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1907 Past and Present Biographies

John D. Staring

John D. Staring is now living retired at the very venerable age of eighty years, but for a long period was closely and actively associated with business affairs in Greene county. He came to this county in 1868 from Lodi, Wisconsin. He was born in Herkimer county, New York, on the 1st of December, 1828, and was a son of John A. and Sarah (French) Staring, both of whom were also natives of the Empire State. The father was a stone-mason by trade and employed that line of business in order to provide for the support of his family. Both he and his wife continued to reside in New York throughout their entire lives. In their family were twelve children, but only two are now living.

John D. Staring, whose name introduces this review, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in New York, and the public-school system of the state provided him with his educational privileges. At a comparatively early age, however, he put aside his text-books and began providing for his own support. He was employed on the Erie canal for thirteen years, when, thinking that he might have better business opportunities and advantages in the middle west he severed his connections with New York and made his way to Wisconsin, where he located in 1856. There he secured a tract of land and carried on farming for thirteen years. He then again made a removal, coming from Lodi, Wisconsin, to Greene county, Iowa, in 1868. Previous to his arrival here he had purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Hardin township. He removed his family to the county in the fall of 1868, establishing his home in Jefferson, but in the spring of 1869 he built a dwelling on his farm and the family there took up their abode. With characteristic energy he began breaking his land and placed a part of it under the plow. He also built a good house, in which he lived for four years, when, becoming disabled for further manual labor on the farm, he removed to the county seat, where he has since resided. He built a house here and has since made his home in Jefferson. For some time he continued to own his farm, but in more recent years has sold that property and is now living retired.

Before coming to the middle west, Mr. Staring was married in the year 1854 to Miss Mary Schemmerhorn, of the state of New York, the wedding being celebrated at Richfield Springs, Otsego county. Unto them were born five children, of whom four are now living: Walter E., who resides in South Dakota; Rosetta, the wife of J. W. Hold, who is living in Clayton county, Iowa; Mrs. Mary E. Fowler; and Mrs. Hattie E. Davenport, who resides in Jefferson.

Mr. Staring has been a life-long member of the Presbyterian church, has always been deeply interested in its work and has done everything in his power to advance its interests and promote its growth. He has given his political support to the republican party since its organization and is in hearty sympathy with its principles and purposes. In his business life he has displayed diligence and energy, and by careful management has achieved the measure of success which he is now enjoying and which enables him to live retired. He has resided in this county for almost forty years and is well known to a large number of its citizens as a man who in all life’s relations has merited the esteem and confidence of those with whom he has come in contact. He came to the west to better his financial condition, nor was he disappointed in this hope, for he has found good outlet for his business energy and determination and by the excellent use of his opportunities has become one of the substantial residents of Jefferson.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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