Men of Progress. Wisconsin. (pages 555-586) A selected list of biographical sketches and portraits of the leaders in business, professional and official life. Together with short notes on the history and character of Wisconsin.

PARK, Byron B., of the law firm of Cate, Sanborn, Lamoreux & Park of Stevens Point, is the older of the two sons of the late Judge Gilbert L. Park, who held the office of judge of the Seventh judicial circuit of Wisconsin from 1874 to 1883. The paternal ancestors of the Parks were New Englanders for several generations, but about the beginning of the present century the grandfather of Judge Gilbert L. Park, who was a soldier in the revolutionary army and took part in the capture of Burgoyne and his army, became a resident of New York state, and Judge Park was born in Scipio, Cayuga county, on the 31st of August, 1824. After a somewhat eventful career as boy and young man, he came to Wisconsin in November, 1851, having been admitted to the bar in Michigan the September preceding. In the absence of funds and law business, and with a purpose to win his way by any honest work, he spent some months in the lumber woods as a common laborer, but about a year after he formed a law partnership, and his rise was steady both in business and reputation, until he was seated upon the bench of the circuit court, where he remained until his health would not permit of further official labor. He was district attorney of Portage county for four years, commencing with 1854. He was mayor of Stevens Point at the opening of the civil war; and, resigning the office entered the army, as adjutant of the Eighteenth regiment of Wisconsin infantry, rising to the rank of captain and serving with bravery and fidelity until the end of the war, when he returned to Stevens Point and resumed the practice of his profession.

On February 25th, 1856, he married Mary D. Beach of Kalamazoo, Mich., who bore him two sons and a daughter. She died in 1893, leaving the memory of a model Christian woman.

Byron B. Park was born in Stevens Point, October 6th, 1858. After passing through the public schools of his native city, he entered the University of Wisconsin in September, 1876, spending three years therein. He then began the study of law, and, in September, 1880, entered the law department of that institution and graduated with the class of 1881. While in the university he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

May 1st, 1886, Mr. Park began the practice of law in partnership with Frank B. Lamoreux, the firm name being Lamoreux & Park. This partnership continued six years, when the firm of Raymond, Lamoreux & Park was formed, and this firm carried on the business until January, 1896, when the present firm of Cate, Sanborn, Lamoreux & Park was organized, with offices at Stevens Point and Ashland. The Raymond mentioned as one of the firm preceding the present one, was the late J. O. Raymond, for many years one of the leading lawyers of that part of the state.

Mr. Park is a Democrat, and as such was elected to the office of city attorney of Stevens Point in 1888 and 1889; mayor for the term of 1891- 1892, and district attorney of Portage county in 1892, and re-elected in 1894. He was also appointed member of the board of regents of normal schools, and held the position from 1891 to 1894.

He is a member of the Masonic fraternity (Blue Lodge and Chapter) and of the order of Knights of Pythias. He is an attendant of the Episcopal church, but not a member, although his wife is.

Mr. Park was married, September 29th, 1886, to Bertha N. Wyatt of Stevens Point. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Park, namely: Gladys, born November 24th, 1887; Lawrence W., born August 13th, 1889, and Lyman R., born September 7th, 1894.