Description
"Down Memory's Lane by Dr. Donald D. Parker" - - (excerpted from longer article) - - "Slavery Days in Parkville and Vicinity” - - One of the most bitter experiences which the slave might at any time be forced to undergo was the sale and removal to distant parts of his wife, his children, or other close relatives or associates. Some owners were considerate in this regard and others were not. Missourians deny that the sale of a slave to be taken south was ever practiced except where financial reverses, an excess of hands, or a chronic spirit of viciousness or absconding on the part of the slave made it necessary. It perhaps is not well known in Parkville that Col. Park was a slaveholder. Rev. Woodward in a public address in 1891 said: “He became a slaveholder, as I understand it, something in this way. He was on his way to attend, court. An “old aunty,’ whom he knew, met him on the way and begged him with tears, and earnest pleading to buy her child which was to be sold on the block that day at the county seat. His sympathies were touched, the girl was bought and reared in his family, and she and her offspring live near here today. Angeline Washington and her husband, William had their nuptials celebrated in the Presbyterian church, your speaker pronouncing the bans. She was a slave only in name. Her and hers were often remembered by Mr. Park, and are now looked after tenderly by his widow and daughter.” Spencer Cave, through the pen of Mrs. Hawley in the Park College Record. tells of this couple also when he speaks of Col. Park: “Yes, he owned slaves but only from a sense of compassion…what we called a gentleman slave owner. The wife of a workman was to be sold down the river, the family torn apart. So Col. Park bought her and kept terror and sorrow out of that little cabin and the family lived in peace and contentment on Col. Park’s bounty. You know Uncle Willie Washington of the present family in Parkville, was born in slavery in a cabin where the Thompson Commons now stands. He was about to be separated from his family and sold down the river. In order to keep that little family together Col. Park bought them all and kept them till blessed freedom came. The last two children born in slavery here were born in that cabin. Col. Park was good to his slaves but they had to mind his word. It was a happy picture down around Park House, Col. Park’s home. Pickaninnies played on the lawn within call of Mrs. Park’s voice in case there were errands to run, berries to be picked, other things small brown hands and feet could do. But these were sad days for us.”Date(s) of Creation
1/7/1944