Anthony John Park; Grafton, PA., then St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Anthony John Park, A. B. Public spirit and civic pride have been manifested by the citizens of Covington, Louisiana, in securing and retaining so able and well, qualified an educator as principal of the city high school as Prof. Anthony John Park, who has been a resident of Louisiana for the past sixteen years. Anthony John Park was born at Grafton, Pennsylvania, June 16. 1872, eldest son of Thomas N. and Anna B. (Anderson) Park, and grandson of Anthony Park, who was born in New Jersey, in which state his forefathers had settled when they came to the American colonies from England. Anthony Park became ~n extensive farmer near Grafton, Pennsylvania, married Nancy Showalter, of that state, reared a creditable family and died at Markleysburg, Pennsylvania. Thomas N. Park was born in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, in 1831, and during some years was a farmer there. In 1894 he moved to Windber, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in the mercantile business until he retired from active life in 1923. He still resides in that village, one of its most highly respected citizens, a republican in political life, and a leading member of the German Baptist Church. He married Anna B. Anderson, who was born in Huntingdon County in 1849, and the following children were born to them: Anthony John; Ruhama Catherine, who is the wife of Elliott, C. Schuldt, a lumber dealer at Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Samuel W., who resides at Grafton, Pennsylvania, a painter and decorator; Ella, the wife of Robert Stewart, who is employed by the Loraine Steel Company at Johnstown, Pennsylvania; and Janie and Lottie, twins, the former of whom is the wife of Howard Smeltzer, foreman in the lumber yard at Johnstown, and the latter, the wife of Chalmer Dilling, a contractor and builder at Nanty Glo, Cambra County, Pennsylvania. Professor Park received his early educational training in the public schools of Huntingdon County, and when nineteen years old taught his first school there and continued to teach for the next five years, when he became associated with his father in the mercantile business, but, finding himself not commercially inclined, after four years of merchandising began to turn his attention to further preparation for the profession toward which he was naturally inclined, and in the class of 1908 was graduated from Juniata College with the degree of B. E. In the meanwhile he worked for one year in the coal mines of Somerset County, and for one year as a logging contractor in the lumber regions, prior to 1900, when he became principal of a grammar school at Windber, in which position he continued until 1907. In 1908 he came to Louisiana, and in the fall of that year accepted the principalship of the high school at Cheneyville, this state, and during the four years he remained there his reputation became so well established as an organizer and educator that Covington became anxious to secure his services. In 1912 he came to Covington as principal of the Covington High School, and the relation so established has been cordially maintained ever since. Under his supervision he has seventeen teachers and 350 pupils. A hearty spirit of co-operation marks the school's activities, Professor Park's broadminded policy and sympathetic interest, as well as his personal example, exerting an influence that arouses emulation. He has always been an enthusiastic student himself, and in the class of 1918, was graduated from Potomac University at Washington, District of Columbia. He is a member of the Louisiana State Teachers Association. Professor Park married at Warren, Ohio, July 21, 1906, Miss Eva Bell, daughter of Thomas M. and Frances Bell, the latter of whom resides at Toledo, Ohio. The father of Mrs. Park was a mine carpenter, and died at Windber, Pennsylvania. She was afforded superior educational advantages, attending the Indiana State Normal School and Juniata College, and for two years prior to her marriage was a very acceptable teacher in Pennsylvania. Professor and Mrs. Park have two daughters: Ruby Helen, who is a member of the sophomore class in the Covington High School; and Camille, who is also a high school student. In politics Professor Park is affiliated with the democratic party, but only as a private citizen, cherishing no desire for public office. He is a Knight Templar Mason and a Shriner, a member of Covington Lodge No. 188, Free and Accepted Masons, and secretary of the lodge for the past four years; St. Tammany Chapter No. 80, Royal Arch Masons, of which chapter he was elected secretary in 1924; Jacques de Molay Commandery No. 2, Knights Templar, New Orleans; and Jerusalem Temple, Mystic Shrine, New Orleans. He still retains, from boyhood, his membership in the United Brethren Church at Windber, Pennsylvania. His Bachelor of Arts degree was secured at Potomac University. NOTE: The sketch is accompanied by a black and white photograph/drawing of the subject. A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 181-182, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.