James C. Park

James C. Park was appointed in 1900 to the Library Board of Trustees after West Liberty citizens voted to have a public library. He served on the executive committee. He was the board member that most often handled the physical needs of the library, securing help for custodial and lawn care.[1] After serving eighteen years he resigned from the board in October,1918 due to health reasons at the age of 80.[2]

James Carlisle Park was born May 17,1838 in Washington County, New York. His parents, John and Jane Carlisle Park, moved their family to Lee County, Iowa in the spring of 1856. Six months later the family settled on a farm in Pike Township of Muscatine County where James continued to farm for 38 years.[3] He served three years with Company B, 2nd Iowa Infantry of the Union Army during the Civil War and was an active member of the local G.A.R. Post.[4] He married Martha Ream of Muscatine on March 16, 1871.[5] He was a director of People’s State Bank in West Liberty for many years and was a Past Master of Mt. Calvary Masonic Lodge.[6] He died May 9, 1921 at his home in West Liberty from heart disease and uremia. Burial was at Oak Ridge cemetery.[7] He was survived by his wife, sons Albert of Davenport, Charles on the Park farm in Pike Township and several grandchildren.[8]

– Pam Schnittjer

 

[1] West Liberty Library Board of Trustees Minutes, Vol 1, p. 28, 58, 76

[2] West Liberty Library Board of Trustees Minutes, Vol. 2, p. 79.

[3] West Liberty Index, West Liberty, IA, May 12,1921 p. 1.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ancestry.com. Iowa, U.S., Select Marriages Index, 1758-1996 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

[6] The Muscatine Journal, Muscatine, IA, May 10, 1921, p. 7.

[7] Ancestry.com. Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1880-1904, 1920-1967 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.

[8] Iowa City Press-Citizen, Iowa City, IA, May 10, 1921, p. 10.