The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-10

campaign of Corinth. serving with the
Army OF the Cumberland. In the engage
ment at Gallatin, Tenn, Mr.. Starr was
wounded In the head and his horse was
shot in two places. His fathers family
was composed of five sons and one daugh-
ter and three of the sons of this Quaker
family were in the Union army, Col. Will
liam c., Joseph w. and Benjamin Starr,
showing that the Friends in Indiana. as
elsewhere, believed that the Union should
be saved and peace maintained, even if it
was necessary to fight TO accomplish both.
As the youngest left Richmond the moth
erer in the garb of the older Friends, said
to him: Bonnie, now that thou wilt go,
see that thou art not shot in the back"
After his injury illness came, and. despite
his protests, he was discharged because of
disability.
After he came out of the service he
found occupation in the gas works for a
time. In 1863 he was interested in the manu-
manned Ill the business until 1876. He re-
turned to the gas works until 1882, when
he became bookkeeper in the plano COM
pany which then had a capital of $50, 1000.
Two years later he became secretary and
treasurer of what is now the Starr Piano
Company and he has occupied that position
ever since. When he entered the enterprise
the company was making 500 pianos a year.
The industry was organized as the Starr
Piano Company in 1893, from which works
5000 pianos are turned out annually. The
company has agencies all over the country
and has a good export trade. selling its pi-
amos in France, Scotland and South Amer
lea.
ben" Starr Joined the Grand Army in
1888 as a member of Sol Meredith Post, No.
81, since which time he has been active in
Grand Army work. He was post command
er in 1894. He has missed but one state en-
campment since 1889, and no National En-
campment except that held in San Fran
cisco since the year it was held in st.
Louis. He has been a member of
s sofd,e GTana and Ar Sailors Som@ 0rpsens' lOr Home ane
every year since 1883, except one. He has
been chairman of that committee the past
four or five years. Under General Alger he
was a member OF the national council of
administration and of the executive COM
mittee. n sense of duty as well as inclina-
ton has caused him TO take an active part
I'm Grand Army matters and in Grand
Army institutions. He has been urged to
accept the position of department COM
mander every year for a decade, but his
caused him to decline. At the Logansport
e-ncampment. upon the e~ntreaty of COM
rades. he consented 10 be considered a can
didate at the election which will be held.
probably, on Wednesday of next week. As
soon as the announcement was made
STAIRS superior qualifications for the posi-
tion have made him the only man In the
field. He Will doubtless be the only candi-
date voted for because his fitness is gener-
ally recognized. He is regarded as just the
type OF men needed to keep together the
thinning organization.
Mr.. Starr is a public-spirited citizen. He
has been a member of the Richmond School
Board for twelve years, acting as treas
urer. He takes a part in all movements
designed TO promote the public veal. He
was a member of the board of monument
regents for a short time, and is now a
member of the board of control. His hands
are full of affairs and he possesses rare
executive ability. While he is not an orator.
he can make himself understood in a few
remarks as effectively as any man in the
State.
Mr.. Starr was first married in 1864 10 Miss
Josephine Iredsll. of Richmond. who died
after a few years, leaving one daughter,
who is married. In 1873 Mr.. Starr married
Miss Mary b. Longstreth, of Philadelphia.