Wayne County Biographies



Part of the Indiana Biographies Project



Colonel William C. Starr

The poet, the historian and the singer, from the earliest ages, have largely found their themes in the deeds of valor of the soldier, who in the face of danger and death defends his country, his home or his principles. The wars of this nation have called forth a heroism unsurpassed in the history of the world, and the victories achieved by our armies have awakened the highest admiration of all civilized peoples. Among those who have followed the stars and stripes upon the battlefields of the south and aided in the preservation of the Union was Colonel William C. Starr, whose patriotic service was of great value to the cause he espoused. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 25, 1822, and was the second son of Charles West and Elizabeth Starr. When only three years old he was brought by his parents to Richmond, where he was reared to manhood, acquiring a liberal education in the city schools.

When about twenty-four years of age he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he secured a position as traveling salesman for the firm of Standford & Clark, druggists. In 1848 he married Miss Anna M. Chipman, of Cincinnati, Ohio, daughter of Horace D. Chipman, a prominent grocer at Sixty and Elm streets. Soon afterward he became a salesman in the wholesale grocery house of William Glenn & Sons. He served in that capacity until 1855, when he accepted the superintendency of the Coal Ridge Salt Works, at Pomeroy, Ohio, managing the same for several years, after which he was given charge of the Mason City Salt Works, in Mason City, West Virginia. Colonel Starr was serving in that capacity at the time of the outbreak of the civil war. He had studied closely the events which preceded and brought on hostilities, and resolved that if the south attempted to overthrow the Union he would enter the service in its defense.

When Fort Sumter was fired upon he turned his business interests over to others while he gave his attention to the organizing of the loyal forces in the new state of West Virginia. He was instrumental in raising the Fourth and Ninth West Virginia regiments, and was made lieutenant-colonel of the latter. Having been one of the delegates to the Wheeling convention, which divided the state, he was an object of especial hatred to the people of eastern Virginia, - so much so that a reward of two thousand dollars was offered for his head, dead or alive. Sending his wife and children to his mother's home in Richmond, Indiana, that they might be away from all danger, he managed to elude those who would have shot him for this reward. In 1862, when stationed with two companies of his regiment at Summerville, West Virginia, awaiting orders to go to the front, he and his men were surprised at daybreak by three hundred Confederate cavalrymen, commanded by Major Bailey. All were taken prisoners and sent to Libby prison. After ten day's confinement they were among the first prisoners exchanged after the signing of the cartel between the north and the south, and all returned to their regiment. Later they were sent to Shenandoah valley, and participated in the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and other engagements in the valley of Virginia. There Colonel Starr was detailed for duty upon the staff of General Sigel, and was provost marshal of West Virginia. Later he was placed upon the staff of General Hunter as judge advocate general, and later still upon the staff of General Crook, where he remained until a few weeks before the fall of Richmond, at which time he received an honorable discharge.





Colonel Starr was known in West Virginia as the "fighting Quaker," and upon his return to civil life to the home of his mother and his family at Richmond, Indiana, he found a battle still to fight, - that of reconciling the non-resistant Friends (Quakers) to the course he had pursued. The patriotism of the Society of Friends, however, asserted itself, as all of them had paid war taxes, had rejoiced at Union victories and mourned at the defeat of Union arms, and they came to regard themselves as aiding and abetting the cause for which he fought. This made is easy for them to overlook the Colonel's transgression of their non-resistant principle.

Upon his return from the war Colonel Starr engaged in sheep-raising, afterward in the manufacture of harnes. In 1873 he admitted his son Horace to a partnership in the business. Later they entered the manufacture of chains and saddlery hardware. Colonel Starr continued in this business until his death, and his son Horace continues the business left by him.

His children were Charles West, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1849; Horace Chipman, born in Cincinnati, in 1853; Francis Cist, born in Pomeroy, Ohio, in 1856; William C., Jr., born in Mason City, West Virginia, in 1859. The latter two died in infancy, Charles W. and Horace C. surviving their father.

Colonel Starr was called to his final rest May 17, 1897. He was a member of the Army of West Virginia, the Grand Army of the Republic, and an honored member of the Loyal Legion. He was elected senior vice commander of the Indiana Commandery of the Legion for the year 1892-3. He was a writer of acknowledged ability. His paper, the Battle of Cedar Creek, was read before the Indiana Commandery of the Legion, and was published in a volume of the Legion's war papers in 1898. He was a birthright member of the Society of Friends, an ardent believer in the teachings of the society, and most faithful in his attendance on its services. He was for a long time a teacher of an adult class, and at one time superintendent of the Friends' Sabbath-school. The last work of his able pen was a paper on "The Quaker in the War," which was read at a meeting of the Loyal Legion held in Richmond, Indiana, in May, 1897. Colonel Starr was in failing health at this time, so that he could not attend this meeting, his wife, Anna M. Starr, having to read this, his last paper, for him.

His life was at all times honorable and upright. He was reliable in business, faithful in friendship, loyal in citizenship, and most true to family and church. He believed most firmly in the Christian religion, and when the hour of his departure came he said to his wife: "I want to die; I wish I was at home." His death came as to one who

"Wraps the drapery of his couch about him
And lies down to pleasant dreams."

Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana. Chicago. The Lewis Publishing Company. 1899