My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. PARKE, retired, Bloomington Prominent among the old residents of Bloomington, who have been identified with the growth and improvement of the city, is Mr. George W. Parke, who is a native of Chester Co., Penn.; he was born in 1815, and remained a resident of his native place until he had grown to man’s estate and received his education. His first trip West was in 1837, though he remained only until 1840, when he returned East; he came to this city in 1851, and engaged in the lumber trade and the manufacture of furniture, though the latter business he had followed but a short time when a large factory, which he was interested in and had helped to build, burned to the ground, the loss being a calamity both to the firm and the city. He was very successful in the lumber trade, being engaged in this business when the city was growing rapidly; he built a great many houses in the city, which are still standing; among others was the first three-story building ever erected on the west side of the public square, Mr. Kersey Fell donating the ground to anyone who would erect a three-story brick; he was also engaged in the grocery and provision trade about ten years, which he sold out about 1865, and has not since been actively engaged in any mercantile business. He is now one of the Directors of the People’s Bank, where he is usually found during business hours. He has been an active, energetic business man, and now is reaping some of the rewards of his industry and economy.