Montrose County CO Archives Biographies.....Stark, H.M. 1846 - ?
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 26, 2006, 8:32 am

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     With his childish fancy kindled and his boyish enthusiasm quickened by

narratives of thrilling interest from the great wars waged at the close of the

eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth century, in which his father was

an active participant under the Prussian General Blucher, and who doubtless

regaled his offspring with graphic accounts of his campaigns, and with the voice

of America ever in his ear persuasively calling him to a share in her bounteous

rewards for effort, energy and skill, H.M. Stark, of Montrose county, was early

in life prepared for emigration to this country and for whatever might befall in

its stirring activities and the requirements of its necessarily intense and

strenuous life; and when he came hither at the very dawn of his young and ardent

manhood, he was not disappointed in either the abundance of the opportunities

for useful labor in the country, or the diligence and alertness needed to seize

and use them properly.  He is a native of the little village of Vilkenfelde,

Prussia, born in 1846, the son of John Frederick and Anna (Retzloff) Stark, who

were born and reared there and who at the end of life were laid to rest beneath

its soil.  His father was a soldier in the Prussian army during the early part

of his mature life and fought in many campaigns under General Blucher against

Bonaparte. After quitting military service he retired to a little farm near the

village, and on this his family was reared.  He died about 1878 between eighty

and ninety years old, leaving to his offspring but little more than the

priceless legacy of a good name and a record of duty faithfully performed under

all circumstances.  The mother died in 1851 at the age of forty-five years. 

Their family numbered seven children, of whom H.M. was next to the youngest.  He

received a good elementary education in the state schools of his native land,

remaining at home until he was twenty-one years old, then came to the United

States, making his first stop in this country at Tyrone, Pennsylvania, where he

lingered only three months, then proceeded to Pittsburg.  A few weeks in that

busy city satisfied him with that portion of the country.  His vision was set to

the gauge of the swelling prairies and the farther mountains, and he promptly

sought its gratification by going on to Indiana, and locating in the northern

part of the state in the neighborhood of Plymouth and South Bend, where he

remained several years engaged in farm work and other occupations.  He then

spent a summer in Illinois, and after that made an extensive slow tour of

inspection through the southern states, and reached Indian Territory in the

course of his wanderings and remained there about eleven months.  From there he

returned to Illinois and wintered.  In the spring following he came to southern

Missouri, and here secured an engagement to drive cattle across the plains from

that section to Colorado.  After stopping some time at Colorado Springs he went

further west, then engaged in prospecting, freighting and road building, coming

after a time with a load of supplies to Ouray, a section of country with which

he was not wholly unfamiliar, having previously visited Lake City and the

Gunnison region.  He built one of the first shanties for human habitation at

Ouray, and in the vicinity of that village followed mining for a number of

years, locating several valuable silver mines there, and taking out quantities

of rich ore.  In 1881 he settled on the ranch where Mr. Shores now lives, taking

up two claims in association with a partner.  A little later he bought his

partner’s interest and traded the land to Mr. McConnell and purchased the place

on which he now lives after visiting a number of states with a view to securing

a desirable location.  On this he has made valuable improvements, built an

attractive and commodious brick dwelling with good outbuildings, and developed

an extensive and profitable farming and stock business, his principal crops

being grain and hay, and his stock operations being confined to cattle.  In 1882

he was married to Miss Mary Stokoe, a native of Quincy, Illinois, daughter of

John and Hannah (Ascough) Stokoe, of that state, who emigrated to that state

from England.  Mr. Stark has been prominent and active in the public life of the

community and has been one of the serviceable factors in developing its material

resources and building up its commercial and industrial interests.  He is held

in high esteem as a leading and progressive citizen.  In politics he is

independent, though keenly alive to the welfare of his county and state. 

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/montrose/bios/stark466gbs.txt

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