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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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Benson
Starr The
gentleman to whom the reader's attention is respectfully called in the following
paragraphs is an honored veteran of our great civil conflict. They are getting
fewer and fewer in numbers, their annual reunions are sadly lacking when the
lists of regiments and companies are gone over, and their march is not as quick
and full of meaning and fire as it was a half century ago, when, as sturdy boys,
they left, most of them, the plow and assembled at the front, eager to hurl
themselves in invincible legions against the foes of the Union. But, nevertheless, it thrills one to see them in their old
uniforms, with their tattered flags flying and their forms bent as they keep
step, assisted, most of them, with their canes, at their gatherings on Memorial
Day or the Fourth of July. And how interesting it is to hear them tell the story
of the dreadful hardships they endured in the hospitals, prisons, on the
harassing marches, or in the skirmishes and battles. But their time is short now, so all persons should join in
honoring them for the sacrifices they made when they were young and full of the
love of life, but which was offered freely on the altar of their country.
One of these honored old soldiers is Benton Starr, who is also eminently
entitled to a place in his country's history because he is one of our pioneers,
a member of that hard-working band who willingly underwent hardships in the
County's first period of development that succeeding generations might be happy
and prosperous. Mr.
Starr was born in Belmont County, Ohio, May 22, 1842, and he was the son of
Jabez and Jane (Gregory) Starr, who spent their early lives in Ohio, married and
began housekeeping there. About
1844 they made the long overland journey to Iowa, locating in Van Buren County,
being among the state's early settlers, but after three years there, during
which they hardly got well located, and deciding that the community was not what
they desired as a permanent place of abode, they moved to Jasper County,
locating in Lynn Grove Township. First
Mr. Starr bought a claim, but a year later moved a little to the north and
entered one hundred and twenty acres in section 13. This land he cleared, broke,
improved, and in time had a splendid farm and a comfortable home in which he
lived until he reached an advanced age, then lived around with his children for
the greater part of the time, although always claiming this as his home.
His death occurred in Madison County, this state, in 1885, his wife
having died in 1878 on their farm. Politically,
he was a Republican. He took a
lively interest in political affairs and for many years was justice of the
peace. There were thirteen children in their family, four of whom
are living at this writing. Eleven
of them grew to maturity and were married. The
father, Jabez Starr, was a good and useful man, and for years he did
considerable preaching in the Methodist Church, as did several of his brothers.
He assisted in organizing the early Methodist Church here and helped hold the
first election ever known in Lynn Grove Township; he was also the first justice
of the peace in this Township. He
gave the greatest satisfaction in this important office, for in that early day
it was important, a justice court ranking in those times with the higher
tribunals of today. He was a lover
of justice and peace and often settled differences and difficulties between
parties in his community outside of court, his advice being frequently sought in
personal and public affairs. Such men are empire builders and while today they
are certainly not noticeable to a very great extent in our so-called advanced
civilization, they were to be found in almost all communities of newcomers in
the early days when the frontier was ever pushing westward. The memory of such
should be fondly cherished by succeeding generations, for it goes without saying
that we owe them a great debt of gratitude and that they builded wiser than they
knew. Benson
Starr, the immediate subject of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home place
and there made himself useful in his boyhood days.
He had little opportunity to attend school, in fact, three months in the
old public school house in this vicinity constituted his text-book training;
however, he has become a well informed man through home reading and careful
observation. On
August 7, 1862, Mr., Starr enlisted in Company K, Twenty-eighth Iowa Volunteer
Infantry, in which he served very gallantly for about eighteen months, during
which time he took part in the great siege of Vicksburg, the battles of Port
Gibson, Champion's Hill and others, being under fire fifty-two days. Receiving
an honorable discharge, he returned home and resumed farming and soon had a good
start, and in 1879 he bought his father's homestead, later adding to the same
until he is now the owner of a finely improved and productive farm of one
hundred and seventy-one acres in Lynn Grove Township, which adjoins the first
purchase. Here he erected a
substantial dwelling and good outbuildings and made such other up-to-date
improvements as his needs required. He
made a great success as a general farmer and stockman.
He still manages the farm, though he keeps it rented out. Politically,
Mr. Starr is a Republican and has ever been a loyal supporter of the same,
taking a lively interest in local affairs, and he has held several offices
within the gift of the people, including that of Township trustee and constable.
Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order at Lynnville, the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, encampment, also the Order of the Eastern Star and the Grand
Army of the Republic, in all of which he takes an abiding interest. Mr.
Starr was married in 1865 to Ellen Squires, a native of Virginia and the
daughter of Nehemiah and Olive Squires, who came to Jasper County after the
close of the Civil war and later moved to Missouri.
To Mr. And Mrs. Starr five children have been born, namely: Perry, who
was killed by lightning: Dora and Nora, twins, the latter dying when four years
of age; Lee and Frank. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 728. |
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