| Notes |
- A Modern History of Windham County by Allen B. Lincoln -
De Witt Clinton Park, displaying the utmost efficiency and ability as superintendent of the Windham County Temporary Home for Children at Putnam, Connecticut, was born in Amboy, New York, November 8, 1856, and is a son of Smith and Harriet J. (Stewart) Park, the father also a native of the Empire state, while the mother was born at Williamstown, Massachusetts. Smith park was the son of Sage Park, a native of Haddam, Connecticut, who went to the state of New York as a young man and became a civil engineer. He was in the employ of the state as one of the engineers in the construction of the Erie canal and laid out several towns in Oswego county, New York, including Amboy, Redfield, 'Williamstown and Constantia. Sage Park was one of the first settlers of Amboy, New York.
Smith Park, the father of De Witt C. Park, was reared and educated at Camden, New York, and in young manhood took up the occupation of farming. He also operated a sawmill at Amboy, New York, for several years. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted at Amboy for active service with the Union Army, Joining the One Hundred and Thirty-second New York Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until 1862, when he was discharged on account of disability contracted in the service and died in the same year, at Amboy, New York. His wife also passed away in 1862. They were the parents of eight children, all of whom were born at Amboy, New York, and two of whom died in infancy. Mary Almira is the deceased wife of Edwin Perry, of Putnam, Connecticut. Harriet Jane became the wife of Asahel Wallace, of Sandy Creek, New York, and has also passed away. Clark Stewart, who enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-second New York Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war, being a member of the same company as his father, died in the service. Martha J., who taught school at Putnam for many years prior to her marriage to Samuel H. Bass, of Laredo, Texas, is now deceased. De Witt Clinton, whose name introduces this review, is the next of the family. Fannie Isabelle was a school teacher of Sandy Creek, New York, prior to her removal to Putnam, Connecticut, where she passed away.
De Witt C. Park was reared and educated at Salisbury, New York, to which place he removed after the death of his parents and where he remained to the age of fourteen years. He then became a student in the Fairfield Seminary at Fairfield, New York, where he pursued his studies for three years, after which, he went to Sandy Creek, New York, and there completed his education at the Sandy Creek high school. In 1873 he removed to Putnam, Connecticut, and for a year and a half was employed in the fish market of Edwin Perry. Later he secured a position in the grocery store of Chollar & Davis and afterward was employed in the office of the Moss mill for a year and a half. He next became connected with John 0. Fox, Sr., a lumber merchant, but after a short time purchased a grocery and dry goods business, which he conducted for three years. He then sold his store and was appointed deputy sheriff under Charles H. Osgood in 1885. His loyalty to the duties of the office and his capability are indicated in the fact that he was retained in that position for seventeen years, having been reappointed by Sheriff Charles B. Pomeroy and by his successor, Preston B. Sibley. In 1902 he was appointed assistant jailer at the Windham county jail at Brooklyn, Connecticut, and served in that capacity for eleven years. By the county board of commissions he was appointed to take charge of the Windham County Temporary Home for Children in Putnam in 1913 and has since occupied this position. He displays the utmost devotion to the children and their welfare, putting forth every effort that will advance their interests, and while there were fifty-six children when he took charge in 1913, there are now one hundred and twenty-six children in the home.
At Putnam, Connecticut, on the 10th of May, 1876, Mr. Park was united in marriage to Miss Addle Elizabeth Houghton of Putnam, a daughter of Augustus and Elizabeth (Hawkins) Houghton. They have become the parents of three children, all born in Putnam. Alice E., the eldest, is the wife of John F. Pallor, who is connected with the American Type Foundry Company of Boston, Massachusetts, and lives in Hingham, Massachusetts. They have two children, Alice E. and Ruth D. Clinton A. is deceased. Helen M., the youngest, is the wife of Eben W. Holden, who has charge of the fish packing plant of Prospect Harbor, Maine, for the E. T. Russell Company of Boston. They have one child, Marion Lincoln.
In his political views Mr. Park is an earnest republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He belongs to Quinebaug Lodge No. 106, A. F. & A. M.; Putnam Chapter No. 41, R. A. M.; Montgomery Council, R. & S. M., of Danielson; Columbia Commandery, K. T. of Norwich, Connecticut; and Israel Putnam Lodge No. 33, I. 0. 0. F., of which he is a past master. He and all of his family are members of the Congregational church and in his Christian belief are found the motive springs of his conduct and the rules which govern him in every relation of life.
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1856 - 1921 (64 years)
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