Dr. John R. Park: A Eulogy

DR. JOHN R. PARK. BY DR. J. T. KINGSBURY, PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH .

Dr. JohnR. Park, the educator of a thousand sons and daughters of Utah, is dead. Enshrouded with the deep silence of the grim Messenger are his earthly remains, but his soul, his spirit, lives. He is to be heard no more, but his works will live as long as the everlasting hills, for they are stamped in the history of Utah, and already in more than a generation, as a heritage which will be ir- resistibly perpetuated. Dr. Park, heart and soul, was an advocate and a supporter of the public schools of this commonwealth. His whole energy and time were devoted to the development and education of our youth. The story of his coming and introduction to the people of Utah will be read with interest by the new generation. On his way to the Pacific coast, he arrived here in the 60's and became an ardent admirer of the people of Utah, and finally decided, unexpectedly, himself to cast his lot with that of the people of Utah. As he has related to me, his early experience here is extremely interesting. On arriving in Salt Lake City, he stopped here partly through curi- osity to become acquainted with the peculiar religious tenets of "Mormonism." To help himself financially, he secured a school in Draper, and while thus engaged, he read a number of the "Mor- mon" Church works. He related that he began to yield to a strange feeling such as he was unable to describe. He felt that hewas becoming converted to "Mormonism" against his own de- sires, andbegan to wonder what his friends in the East would think of his becoming a "Mormon." Still he became converted, but he decided that his environments had some influence upon his conver

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sion, and he therefore concluded to get away from that influence. He thought, probably if he should leave Utah and her people that he would get into another atmosphere in which his reason would better serve him, and that his feelings and convictions regarding "Mormonism" would change. He thought that from a distance, out from under the influence of "Mormons," he could better com- prehend them and their doctrines, and that no doubt he would be- come fully convinced that the ideas and convictions already formed were entirely erroneous. He, therefore, started forOregon, engag- ing himself to a freighter, as a teamster to drive an ox-team. On arriving in Oregon, he went into the merchandising business, on a small scale, and remained there for some time. While in Oregon, instead of losing his faith in "Mormonism," he has stated to me that his convictions of its truths were intensified, and the longer he remained away from Utah, the more convinced he became that he should return and share the burdens of her people. He was im- pelled by some irresistible force, he claimed, to return, and he obeyed its mandates. On coming back to Utah, he again returned to the small village of Draper, where he taught a district school, until he was appointed President of the University of Deseret, now the University of Utah. His marked ability as a school teacher was readily made manifest, and he soon became best appreciated by the most intel- ligent people of the territory. Robert Campbell, Squire Wells, Presi- dent George Q. Cannon, Chancellors of the University, and Presi- dent Brigham Young, appreciating the ability of Dr. Park, called him to the position of president of the University, in which position he was retained for over twenty-three years. In 1872 or 1873, I first became acquainted with Dr. Park, being under him then as a student. In 1878, he recommended me as an instructor in chemistry, and since then I have been associated with him almost constantly in educational work. Dr. Park was a remarkable man in many ways. In all the time of my association with him, I never heard him malign the character of a single indi- vidual, either enemy or friend. If he had anything to say about persons, he would talk rather concerning their good qualities than their bad characteristics. He was quiet, reserved, systematic and determined, prayerful, and a firm believer in God. Thus, as a stu

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dent under him, and as a co-laborer, I learned Dr. Park to be a man of character, a true Christian. He has told me how, while teaching village schools, he would make his dealings with his pupils amatter of prayer; and yet he was not what many people are accustomed to call strongly religious. Dr. Park was devoted to the educational interests of the people of Utah, and strongly inter- ested in their welfare otherwise, and felt perfectly contented in having cast his lot with them. The very strongest desire of his life was that the University of Utah should constantly grow in facilities, in efficiency, in influence and in power, for the benefit of theyoung men and young women of Utah, and redound to the fame and good name of its pioneers and the whole people of this state. While president of this institution, he did all within his power to further its interests, and since his resignation as presi- dent, his devotion to its advancement had not ceased up to the time of his demise, one jot or tittle. His life, his means, his influ- ence, his all, have been directed toward the building up of the University. On the day before Dr. Park's death, I called upon him, and expressed a wish that he would recover soon and visit and inspect the new University buildings. He replied that it was hardly proba- ble that he would live to look through those buildings, yet still he appeared to have a desire to do so. Before Dr. Park was made president of the University, it had existed for a long time only in name. He was, therefore, the father to that institution as it now exists. At the time of my en- gagement, Dr. Park, ProfessorToronto, and myself, constituted the faculty. Since then, it gradually grew under his direction up to the time of his resignation, and reached a prominence which will ever redound tohis honor, energy, and unceasing efforts. During his connection with the University, thousands of young men and women of Utah received instruction and encouragement from his lips, now closed in death. Many, today, are occupying the important posi- tions in the state; and in that they are capable for such positions, they are monuments of his work, their labors are the results of his earnest efforts. In them does he shine, cast his light upon the state, fix his name upon all generations to come among the people for whom he

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has worked, lived and died. There are few persons who were students at the University during Dr. Park's presidency who are not his warm personal friends, and who would not be ready to do him all the honor consistent with his position as an American citi- zen, as an educator, and as a true friend of the people of Utah. He had a great interest in all the University students, wished them well, and was elated whenever they were successful in business life, governmental affairs, or scholastic achievements. He respected their parents, rich or poor, and talked in high praise of their efforts to promote the educational interest of their sons and daughters. Being an educator in the true sense of the word, he greatly ad- mired those who took an interest in educational work. Among those persons for whom he has always had warm and kindly feelings, on account of the encouragement they gave him in his efforts to ad- vance education in this state, are Robert Campbell, Daniel H. Wells, and President George Q. Cannon, all former chancellors of the Uni- versity, and President Brigham Young, and Bishop Stewart of Draper. These are among the men who were dear to him, on ac- count of the strong moral support they gave him in his endeavors to advance education among the people. He held in the highest respect the pioneers of Utah, and felt that they deserved much for the great work they had accomplished in these desert mountains and valleys. To Dr. John R. Park, the people of Utah owe a debt of grati- tude. He has done as much for the commonwealth in his line of labor as any other man. He sowed the seeds that have born rich fruit, and whose fruition will continue throughout the years to come. To him should be reared a monument on University hill, to be looked upon by this present generation and by people of the future as representing the man who was the founder of the Uni- versity of Utah and the great benefactor of the state. To him should be reared amonument among the new University buildings as lasting as the hills. To him should be reared a monument sacred to the memory of a devout, modést, earnest man, whose works will shine with resplendent brilliancy, becoming brighter and brighter as the future grows dimmer and dimmer far down the stream of time.