David Stoddard

BUSINESS AS USUAL:  Since 1854 Parke & Son Inc., has served the warehousing needs of America’s businesses.  Dave Stoddard helped keep the company moving in the right direction for 59 of those years.  Beginning in 1854 as a livery, Parke & Son, Inc. has re-made itself several times on the way to becoming Central Illinois leading warehousing services company.

Waiting For Breakfast

1854
Virgil H. Parke, a young man of 22, arrived in Decatur, IL by train from Bloomington, IL at 5:30 a.m., and walked from the Illinois Central station to a hotel on Merchant street. “It was too early for breakfast,”  the late Mr. Parke afterward related, “I was standing outside looking over the straggling village.  As I stood there Gus Hardy came along – I had met him in Bloomington, and his first words were, ‘You are the very man I am looking for.  I am going to sell you my livery business.’  It was located just south of the corners of West Main and Church streets.”  Mr. Parke had only a few dollars in his pocket and laughed at the idea, but Gus persisted and said he didn’t care whether young Parke had a cent, that he should pay him as he was able.  “Gus grabbed my arm and marched me down to the livery.  He ordered the hostler to bring out a horse, and asked what I thought it was worth.  I gave my opinion and he brought out another, and then another until all 17 had been appraised.”

“When he had finished, he added up the prices, pushed over the paper and said ‘It’s your livery business’.” “I walked back to the hotel to have breakfast as a business man of the city.”

Entered Implement Business and Building Materials Business

1863
In 1863 Mr. Parke sold his livery and established a retail farm implement business at 143 North Main street. Then, in 1880, Guy J. Parke, then 14, entered his father’s implement business and in 1886 sold it and established a business selling coal, wood, and stock feed farther north at 621 North Main.  They also operated storage rooms for household goods-their first entry into warehousing. “This was the first storage warehouse business in the city”, Guy Parke related.

1887
In 1887 Guy Parke was taken into partnership with his father, and two years later lime, plaster, and cement (the area’s first importer of Portland Cement) were added to the merchandise handled by the firm.  After 1890 the company handled only building materials and remained in the storage business. Virgil Parke retired in 1910.

Decatur’s First Warehouse Business

1930
In November, 1930 Robert F. Watt came into the business in charge of Parke Warehouses.  On January 1, 1947 Parke Warehouses and Parke & Son, Inc. were merged.

That same year, William C. Parke, Guy’s son and a vice president of Bankers Trust Co. of New York, became treasurer. He brought with him longtime friend and associate David A. Stoddard as secretary and assistant treasurer. Guy Parke remained active in the business long past 80, and died at the age of 98.

The Decatur Connection

Stoddard was born in Decatur but grew up in suburban Chicago.  In the 1930′s he applied for a job with Continental National Bank.  The hiring officer was William Parke. “Bill saw I was born in Decatur as he was reviewing job applications,” Stoddard recalls. “That’s how I got the job.”

1947
Both Stoddard and Parke left Continental Bank but they stayed in touch.  In 1947, Stoddard was working for Eastern Airlines when he ran into Parke in New York City.  Parke was about to leave Bankers Trust to return to Decatur and join his father in the business founded by his grandfather.  He asked if Stoddard was interested in coming back with him.  Together they oversaw the transition from moving and storage to warehouse management.

The Legacy Continues

1962
Charles Stewart joined the company in 1962, and Susan Mooney, David’s daughter, began with Parke in 1965.  Richard Stoddard, David’s son, came in 1975.  Another son, Bruce Stoddard, came to the company in 1996.  William Parke died in 1984,  leaving David Stoddard controlling interest in the company.

2011
The legacy of  Virgil & Bill Parke, of Dave Stoddard & Chuck Stewart; continues under the continued leadership of Richard & Bruce Stoddard.  Leading Parke & Son Inc., into the 21st Century, over 150 years strong, the company employs 70+ people in 3 main business segments:  Commercial Public Warehousing, Contract Warehousing Services, and Toll Packaging.

Parke & Son, Inc.
1800 E. Garfield Ave.
Decatur, IL 62526
(888) 429-5255