Résumé

Draftsman, architect's office in Galesburg, IL, c. 1900-1902. IThe 1900 US Census listed the 17-year-old Park as working as an architect, likely meaning he was an apprentice or draftsman in an existing architectural office in town. In 1902, Park worked for WIlliam Wolf (1838-1906), a well-known local architect with an office at 49 South Kellogg Street in Galesburg. Wolf resided at 523 North Chambers Street at the time. (See Galesburg, Illinois, City Directory, 1902, p. 478.)

Draftsman, Bebb and Mendel, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1903-1913. (See Polk's Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1903, p. 912 and R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1913, p. 1267.) It is possible that architect Charles H. Bebb (1862-1942) knew of Wolf's work and reputation while he lived in Chicago, IL, between 1882 and 1893, and was willing to hire one of Wolf's draftsmen.

Dtaftsman, Charles H. Bebb, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1914. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1914, p. 1343.)

Draftsman, Bebb and Gould, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1915-1927. Park worked as Chief Draftsman in about 1920. Park was listed as an "architect" working for Bebb and Gould in 1924. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1924, p. 1116.)

Relocation

Born in IL, Earl Park lived with his family in Galesburg, IL in 1900. In that year, Earl lived with his family at 404 West Brooks Street in Galesburg. The family consisted of Earl, his parents, William and Belinda, his three siblings and a cousin, Henry C. Kindle (born c. 03/1880 in IL). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Galesburg Ward 5, Knox, Illinois; Page: 13; Enumeration District: 0043; FHL microfilm: 1240313, accessed 02/03/2021.) By 1902, the Parks lived at 102 Blaine Street in Galesburg. According to the Galesburg, Illinois, City Directory, 1902, (p. 346), his sister Jennie worked as a clerk at Bondi Brothers and Company, while his brother, John A., was a student at Brown's Business College.

Park relocated to Seattle, WA, with his family in 1903. He lived with his parents and siblings first at 412 4th Avenue West in 1903 (See Polk's Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1903, p. 912) and at 232 1st Avenue West in 1904-1910. (See Polk's Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1904, p. 819 and R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1910, p. 1221.) According to the 1910 US Census, the architect worked as a draftsman in 1910, anddwelled with his parents, sister Jennie and his paternal grandmother Margaret Park (born c. 1823 in Scotland) at 232 1st Avenue West. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Seattle Ward 3, King, Washington; Roll: T624_1659; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 0146; FHL microfilm: 1375672, accessed 02/03/2021.)

Park married in 1910, and he and his wife Lorraine obtained a place at 320 Summit Avenue North in Seattle, perhaps Unit #2. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1911, p. 1069.) They remained here through 1913. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1913, p. 1267.)

The Parks moved to 717 34th Avenue by 1914, at about the time Bebb's partnership ended with Louis Mendel, (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1914, p. 1343.) He and Lorraine relocated to 759 31st Avenue by 1915. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1914, p. 1232.)

In 09/1918, Park and his family dwelled at 30th Avenue NE and 82nd Street NE in Seattle. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: Washington; Registration County: King County Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005, accessed 02/01/2021.) The US Census of 1920 confirmed this address, and indicated that John A. Park, his younger brother, resided next door. John Park worked as a bookkeeper and office manager for the architectural firm of Bebb and Gould. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Union, King, Washington; Roll: T625_1924; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 46, accessed 02/01/2021.)

Park died at a youthful age, 45, and was buried in Seattle, WA.

His widow continued to reside at 8225 30th Avenue NE in 1934. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1934, p. 1130.)

Parents

His mother was Belinda Knight, who managed the household and had six children, four of whom survived in 1900. William Park (born c. 06/1853 in Scotland) immigrated to the US in 1855 with his family. William Park was, according to the 1900 US Census, operated a store perhaps associated with a railroad station in Galesburg, IL. (The notation for his profession read: "storekeeper r.r. con," possibly meaning storekeeper railroad concession. See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Galesburg Ward 5, Knox, Illinois; Page: 13; Enumeration District: 0043; FHL microfilm: 1240313, accessed 02/03/2021.) In 1904, William was listed as working in Seattle as a laborer for the Northern Pacific Railway Company. (See Polk's Seattle Directory Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1904, p. 819.) The 1910 US Census recorded his occupation as a "checker" for a railroad.

His surviving siblings in 1900 were: Samuel Park (born c. 07/1876 in IL), Jennie Park (born 12/1879 in IL), and John A. Park (born 12/1884 in IL). According to the

Spouse

He wed Lorraine C. Page (born c. 08/1890 in IA-d. 12/17/1969 in KIng County, WA) on 10/24/1910 in Seattle, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013; Reference Number: kingcoarchmc33197, accessed 02/03/2021.)

Lorraine's family lived in Dubuque, IA, in 1900, where her father Russell G. Page was a bank cashier, and her mother Vennie raised two children. They were affluent enough to maintain a household servant, Mary Street (born c. 03/1879 in IA). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Taylor, Dubuque, Iowa; Page: 7; Enumeration District: 0127; FHL microfilm: 1240431, accessed 02/03/2021.)

Children

He and Lorraine had a daughter, Darolis Park (born c. 1912 in WA).

Biographical Notes

His World War I draft registration card listed Park as Caucasian and of medium height and slender build. He had blue eyes and brown hair. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Registration State: Washington; Registration County: King County Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005, accessed 02/01/2021.)