Black History Month: Celebrating Angeline Rucker Washington (1837-1904)
Born into slavery in April 1837, Angeline was purchased at the age of seven by George Park, the founder of Parkville. He later freed her, and she married William Washington in 1855 at the Parkville Presbyterian Church — despite Missouri laws prohibiting African American marriages.
The Bill of Sale for Angeline Washington to George Park from William Campbell. Photo courtesy of Frances Fishburn Archive at Park University.
In 1886, George Park deeded a one-acre property east of Parkville to the Washington family. This homestead included a house, stable, and space for a garden and fruit trees. By 1895, the family relocated to Parkville. While most of their eight children lacked formal education due to the era’s constraints, many of their grandchildren attended the Banneker schools, institutions dedicated to African American education.
Angeline’s commitment to faith led her to become a member of the Parkville Presbyterian Church, breaking racial barriers of the time. In 1870, she and her husband were charter members in establishing the Washington Chapel Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. The church, dedicated in their honor in 1907, still stands today, reflecting their lasting legacy in the community.
In recognition of her contributions, the Park Hill School District named its newest elementary school “Angeline Washington Elementary” last year. The naming committee emphasized her journey from enslavement to a freed woman who built a family, owned land, and fostered educational and religious opportunities, thereby strengthening community bonds.
