Description
"Col. George S. Park - Pioneer, Patriot, Citizen and Friend - A Review of the Early Days in Parkville, With a Glimpse of the Everyday Life of the Founder of the Town" by Mrs. Ruth Ringo (excerpted from longer article) - - “I remember well that in that day Parkville was noted for its pretty women, and the fine southern cooking in this then famous hotel. The cooking, in fact all the work, was done by negro help, Aunt Fannie, the colored cook was the finest there was at that time. How well I remember when my little cousins and myself would skip and dance in glee thru the long halls, finally ending up in the kitchen where we were not always welcome, asking such numerous questions, and getting in everybody’s way. Aunt Fannie would make us scamper out and tell us “chillens should be seen and not hearn.” “He did not believe in slavery and became a slave owner only in this way. He was on his way to attend court at the county seat when an old aunty, whom he knew, met him on the way and begged him with tears and earnest pleading to buy her child who was to be sold on the block that day. His sympathies were touched. The girl was bought and reared in his family. Some of her offspring live here today. Aunt Angie and her husband, William Washington, had their nuptials celebrated in the Presbyterian church, Mr. Woodward pronouncing the bans. She was a slave only in name. Her and hers were often remembered by Mr. Park. After his death, as long as she lived she was tenderly looked after by Mrs. Lawrence.” “When we first came to Missouri, everyone was supposed to have negro servants. In order to move in the best society, this had to be done. If you didn’t own slaves, you had to hire them. It was not considered the proper thing for the women of that day to do housework. So many of the young girls were raised up in idleness and had cause to regret it years afterward when the slaves were all set free.”Date(s) of Creation
3/7/1918