Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Starr, Abijah R 1832 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 10, 2007, 1:44 am

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

ABIJAH R. STARR, the pioneer florist of Joliet, for many years conducted a 
flower garden attached to his residence grounds at the corner of McComber 
Street and Bowen Place. He came to Joliet in the spring of 1871 and soon 
afterward established the business which he conducted until 1888. He then sold 
out and rented his ground, and since that time has not been engaged in any 
active business. He had one of the finest gardens in the country and met with 
phenominal success. His life-long habits of industry, however, will probably 
not permit him to remain long in idleness and it will not be surprising if in 
the near future he resumes his old occupation. The subject of this notice was 
born March 25, 1832, in Ithaca, N. Y. His father, William R. Starr, emigrated 
from New York to Illinois in the pioneer days, settling in what was then Thorn 
Grove, but is now Crete Township, in 1834. He took up a tract of Government 
land from which he opened up a farm and lived there until his death, which 
occurred in 1856. Although not a politician he was a stanch supporter of the 
Abolitionist party, and for a time officiated as the Postmaster of Crete. He 
was born in Dutchess County, N. Y. He was there married to Miss Harriet L. 
Royce, who died at the family residence in Joliet, August 23, 1884. Abijah R. 
was the only child. The subject of this sketch was only two years old when his 
parents came to this county, but when of suitable years and attainments he was 
sent back to his native place, where he completed his education. He was also a 
student in the boarding school at Berkshire, Tioga County. Then returning home 
he remained with his father until a youth of eighteen years. In 1850, being 
seized with the California gold fever he crossed the plains via St. Joseph and 
Ft. Kearney, being on the road from May 4 until July 31, and locating in 
Hangtown. He worked in the mines about two years with fair success, then, 
anxious to reach home, sacrificed valuable interests and returned to the old 
farm. His father in the meantime had removed to Chicago and engaged in the 
hotel business. Mr. Starr now had charge of his father's farm until the 
latter's death. In the meantime he was married, October 24, 1853, to Miss 
Sarah Ann Mogg. In 1864 he went to Wheaton, DuPage County, this State, where 
he engaged in the nursery business and became somewhat prominent in local 
affairs, serving as Street Commissioner. He also became interested in the 
mercantile business. Finally, returning to this county, he occupied himself as 
a general merchant until 1874. To him and his estimable wife there have been 
born three children, viz: Mary, born July 18, 1854, and now the wife A. C. 
Johnston, manufacturer of optical goods at Detroit, Mich.; Ellen A., born 
January 30, 1858, and the wife of Dr. C. H. L. Souder, of Rockwell; this 
daughter was graduated from the Homeopathic College of Chicago, and is engaged 
in the practice of medicine. Attie C. was born March 20, 1860, and married 
George T. Relyea, a wholesale grocer of Joliet. The paternal grandfather of 
our subject was Abijah Starr, who was probably a native of New York, whence he 
removed to Patterson, and lived there until 1816. Thence he removed to Ithaca, 
where he died in 1824. He was a surveyor by profession, and married Miss 
Hannah Watts. Among the children born to them was William Russell Starr, the 
father of our subject, a native of Patterson, N. J., and born August 4, 1807. 
Mrs. Sarah A. (Mogg) Starr was born in the town of Clay, Onondaga County, N. 
Y., June 1, 1830, to Jared and Lany (Young) Mogg and was there reared to 
womanhood. She came to the West in 1852. Jared Mogg was a native of 
Connecticut and born August 4, 1791. He was bound out at an early age but, 
being an ambitious lad and impatient of restraint, ran away to Schoharie 
County, where in due time he met and married his future wife. They settled 
down upon a farm and Grandfather Mogg engaged in agricultural pursuits until 
his death. Mrs. Lany (Young) Mogg was born in Seward, Schoharie County, N. Y., 
and was the daughter of Jeremiah Young, whose family consisted of twelve 
children. Jared Mogg's family consisted of fourteen children. Thirteen of 
these grew to mature years and there are still living six brothers and five 
sisters. Mr. Starr, politically, is a sound Republican, while he and his good 
wife are prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Joliet.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 

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