Person:Marshall Stark (1)

P407
JAMES MAITLAND is one of the substantial farmers of De Kalb county, his farm being located in section 35, Sycamore township. He was born in Darlington, Northumberland county, Canada, February 28, 1849. His father, James Maitland, Sr., was a Highlander, born in Argyleshire, Scotland, July 20, 1812, and who emigrated to Canada in 1835, locating near Darlington. He was a carpenter and ship builder by trade, and about 1854 moved to Colburn, Canada, where he was employed at his trade at Cole's wharf some eight years. He then returned to Darlington where he engaged in farming until 1868, when he removed to Malta, Illinois, where he again worked at his trade. He first married Mary Brown, of Darlington, and in 1841 married Miss Sarah Renwick, who was the mother of our subject. She was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, April 16, 1822, and who came to America in 1835, her parents settling near Darlington, Canada. She was the daughter of Walter and Mary (Guthrie) Renwick, also natives of Scotland. Her death occurred in Sycamore, Illinois, September 12, 1894. The paternal grandfather, William Maitland, was a native of Scotland, where his death occurred in 1814. The subject of this sketch was about five years old when the family moved to Colburn, and he there attended school until about the age of fourteen years, when they removed five miles northeast of Colburn, where he resided until coming to Illinois in 1868. He arrived at Malta, November 14, and for one year worked on a farm. He was then employed on various farms in the neighborhood for three years, at the expiration of which time he went to Sycamore and worked with a hay press and at his trade for a time, and for three seasons engaged in running a threshing machine. He was married in Sycamore, October 14, 1874, to Miss Ada L. Stark, a native of De Kalb county, and a daughter of Marshall Stark, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. By this union two children have been born: Howard Henry, who died at the age of four
P408
years and eight months, and Everitt P. They have adopted Herbert Harmon Stark, one of the sons of Harmon M. Stark, the eldest brother of Mrs. Maitland.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Maitland began farming one mile north of Sycamore on a farm of his father-in-law, and there resided one year. Removing to Kingston he there engaged in farming two years, and then returned to his father-in-law's farm, which he operated eight years. He then rented his present farm for two years, having an option for its purchase. He bought it in 1892, the farm comprising two hundred and ten acres, every- foot of it tillable land. It is well improved and has between five and six miles of tiling. In addition to general farming Mr. Maitland engages in dairying to some extent, usually keeping from eighteen to twenty cows. His barn is one of the most substantial in the county, being what is known as a truss barn, and is thirty-six by sixty-four feet. A well one hundred and four feet deep gives an unfailing supply of pure water. He has two orchards on the place, covering about three acres of land, on which he raises apples, peaches, plums, pears, cherries and small fruit in abundance.
In politics Mr. Maitland is a Republican, and has served as road commissioner and school director for some years. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the subordinate lodge, encampment, and canton of Patriarchs Militant. He has passed all the chairs in the subordinate lodge and encampment, serving as noble grand and chief patriarch. He has also been grand representative for seven years. As a citizen he is enterprising and progressive, and his farm shows the work of a master hand.

P401
MARSHALL STARK, deceased. — Wherever there is pioneer work to be done, men of energy and ability are required, and success or failure depends upon the degree of those qualities that is possessed. In wresting the land from its natural wildness. in fitting it for the habitation of men. in developing the natural resources of the community in which they live, few if any have contributed more largely than Marshall Stark, one of the pioneers of De Kalb county, who has left a name honored and revered. He came to the county in the vanguard of civilization, and by his energy and industry, and the exercise of fine busi-
P402
ness judgment, he accumulated a comfort- able fortune, giving his children a start in life far beyond that which he possessed.
Marshall Stark was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1S13, and was reared in his native county, where he received a good practical common school education, and for a time engaged in teaching. He was the son of Oliver and Betsy (Dixon) Stark, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, descendants from old New England stock, springing from the same parent stem as General Stark of Bennington fame. On attaining his majority, in the summer of 1834, he came west, and located a claim near Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois, but made no permanent settlement. Returning to Pennsylvania, he taught school during the succeeding winter, and there remained until the spring of 1837, when he came to De Kalb county, Illinois, located a claim on what is now sections 20 and 21, Sycamore township, which he purchased from the general government as soon as the land came into market. On his arrival he built a log house near the timber and began improving his land.
In the fall of 1841, Mr. Stark re-visited his Pennsylvania home, and on the 5th of October he married Miss Louisa Tyler, a native of Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, born December 16, 1820, in the town of Dimock, and the daughter of Royal and Mary (Southwich) Tyler. A few weeks later he brought his young bride to his new home, and in the log cabin they lived for three years, when he erected a comfortable frame house, which was their happy home for many long years. From that time he began that prosperous career that stamped him one of De Kalb county's most energetic and thrifty men. No little credit for his success in life was due to his faithful wife, who, coming from the refined east, contented herself in the lowly cabin, making it as comfortable as possible under the circumstances, and who naturally stepped from that humble abode to the more pretentious one. She was ever a helpmeet to him, indeed, and possessed many of the same qualities with which he was endowed. Few women have ever shown more energy and executive ability than Mrs. Stark. During the trip of her husband through the country, by her vigorous management affairs at home went on as smoothly as if the head of the house was there. By 1848 Mr. Stark had risen to sufficient prominence to be called upon to fill the office of sheriff of the county, which position he filled for three years. During his incumbency of the office he opened a hotel in Sycamore which he conducted for six years, and then returned to the farm, which was his home during the remainder of his life. By the citizens of his township he was honored with several local offices, serving as assessor, school commissioner and supervisor, and was a member of the county board at the time of his death.
Mr. Stark was a man of versatile business qualifications. While farming was his principal business through life, he became interested in the stock and grain business and for years was engaged in buying and selling, doing a large and profitable business. Later in life he turned his attention to the lumber trade, spending; two winters in the pineries of Michigan. In partnership with his son Theron, he opened a large lumber yard in Sycamore and developed an extensive and profitable business.
To Mr. and Mrs. Stark ten children were born: Harmon M. is a farmer resid-
P403
ing in Kingston township. Martha S. married Hosea W. Alwood, and lives in Jasper county. Iowa. Mary E. married Curtis Harris, of Genoa township. Jefferson O., Henry J., and Theron M. comprise the firm of Stark Bros., dealers in grain, hay and stock, at Sycamore, Illinois. Ada L. married James Maitland, and they reside in Sycamore township. Ella A. married A. W. Brower, of Sycamore. Emma J. married Charles Wiggins, of Story county, Iowa. Hattie M. married Burton W. Lee, of Sycamore township.
Of the ten children, all survive, and it was the parents' pleasure to see them all well married and settled in life. It was a comfort to both in their last moments to have all their children around their bedside, and to have a last look upon each well-loved face ere Death claimed his own. Mr. Stark was called to his rest December 26, 1882, while Mrs. Stark died July 1, 1892. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Sycamore — having contributed very materially to its erection, also assisted in building two other churches in this locality.