1878, 13, 16; HIST. FRANKLIN, 338-9; Eaton; Kiel's BIOG. DIR., 209; 211; Miss Johnson: Charles Ripley)
    Source:
    Harrison, Eugenia L. "Place Names Of Four River Counties In Eastern Missouri." M.A. thesis., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1943.

    Place name:
    Stanton Copper Mines
    Description:
    See Stanton.
    Source:
    Harrison, Eugenia L. "Place Names Of Four River Counties In Eastern Missouri." M.A. thesis., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1943.

    Description:
    A small mining community in the east central part of Meramec Township. It is the successor to a vanished town on a site a short distance to the south, originally called Reedville. Reedville was named for its founder, Dr. Silas Reed, a physician who was born in Ohio in 1810. He came out to Franklin County and became surveyor for Missouri. When the post office was established at Reedville on July 25, 1856, he was its only postmaster. A few months later in the same year, Dr. Reed discovered a very rich copper deposit nearby in the southern part of Meramec Township. These were given the name of the Stanton Copper Mines, for John Stanton, an Eastern man who had come out to Missouri and was proprietor of a powder mill in the vicinity. John Stanton had died a few years earlier, about 1850. On November 11, 1856, the name and location of the post office was changed to Stanton Copper Mines. August Wengler was the first postmaster, and was succeeded by Dr. Silas Reed. The first mine was opened in 1860 and the yield proved abundant. From 1865 to 1867 the town was one of the most flourishing in Franklin County. By 1868, however, deterioration set in, and the population steadily dwindled. In 1920 there was only one person, a renter, living at the former site of Reedville. Meanwhile another community began to grow up a short distance to the north. Charles Gallaher was the first white person to settle there. Bennett Thurmond built the first house in 1866. In 1868 a new town was platted by Theophile Papin, H.W. Leffingwell, R.S. Elliott, Sylvester Papin, and Henry T. Mudd, and given the name of Stanton, shortened from the name of the copper mines. A post office by the name of Stanton was finally established here on August 19, 1880, and has since remained. Also spelled Staunton. (Postal Guide; Davis & Durrie, 364; COUNTY ATLAS 1878, 13, 16; HIST. FRANKLIN, 338-9; Eaton; Kiel's BIOG. DIR., 209; 211; Miss Johnson: Charles Ripley)
    Source:
    Harrison, Eugenia L. "Place Names Of Four River Counties In Eastern Missouri." M.A. thesis., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1943.

    Place name:
    Stanton Copper Mines
    Description:
    See Stanton.
    Source:
    Harrison, Eugenia L. "Place Names Of Four River Counties In Eastern Missouri." M.A. thesis., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1943. 
    MILF
    Occupation Farmer  [2
    Residence Apr 1921  Gerald, Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    USR1 Bronchial Pneumonia 
    Death 19 Dec 1922  Stanton, Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    • Informant was Mrs. E.B. Parks of Stanton, Cert. signed by Walter R. Mattox of Sullivan
    Burial 21 Dec 1922  Stanton, Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    • Stanton Cemetery
    Person ID I622  Schrock-Birkey Connection
    Last Modified 16 Jan 2023 

    Father William Park (Parks),   b. 10 Jun 1810, Madison Co., KY Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Apr 1870, Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 59 years) 
    Mother Mary (Polly) Cromer,   b. 23 Nov 1821, IN Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 31 Dec 1864, Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 43 years) 
    Marriage 21 Dec 1843  Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F327  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Melinda Olive Thompson,   b. 30 Mar 1847, Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 6 Oct 1930, Overland, St. Louis Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 83 years) 
    Marriage 28 Mar 1867  Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    • Copy of certificate in file
    Children 
     1. Mary Angeline (Mollie) Park,   b. 25 Jan 1868, Champion City, Boone Twp., Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 11 Dec 1938, Stanton, Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years)
     2. John William Spencer (Jack) Park,   b. 7 Feb 1869, Leslie, Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 2 Apr 1910, Lutesville, Boliinger Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 41 years)
     3. Virginia Ann (Jenny) Park,   b. 11 Nov 1872, Little Creek, Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 9 Mar 1954, Sullivan, Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)
     4. Mahala Clementine Park,   b. 6 Sep 1873   d. 22 May 1925, St. Louis, St. Louis Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 51 years)
     5. Elviney Elizabeth (Viney) Park,   b. 26 Sep 1876   d. 30 Sep 1877 (Age 1 year)
     6. James Alfred Park,   b. 6 May 1877, Leslie, Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Nov 1942, Stanton, Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 65 years)
     7. Baby (J .H.?) Park,   b. 2 Mar 1879   d. 20 Apr 1879 (Age 0 years)
     8. Sarah Elizabeth Park,   b. 16 Oct 1880   d. 20 May 1925, Farmington, MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 44 years)
     9. Eli Oscar Grover Park,   b. 7 Aug 1884, Gerald, Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 25 Nov 1952, Kankakee, Kankakee Co., IL Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 68 years)
     10. David Franklin (Frank) Park,   b. 13 Jun 1886, Champion City, Franklin Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 21 Nov 1976, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 90 years)
     11. Malinda Ella (Ella Mae) Park,   b. 24 Apr 1888, MO Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 19 Mar 1969, Creve Coeur, St. Louis Co., MO Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 80 years)
    Photos
    Eli Bailey and Olive Thompson Park
    Eli Bailey and Olive Thompson Park
    Eli Bailey and Olive Thompson Park
    Family ID F269  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 9 Oct 1999 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 18 Jan 1846 - Little Creek, Franklin Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 28 Mar 1867 - Franklin Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1880 - Boone Twp., Franklin Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Apr 1921 - Gerald, Franklin Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 19 Dec 1922 - Stanton, Franklin Co., MO Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - 21 Dec 1922 - Stanton, Franklin Co., MO Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Eli Bailey Park (1846-1922)
Melinda Olive Thompson Park (1847-1930)
    Eli Bailey Park (1846-1922) Melinda Olive Thompson Park (1847-1930)

  • Notes 
    • Elizabeth Boone, daughter of Frank Park, tells the story her grandfather, Eli B. Park, told her as a child how he lost one of his fingers: In a letter dated July 8, 1993, Elizabeth relates:

      "It was when he was in the war between the North and South. The war was over, but he had been taken prisoner by the South (and was still being held by them). It was late in the afternoon and he was with a bunch of other prisoners in the back of a wagon. They came to a big corn field which covered many acres. The captain of the North said, 'Some of you fellows get out and gather enough corn and we will stop and build a fire and roast it for supper.' Grandpa and the next guy to him jumped out and he picked up a hatchet out of the wagon to take along. They ran down the rows of corn and when they were out of sight they just kept going. When they got to the end of the field, there was another road. They went across into the woods and tried to hide. After dark they decided to roast some corn to eat.

      "Grandpa took out his hatchet, started cutting wood for a fire, but hit his finger and cut it off. It was winter and had it not been so cold he probably would have bled to death, but as it was, his finger froze as it began to bleed and froze it over. About the time this was happening they heard a wagon coming, so they hid under a brush pile until the wagon went by. When it was far enough away they built a fire and roasted the corn and tried to wrap up Grandpa's finger. They walked back the other way until they thought they were over the northern line and then slept until the sun came up. They ran into some of their (northern) men and kept walking and getting a ride on wagons until they got home."

      According to Dave Boone, Frank Park’s grandson, his grandfather told the following stories about Eli:

      “Eli went to a neighbor’s farm to visit and found two brothers about to kill one of their cousins. He took a singletree and knocked them out and stopped the fight. Later they did kill the cousin and put the blame on Eli. Eli had to hide out in the woods because the sheriff had people watching the house. Eli’s mother would hang a colored towel in the window if it was not safe to come in and get food, and a white towel if it was safe. He hid several weeks until someone told who really killed the cousin.

      “When Eli was plowing by the river, three men came and asked to borrow his mule to cross the river. He refused, but offered to take them across one at a time. He took the first one over and when he went back the other two said they would take the mule away from him anyway. There was a fight and he whipped them both and they had to swim the river to get away.

      “My grandfather said he (Eli) had a reputation as a fighter and a fiddler.”

      12 Dec 1890 Tribune Champion City Items, reports, “Mr. Eli Park is erecting a new house, he says he knows it is set straight East and West because he set it by his corn rows and Otto Gahlough marked off the ground.”

      In the year 1905 (Sept 29) the Tribune Champion City Chips reported, “Our famers have nearly completed corn cutting and are preparing to sow wheat. Most of the fodder cut before the rain is reported worthless and some corn is spoiling in the shock. But the ridge farmers should feel sorry for the bottom farmers this season. And in return the bottom farmers should be sorry for the ridge farmers five to one as it has been about five years since the ridge farmers harvested a crop equal to the one they are harvesting at present.”

      FAG gives another child to the couple: Charles E. Park.




      Eli Park, Pvt. in Company I under Captain Crowe in 26th Regiment of Infantry Volunteers; Enlisted Sept. 21, 1861 at Union, MO. and mustered in Dec. 26, 1861 at Pacific, MO.; Dis (discharged) Nov 21, 1862 at St. Louis, MO.} [5, 6]

  • Sources 
    1. [S15] Eli B. Park Family Bible Record of Births and Deaths.

    2. [S272] 1880 Census.

    3. [S36] Mr. Kiel, Kiel File, (Local newspaper), page 29806.

    4. [S36] Mr. Kiel, Kiel File, (Local newspaper), Obituary.

    5. [S1060] Find-A-Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41083393/ely_eli_-bailey-park.

    6. [S36] Mr. Kiel, Kiel File, (Local newspaper), p. 43842.


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