Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
Charles West Starr
On New Year's day of 1819 Charles West Starr arrived in Richmond, Indiana, - a mere hamlet on a western frontier, - with whose history he afterward became closely identified. A few years passed, however, before he made a permanent settlement, but for three decades he was a prominent factor in the development and progress of the city, and his name is inseparably interwoven with the record of its advancement. The upbuilding of the town was largely due to his enterprising spirit; and the introduction of many of the business interests which have promoted the prosperity of the city were the work of this progressive, public-spirited pioneer.
Charles West Starr was of Scotch-Irish lineage, the family having been founded in America by James Starr, a native of the north of Ireland, who on crossing the Atlantic to the New World became a resident of Philadelphia, in which city he spent his remaining days. He was then eighteen years of age, and he sold his time to the ship captain in order to pay his passage. By trade he was a shoemaker, and during the war of the Revolution he made boots for Generals Washington and La Fayette. John Starr, the grandfather of Charles W., was a native of Philadelphia, and made his home in that city until his life's labors were ended in death at the age of forty-four years. He was a salt merchant and carried on a successful business. Like his father he belonged to the Society of Friends, and adhered closely to the ways of that kindly people. He wedded Miss Mary West, a cousin of Benjamin West, the celebrated painter of Philadelphia, and they became the parents of four sons and three daughters: James, Joseph, Samuel John, Charles W., Mrs. Anna Lipincott, Mrs. Sarah Lipincott and Lydia.
In the "City of Brotherly Love" Charles West Starr was born February 28, 1792, and during his minority served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, but on attaining his majority he engaged in the coasting trade between Charleston, South Carolina, and Philadelphia. Subsequently he engaged in the lumber business in the former city, but the institution of slavery becoming abhorrent to him, he sold his lumber-yard and invested part of his capital in a cargo of rice, which he shipped to Lisbon, Portugal, crossing the ocean on the same vessel. That year, however, he returned home, and soon made his first visit to the west. On the 21st of September, 1818, he started on horseback for the Mississippi valley, and visited Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri. As before stated he arrived in Richmond, Indiana, on the 1st of January, 1819, and visited John Smith, who owned the entire south half of the village. He thoroughly explored Wayne county and being pleased with the location, the land, and the future prospects of the locality, he entered a claim near Economy, with the intention of some day making his home in the Hoosier state.
Mr. Starr then resumed his homeward journey, and on the 1st of February, 1819, having crossed the Susquehanna river, hitched his horse in front of a Friends' meeting-house, in order to take part in the services. At the close of the meeting he met, for the first time, Miss Elizabeth Wilson, who became his wife November 14, 1819. They made their home for a time in Philadelphia, and in the spring of 1825 removed to Richmond, Indiana. They first resided on Front street, almost opposite the present site the court-house. The village was a settlement of Friends, and contained a population of about seven hundred. There was not a turnpike or bridge in the county or state, and such a thing as a railroad had not been dreamed of.
In 1826 Mr. Starr purchased the Jeremiah Cox farm, on which the north half of the town was laid out, the purchase price being twenty-five dollars per acre. The place comprised two hundred and twenty-two acres, and thereon a brick residence had been erected, but the barn and other outbuildings were constructed of logs in the usual manner of pioneer days. From this time forward Mr. Starr was an active factor in the substantial growth and upbuilding of Richmond. He laid out North Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth streets, divided some of his land into town lots of a quarter of an acre each and sold them for one hundred dollars apiece. That was an excellent price for those days and he steadily invested the proceeds of his sales in the erection of new houses. He firmly believed that a bright destiny lay before Richmond, and he did not hesitate to invest his means of the improvement and progress of the town. He also erected a number of business houses, all after the old Philadelphia style of architecture, to which he was accustomed in the east. Realizing the importance to a new community of transportation connection with the outside world, he lent his influence and aid to the construction of the Richmond and Brookville canal, which was begun in 1837. He was the treasurer of the company and the work was prosecuted until the hard times of 1840 blocked its progress. A financial panic followed in the west, as in many other sections of the country, and many of the business men of Indiana were forced into liquidation. Mr. Starr, however, with the assistance of his brother in Philadelphia, managed to weather the storm and pay every debt, dollar for dollar. Nor was he forced to sacrifice his property, and when the financial sky was cleared and business was resumed he again became an active factor in the improvement of the city. He laid the foundation for much of the present prosperity of Richmond, and to him is due great credit for his successful achievements in behalf of the city.
Mr. and Mrs. Starr became the parents of ten children, of whom John, Mary and Samuel died in infancy; the others are William, James M., Hannah, Lydia, Nathan, Joseph and Benjamin. Of these, James, Hannah, Joseph and Benjamin are the only ones living.
The father possessed a scholarly nature, and read extensively works of all periods of literature, - standard poetry and moral philosophy being his favorite works. His broad and comprehensive knowledge enriched his conversation and made him an entertaining companion. A refined humor also added sparkle and life to his talk, and his frank, generous and outspoken manner gained him the regard and admiration of all. His word was as good as his bond, and his business integrity was at all times above question. He passed away May 1, 1855, at the age of sixty-two years. Richmond has had no more valued citizen, and by the pioneers who knew him, and who are still residents of the city, his memory is revered. His wife continued to make her home in Wayne county until July, 1884, when she, too, was called to the home beyond.
Charles West Starr was born in Philadelphia, Feb. 28, 1793. His parents were members of the Religious Society of Friends, and were also natives of the city of his birth. When of age and out of his apprenticeship (carpenter), he engaged in the coasting trade between Charleston, S. C., and Philadelphia, and finally went into the lumber business in Charleston. Here, Surrounded by slavery, he first learned to abhor it, and closing out his stock he invested part of his means in rice, put it on board a ship bound to Lisbon, Portugal, going along himself as a passenger; returned home the same year and projected his first trip to the then "far West." Leaving home on the 21st of September, 1818, he visited the States of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri, traveling on horseback and alone the entire journey of five months. New Year's day found him at Richmond. Ind., and a guest of John Smith, the proprietor of the south half of the village. He thoroughly explored Wayne County, and marked it as his intended place of residence by entering a tract of land near Economy.
Crossing the Susquehanna on Saturday, Feb. 1, 1819, on his way home, he hitched his horse in front of a Quaker meeting then in session, and took his seat with the worshipers. At the close of the meeting he saw Elizabeth Wilson for the first time, who afterward became his wife. In the spring of 1825 he settled in Richmond, Ind., living on old Front street, nearly opposite the court-house. The village then contained about 700 inhabitants, mostly Friends. There was not a rod of turnpike nor a bridge in the county or the State, much less a railroad. The center of town was the cross-roads, now Main and Fourth streets.
In 1826 he bought of Jeremiah Cox the farm on which the north half of the town was laid out, paying $25 an acre for it. It contained 222 acres, and had on it a brick dwelling in which his widow now lives, corner of North Tenth and D streets. Log barns, cribs, pig-pens and worm fences surrounded the house. The farm gate was hung to an oak-tree that stood where the Pan Handle freight depot stands. The north end of the village was the junction of North Sixth and Front streets. Friend Cox's reason for wishing to sell out was that "the boys stole his apples so." He soon after laid out North Seventh street, and removed the farm gate to its junction with Fort Wayne avenue, or Front street. The lots (quarter of an acre each) were sold for $100 each, a great price in those days. The proceeds of the sale of lots he steadily invested in building houses and extending streets. In fact, his entire income was appropriated to the improvement of the town, believing, as he did, "that Richmond was destined to become a prosperous city." In the fall of 1829 he was stricken with paralysis of the right side. After a year's confinement he was able to hobble about, and with undiminished energy he resumed the building of houses and store-rooms, many of which still remain to show the old Philadelphian style of architecture in which he was educated. He took a warm interest in the construction of the Richmond & Brookville Canal, which enterprise was commenced in 1837; was the Treasurer of the company. The hard times of 1840 put an end to the work, as well as the financial career of nearly every business man in the town. The following seven years was a period of great stagnation of growth and consequent depreciation of real estate. The subject of this sketch came very near being ruined in the general crash, but his personal integrity and a little timely help from a wealthy brother in his native city enabled him to go through without a sacrifice of property. The times changed for the better, sales of property resumed, and he paid every debt, principal and interest, without abatement. The character of this good man deserves a chapter in the history of his adopted home. Although surrounded constantly with the cares of a very active life, he was a great reader of books — books that required thought. Standard poetry and moral philosophy were his favorites.
Life with him was too short to waste over romance. This taste made him an enjoyable conversationalist, notwithstanding his defective hearing. Full of humor, yet never vulgar or obscene, a fine punster, rich in maxims, frank, generous and outspoken, he was a citizen beloved and respected by all that knew him. He cared more for purity of purpose than for the opinions of men. He enjoyed being right because he admired the right. With him to be honest to his neighbor was to be honest to himself. This was his religion; he professed no other. Quick tempered to a fault, yet the storm passed over as quickly, and he was then ready to forgive. His devoted companion was a woman of strong character, a safe counselor in business affairs, a good wife, mother and neighbor. Seven of their ten children lived to be men and women.
Richmond fulfilled his repeated prediction of prosperity, and the old farm-house, once a long walk in the country, had well nigh become surrounded by beautiful homes during his life-time. Factories flammed the live-long day; two railroads crossed his meadows and planted their depot within gunshot of his residence. In the spring of 1855 his health gave way. He died on the 1st of May in the sixty-third year of his age. The sublimity of his character was never more beautiful than when he closed his eyes in his last sleep. In his success he said he had "nothing to regret," and in his last moments he said he "saw a fine ship waiting for him." It was the end of a righteous man.
Source:
History of Wayne County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884. Volume 2