BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 554-555.

DAVID PARK, one of the pioneer merchants of Martin's Ferry, was born
in county Tyrone, Ireland, in 1815, and is the only survivor of ten
children of Robert and Margaret (Reynolds) Park. The father, a farmer
by occupation, died in 1862, and the mother died in 1828. The subject
of this sketch received a limited education in Ireland, and assisted
his father on the farm until he was about eighteen years old, when he
spent two years as a clerk in a store. In 1838 he came to the United
States and settled at Pittsburgh, where he began as help in a whole-
sale grocery house, working his way up to a position in the office.
After working there four years he was assisted by a member of his
firm to establish a small store at Martin's Ferry in 1842. He started
on a lot now owned by Conrad Long, and continued to do business on 
Washington street until 1881. His business gradually increased, and
his devotion to trade, and talent for the occupation, enabled him to
become one of the leading grocers of the city. He took an active
interest in public affairs also, and for thirteen years served the
township as treasurer, and for nine years was a valued member of the
school board, serving at the time the old Union school was established.
He has also served on the city council. Though never an active politician,
he has been a steadfast member of the democratic party. For some time
he has been retired from business, and as one of the oldest citizens of
the town, is resting from an active and prosperous career. He was married
in 1838, a few months before immigrating, to Eliza McIvor, of county
Tyrone, by whom he had ten children: Sarah P., Eliza, wife of Rev.
Barnatz, lately of Wheeling; John R;, David, William H., Ross, Mary M.,
Fred J., secretary of the North Wheeling Glass works, and two who
died in infancy. Mr. and.Mrs. Park are members of the Presbyterian church.