Eli Stark (1840-1914) came to Iowa from Ind. in 1846. He arrived in Des Moines the same day Iowa was declared a state. He enlisted in the Union Army in 1862 and was discharged at Little Rock, Ark., in 1865. He walked from there to his home in Hopeville.

He married Sarah Wilson (1842-1930) in 1866. They raised two sons: John (1888) and Bert (1883); and a foster daughter, Lena Bohal.

John Stark married Esther Cole (1893) on Sept. 30, 1908. Her parents were Doc (1856-1931) and Candice (Adams) Cole (1859-1932). Doc came to Iowa from Tenn. after the Civil War. They farmed three miles north of Grand River for many years. Their children were Nellie, Addie, James, Frank, Esther, Katheryn and Bessie. They also raised Susie Boles.

John and Esther had seventeen children. .......

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