Robert H. Starr

STARR, HILLES, SMITH

Posted By: Volunteer - Cathy Joynt Labath (email)
Date: 12/26/2005 at 08:25:10

A Memorial and Biographical record of Iowa. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1896

ROBERT H. STARR. - The lawyer has been and is a pre-eminent factor as touching the economical conditions of the nation, and the legal profession is one that opens up the field for honest and earnest endeavor and for a career of honor and usefulness. The subject of this sketch is recognized as one of the representative members of the bar of Van Buren county and as a man of unswerving integrity. Into his life history enter many points of interest, for he has been actively concerned in various business pursuits, has rendered the valiant service of a loyal soldier of the republic in the hour of his country's extremity, and traces his lineage through a long line of American ancestors, notable for industry, intelligence and sterling worth. Mr. Starr is the senior member of the well-known law firm of Starr & Calhoun, of Keosauqua, and is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of the place.

On the 16th of April, 1840, Robert H. Starr was ushered into the world, the place of his nativity having been Berks county, Pennsylvania. His father, James Starr, was also a native of the Keystone State, having been born in Chester county in the year 1805, the son of James Starr, Sr., who was the son of Moses Starr, who was the original American ancestor, having been driven from Ireland during the troublous period when Oliver Cromwell was at the zenith of his power. The ancestry of our subject on either side is found to have been of the noble faith maintained by the Society of Friends, or Quakers. The father of Robert H. was a tanner by trade, and in later years he devoted his attention more particularly to farming, having also been for some time engaged in hotel-keeping. He lived to attain the advanced age of eighty-nine years. In the year 1829, according to the ceremony of the Quaker Church, he was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe Hilles, who was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1810, being the daughter of Robert Hilles, who was also of a prominent Quaker family. After their marriage the young couple settled in Berks county, Pennsylvania, where they remained until the death of the devoted wife and mother, in September, 1850, after which the father of our subject removed to Lewis county, Missouri, where he remained until the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion, when he removed to Clark county, the same State, where he passed the residue of his life, his death occurring in 1894.

The early boyhood days of our subject were passed in Pennsylvania, where he attended the public schools and later continued his scholastic discipline in Stark county, Ohio, completing his studies at Alliance, that State. He began his career as a clerk in a mercantile establishment, and was thus employed for three years at Winchester, Columbiana county, Ohio. In July, 1861, he went to McHenry county, Illinois, and there joined the brave boys in blue who were being mustered into the service of the Union, enlisting as a member of Company K, Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Gruisel commanding. The regiment was sent to join General Fremont's forces in southwestern Missouri, and participated in a number of engagements, afterward taking part in the engagement at Corinth, Mississippi, May 31, 1862. The following summer our subject was assigned to garrison duty, and in September of the same year he was sent to Cincinnati, and was one of those concerned in the raid made by Kirby Smith. In October, 1862, Mr. Starr went to Louisville, Kentucky, and there became a member of what was subsequently known as the Army of the Cumberland, and he participated in all the engagements of that army until May 17, 1864, when he was severely wounded by a gunshot in the right leg, and was discharged on a surgeon's certificate of his disability, January 6, 1865. He then returned to Clark county, Missouri, where he engaged in the mercantile business, continuing operations in this line until 1867, when he was elected Treasurer of the county, in which capacity he served one term. He was thereafter engaged in farming for a few years, having in the meanwhile devoted as much attention as possible to the study of law, being determined to devote his life to that profession. In 1874 he secured admission to the bar at a regular session of the circuit court at Kahoka, Clark county, Missouri, and within the same year he came to Keosauqua, Iowa, and entered vigorously upon the practice of his profession, his ability and discrimination soon gaining him distinctive prestige, which he has signally increased during the succeeding years, having retained a large and representative clientage,- his practice extending into the local, State, and Federal courts.

In 1892 Mr. Starr admitted to partnership in his professional business his son, James P., and this association continued for two years when James accepted the position as Deputy County Clerk, whereupon Mr. Starr formed his present professional alliance with J.C. Calhoun. In his political adherency Mr. Starr has always rendered a stanch republican allegiance to the Republican party, and during the times leading up to the late war was pronounced an uncompromising abolitionist. In his fraternal relations he is identified with W.C. Harper Post, No. 79, Department of Iowa, Grand Army of the Republic.

The marriage of our subject was consummated November 24, 1865, when he was united to Miss Mary C. Smith, daughter of Peter and Hester Smith of Clark county, Missouri, and they became the parents of eleven children, of whom all but one lived to attain mature years, their names and order of birth being as follows: Phoebe H., Julia E., James P., Belle, Ida, Bethel, Anna, Vie, and Charlie and William, who are twins.

[ A previous transcription of a bio of the son of Robert H Starr, James P. Starr, mentions "The records of the family go back to the time of John Starr, who lived at Old Castle, County Meath, Ireland. All his sons and daughters came to America between the years 1674 and 1697 and located in Pennsylvania. Moses Starr was one of the first settlers in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and was the first representative from that county to the Provincial Assembly."]