Peter A Stark

STARK

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/8/2010 at 17:25:11

Peter A Stark, who was born in Sweden, January 16, 1863, is a representative of that race which has contributed so much toward the general development of this country in various sections of the United States. He combines in his character the sturdy qualities of his nation with the aggressiveness and the shrewdness of the American merchant. He is engaged in the hardware and implement business in Boxholm, Boone county, and has been very successful in the conduct of his affairs. His parents were Peter and Matilda (Larson) Stark, natives of Sweden, the former a carpenter by trade. He as engaged in that occupation in his native land until 1868, when he and his family came to America, locating in Hardin township, Webster county, Iowa where the father found employment in a sawmill, remaining there until 1879, when he removed to Grant township, Boone county, where he had previously bought land which he transformed into richly bearing fields, operating this property for many years. He had bought this farm while yet a resident of Hardin township, Webster county, in 1872, but took up its cultivation about seven years later, when he moved thereon. This farm consisted of 80 acres and was located on section 16. Mr Stark finally retired from active labor with a fair competency and moved to Boxholm, where he lived until his death, which occurred in the spring of 1909, at the age of seventy-six years. His widow is a resident of Boxholm, and is now in her seventy-fifth year.
Peter A Stark was five years of age when his parents came to America and received his education in Webster county, Iowa. He remained on the home farm until he had reached his majority and then bought land on section 16, Grant township, which he improved and cultivated for nine years. Upon selling out he came to Boxholm, engaging in the hardware and farm implement business, and has ever since given his attention to this line of work. He carries a large stock and enjoys a profitable trade, his store being the only one of its kind in the neighborhood. He owns his own buiness building and also hold title to his residence.
In June 188, Mr Stark married Miss Rose Johnson a daughter of Swan and Margaret (Englund) Johnson, natives of Sweden, who upon coming to America located in Grant township where the father followed farming and also acted as engineer. His property was located on section 3, Grant township, and there he continued until 1890, when he retired and moved to Dayton, where he gave some attention to auctioneering and the real estate business. He died in that city in February 1912, and his widow is still residing there. Mr and Mrs Stark are the parents of four children: Swan A twenty-four years of age, who is engaged in farming in Missouri, Alice who is twenty-one years of age and who married Oscar T Wilen, who is employed in his father in law’s store, Ernest Bryan sixteen years of age, and Virgil J aged ten.
Mr Stark also owns a hardware and implement business in Harcourt, Webster county, which is in a most prosperous condition. He is a stockholder in the Farmers State Bank of Boxholm and at present is a member of the town council. For twelve years he served as trustee of Grant township and also held the office of assessor. In his various public connections he has always proven himself a man of trustworthiness and faithfulness, placing the general welfare above his private interests. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party, and his religious faith is that of the Methodist church. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic lodge, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr Stark has many friends in Boxholm, and stands high in the estimation of all who know him.

1914 Boone County History Book