Charles W. 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.  

A portrait of Charles W. Starr appears as the frontispiece of this volume.