Notes

[NI151] The Hon. Thomas Parke an emigrant from Ireland, came to York (Toronto) Upper Canada in 1820. There he worked as a master carpenter in association with John Ewart, on the construction of the new parliament buildings at York (Completed in 1829). In 1832 he moved to London where he worked as foreman of all the carpentry work in the erection of the London District court house and gaol. Like many early London residents, such as George Jervis Goodhue, Parke invested in 100 ac on June 9, 1824. He purchased a block north of the London plot in 1832. Although much of this land was sold as town lots, Thomas Parke completed a grist mill in 1833 on a portion fronting the north branch of the Thames River, and in 1835 the mill and the surrounding land were sold to Dennis O'Brian. Thomas Parke was also interested in promoting a railway from London to the head of Lake Ontario: His name appears after that of Edward Allen Talbot among the incorporators of the London and Gore Railroad in 1834. During the mid 1830's he played a leading role in the attempt to improve the navigability of the Thames River down stream from London, In 1834 Parke a Wesleyan Methodist and the Quaker Elias Moore from Yarmouth Township won the two seats in Middlesex- riding for the Reformers. After a stormy election in 1836, both retained their seats in Upper Canada's last parliament. Following the rebellion, Parke joined Reformers Peter Perry, James Lesslie and Francis Hincks, 1838 in organizing the short lived Mississippi Emigration Society for the settlement in the territory of Iowa of Canadians dissatisfied with political conditions in Upper Canada. That summer he accompanied Perry and Lessilie on a trip to Iowa to choose a site. In order to further reform Particulary constitutional reform, Parke frequently contributed to various journals, and in 1839 founded the Canada (later London Inquirer) with George Heyworth Hackstaff. Special attention was given in it to "the introduction of responsible government, municipal institutions, public schools, free grants of land to actual settlers wnd the secularzation of the clergy reserve". By January 1840 Hackstaff was sole publisher of the newspaper. An earnest supporter of Governor General Charles Poulett Thomson's efforts to unite the Canadas, Parke was said to have been "largely instrumental in securing the consent of the Upper Canada Legislature to the (Union Bill)" In july 1841 shortly after being elected representative from Middlesex to the frist parliament of the Porvince of Canada, he was commissioned survey general. He did not contest Middlesex in 1844, but continued as surveyor general until the abolition of that office in March 1845. His political career was perhaps best summed up by Clanence Campbell who asserted that Parke was "not very brilliant man, and not and extremist" a Reformer, and yet not very objectionable to the ruling clique. After 1845 "unobtrusiveness" would be much a part of him as "integrity, and upright character". He had been first commissioned magistrate in July 1845 he assumed the office of customs and collector of canal tolls of Port Colborne. In July 1860 Parke became collector of customs at Port Dalhousie (now in St Catharines) and collector of canel tolls at the port of St Catharines: These positions he held until his death.

[NI151] This information was taken from the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Documents relation to the history of the Village of Port Colborne, Ontario 1765-1865

[NI154] E. Jones Parke, was born at York, November 1, 1823, and was educated at the London District Grammar School, under Francis H. Wright, M.A., of Trinity College, Dublin, who was head master. He then began the study of law in the office of Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Alexander Campbell in Kingston, and afterwards studied for a year in the office of Hon. John Wilson in London. He was admitted to the Bar in 1847, and began practicing his profession in Woodstock in partnership with the late Thomas Scatcherd, Q.C.,M.P., but in 1852 the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Parke returned to London, where he has since practiced, residing, since 1858, in the Township of Westminster. For a short time he was also in partnership with his brother and student, Edward D., who died July 12, 1868. Another brother, Thomas Parke, barrister, was distinguished for his high legal and literary attainments, and died at the home of E. Jones Parke, July 31,1885.
Mr. Parke was married on the 4th of February, 1869 to Mary Helen, daughter of George Southwick,M.D., of St Thomas, and an ex-M.P. for the East Riding of Elgin. Her grandfather, Elias Moore, M.P., of the Township of Yarmouth, was a colleague of Thomas Parke in 1834 in representing the County of Middlesex. Mr Parke is solicitor for several large financial institutions, and was one of the promoters of, and obtained the charter for the London & Port Stanley Railroad, and has been solicitor for the company since its incorporation. He is also solicitor for the Corporation of the County of Middlesex, having succeeded Judge Elliot on his elevation to the Bench. He was on two occasions appointed Deputy Judge, and acted in this capacity several times during the absence of Judge Small. He is Police Magistrate for the City of London, also holding the office of Vice-President of the Law Association of the county. In politics he is a Liberal. Mr. Parke is senior partner in the firm of Parke & Purdom.

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