The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-11-19
Death of a Decatur County Pioneer.

The following obituary of Geo. w.
Starr, is taken from the Stuart, Iowa,
Herald. Mr.. Starr was the father of
CALVIN V. Starr, of Pleasanton, and
was one of the pioneer settlers of De-
catur county, residing on farm be-
tween Leon and Decatur City, just
south of the old Bellamy farm. He
resided here during the civil war
times, and from his home he could
hear the drums beating nearly all the
time while soldiers were drilling at
Leon and Decatur City. Mr.. Starr
died at Stuart, on Oct. 25th.
Mr. George Washington Starr pass
ed away at his home in south Stuart
Sunday evening at the age Of seventy
nine years, eight months and three
days, after a long period of failing
health.
He was born at Lafayette, Ind, on
Feb. %, 1885, on the 103rd anniver-
sary of the birth of the father of our
country and received his name.
A pioneer resident of Iowa, he
came at the age of fifteen in 1850
with his brother, driving yoke of
oxen and herd of young cattle also,
to Washington county, Iowa. In 1859
he went to Decatur county where he
met Miss Maria E. Hyatt, to whom
he was married Oct. Fl, 1860 the
fifty-fourth anniversary Of their mar
riage occurring last week. &
In 1851 they went to Washington
county where their nine children, six
boys and three girls were born and
which place continued to be their
home until 1880 when they moved to
Shelby county. Fifteen years ago
Mr.. and Mrs. Starr came to Stuart
which has been their home since then.
He was farmer all his life until his
health failed All the children are
living and are named and located as
folows-Wm. F. Starr OF Lewis, Iowa,
John B. Starr of Menlo, Iowa, Mrs.
Nancy Pontius of Randall, Ark, Rev.
Lewis F. Starr of Garland, Wyoming,
Mrs. Rosa e. Gates of Chattanooga,
Tenn, Martin H. Starr of Salem, Ore,
Calvin V. Starr of Pleasanton, Iowa,
Frank l. Starr of Dexter, and Mrs.
Jennie, Peters Of Memo. Three of the
children, Rev. l.. F. Starr, Mrs. Pom
tious and Martin Starr were unable
to be here, but the other six were here
in the last days of their father.
For several years Mr.. Starr had
been an invalid and unable to walk
but with remarkable patience and
perseverance he performed many dut-
les, even raising several bushels of
potatoes this year. For twenty-nine
days before his death he had not TAX
en- solid food and for the last mine
days only water and ice. He remain
ed conscious and patient but his suf-
ferings were so severe that he longed
for DEATH While he had not united
with amy church he prayed during
his last hours and told his son that all
was we'll with him. He requested
this son to write all the children to
ask their forgiveness for any wrong
he may have done.
This is the first death in the fam
lily, something unusual in one of such
numbers. Beside the aged wife and
mother and the nine children, there
are left thirty-five grandchildren and
two great grandchildren.
The funeral was held Tuesday af-
ternoon and was conducted by Elder
VIM. Ostrander of Des Moines, with
the burial in the Simcoke cemetery.
Many beautiful flowers were given
as last tribute.
The pail bearers were Messrs. J.
NJ. Peterson, NJ. E. Knaut,'L. C. Wills,
Henry Brinton, Jas. Porter and Geo.
Elliott