Hester Ludwick Stark 1845-1927

STARK, LUDWICK, MORGART, NEWTON, GRUBB, HAYS, ROBCOCK

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 8/27/2008 at 10:30:42

Grinnell (IA) Herald; Sept. 20,1927

MRS. HESTER STARK PASSES

Funeral Services for Pioneer Woman Conducted Sunday Afternoon from U.B. Church Near Newburg.

HAD LIVED IN JASPER COUNTY SINCE 1870

Mrs. Stark Died at Home of Daughter, Mrs. N.J. Morgart, September 15.

Funeral services for Mrs. Hester Ludwick Stark were conducted from the United Brethren church near Newburg, Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock by Rev. W.B. Wilson. Following is the obituary.

Mrs. Hester Ludwick Stark was born in Indiana, July 10, 1845, and passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. N.J. Morgart, in Grinnell early Thursday morning. She was sixth in a family of fifteen children. On May 30, 1864, she was married to James Stark and six years later the family moved to Jasper county, Iowa. In 1883 they bought what is now known as the Stark homestead, 5 1/2 miles southwest of Newburg where they resided continuously until moving to Newburg twenty-three years ago where the home has since been. The husband passed away seven years ago.

The Starks were pioneers in the true sense of that term. Hickory Grove township was thinly populated at that time. Neighbors were few and houses far between. Kellogg and Grinnell were the only trading points and roads followed the divides rather than section lines. Wolves were numerous and rattle snakes a constant menace. Conditions of life were hard and comforts few, yet in spite of its hardships and the care of a family of six children, their days were happy.

Mrs. Stark gave time and strength in times of sickness to the neighborhood, often being away from home for days at a time on these missions of mercy. She was a charter member of the Hickory Grove United Brethren church. She was deeply religious, the kind of religion that manifests itself in unfailing good will and kindly service.

Mrs. Stark was the mother of three sons and three daughters. They are in order of age, Wm. C. Stark of Story City, Ia.; Mrs. W.C. Newton of Newburg; Mrs. N.J. Morgart, Grinnell; Elijah L. Stark, Marshallotwn; Clarence H. Stark, Grinnell and Mrs. Clarence Grubb (deceased) of Tracy, Iowa. She has two sisters living, Mrs. Joe Hays of Grinnell and Mrs. Robcock of Steel City, Nebraska. There are 26 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren living.

The passing of Mrs. Stark means the removal of one of the best of women, gentle and true, a wonderful mother, an unlimited capacity for friendship, one whose very being seemed dedicated to all that is highest and best.