History of Woodford, (Bennington County) Vermont United States of America

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Trenor William Park, financier, was born in Woodford, Vt., Dec. 8, 1823; son of Luther and Cynthia (Pratt) Park, and a descendant of Richard Park, who came from Hadleigh, Suffolk, England, to Cambridge, Mass., about 1635. He removed to Bennington, Vt., with his parents about 1826, and was admitted to the bar in 1844, and conducted a law office. He was married, Dec. 15, 1846, to Laura, daughter of Gov. Willard Hall, of Bennington. In 1852 he removed with his father-in-law to California and became a member of the law firm of Halleck, Peachy & Billings of San Francisco. He also engaged in real estate operations in that city, and acquired a large fortune. He assisted James King in establishing the San Francisco Bulletin in 1855, and after the assassination of Mr. King became attorney of the vigilance committee, which delivered the city from the power of lawless ruffians. In 1857 he was defeated by D.C. Broderick for the U.S. senate. He was associated with John C. Fr?mont in the Mariposa estate and in gold mines. His wife having died, he married, secondly, Ella, daughter of O.C. Nichols of San Francisco. He returned to Bennington, Vt., in 1863, established the First National bank, and was a representative in the state legislature. He assisted in the reorganization of the Vermont Central railroad; purchased the Western Vermont railroad, and began the construction of the Lebanon Springs railroad, hoping to make Bennington a great railroad centre, but receiving no support, he abandoned the plan, after losing a large fortune in the venture. He was associated with General Baxter in Nevada in the ownership of the Emma mine in 1872, was a director of the Pacific Mail Steamship company for several years, and owned a controlling interest in the Panama railroad, of which he was president, 1874-82. He was a trustee of the University of Vermont, 1865-67, to which he gave the Park Art Gallery; contributed liberally to the New York Tribune "Fresh Air Fund"; established the Bennington Free Library, and was a member of the committee on the design of the Bennington battle monument. He died at sea on his way to Panama, Central America, Dec. 13, 1882.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Woodford, (Bennington County) Vermont

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