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Homesteading in Trego County
Park's Fort
Established as a fort to protect railroad workers from Indian attacks, Park’s Fort was named after Thomas Parks who was killed by Indians on June 18, 1867. Although no buildings existed at this tent encampment, the Union Pacific Railroad did establish a pumping station there.
The fort was east of WaKeeney two miles.
Established in 1871, the post office closed in 1872, only to be reopened in May of 1874. Moving to Trego, it closed a few months later in November of that year.
The ethnicity of those at Park’s Fort remains unknown.
Sources
Baker, Mrs. Walter. “History of WaKeeney & Trego County and the Coming of the
William George Baker Family from Aurora, Illinois to WaKeeney, Kansas in 1878.” Chap. in Local History as Presented to the Trego County Historical Society. 2d ed. n.p. 1974.
Kroeger, Nadine. Interview by author. Forsyth Library. Hays, KS. 6 September 2002.
“Park’s Fort.” Dwayne Scott. Exhibit at the Trego County Historical Society. WaKeeney,
KS.
Purinton, Mrs. Ray. “History of Collyer, Kansas.” Chap. in Local History as Presented to
the Trego County Historical Society. n.p. 1973.
Shearer, Ruth. “Ghost Towns in Trego County.” Chap. in Local History as Presented to
the Trego County Historical Society. 2d ed. n.p. 1974.