Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Starr, Edgar Leroy 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 13, 2006, 8:07 pm

Author: History of Grundy County, 1914

Starr, Edgar Leroy - Among the old and honored families of Morris, that 
bearing the name of Starr is well known, its members having been prominent in 
business, social and public life, and a worthy representative of the family is 
found in Edgar Leroy Starr, a successful business man of this city. Mr. Starr 
was born at Morris, August 20, 1848, a son of Christopher and Mary Jane 
(Eaton) Starr, natives of Cornwallis County, Nova Scotia. Christopher Starr 
was born in June, 1822, a son of Charles Starr, and Mary Jane Eaton was born 
October 3, 1825, daughter of James Eaton, all of Nova Scotia. In 1844 Mr. 
Starr and his wife came to Morris by way of boat to Chicago, thence to Starr's 
Grove, Will County, from whence they came on to Morris in the following 
spring. Mr. Starr was a contractor and builder and conducted a large machine 
shop, but in 1849 gave up his business when the California gold excitement 
lured him to make the journey across the plains on horseback, he being a 
typical "forty-niner." Returning by way of Cape Horn, a journey that consumed 
six months on a sailing vessel, he went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and there 
rejoined his family, and they almost immediately returned to Morris. In 1861 
Mr. Starr's business was destroyed by fire, and his capital almost completely 
wiped out, but in that year he enlisted in the Fifty-third Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry for three years' service during the Civil War. His health failed and 
in 1863 he was sent home, where he remained until 1869, in which year he again 
went to California, and there died in 1870, since which time his widow has 
lived at Morris. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Starr: Charles, who 
is of Joliet; Edgar Leroy; Eugene, who is of Clay Center, Kas.; Fred, who is 
of California; and Viola, who married William Sparr, of Morris.

Edgar Leroy Starr received his education in the public schools of Morris and 
remained on the home place with his mother until January 1, 1871, when he was 
married to Belle Nichols, who was born at Dayton, O., in 1852. After his 
marriage he removed to Kankakee County, Ill., and there farmed from February 
to July of each year, and did teaming, butchering and operated a corn-sheller 
during the remainder of the year. For some years he has been located at 
Morris, and is now engaged in trading in property. Mr. Starr is justly 
considered one of his city's representative business men, his enterprise being 
extensive and his reputation high. He is a Republican, but no politician, 
having never cared for public office. He belongs to the Masons and the Modern 
Woodmen of America, in both of which he has many friends. Mr. Starr's first 
wife passed away December 29, 1895, having been the mother of two children: 
Josephine, who died at the age of four months; and Mary Margaretta, born 
November 22, 1875, who married Frank Martin, has two children: Rosamond and 
Louisa. In February, 1897, Mr. Starr was married to Mrs. Bessie Osman, of 
Kendall County, Ill., and they have had one daughter, Edna Emma, who is 
attending school.

page 903

Additional Comments:
Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/starr1006nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 3.8 Kb