Family:Marshall Stark and Louisa Tyler (1)

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MARSHALL STARK, deceased. — Wherever there is pioneer work to be done,men of energy and ability are required, and success or failure dependsupon the degree of those qualities that is possessed. In wresting theland 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 thepioneers of De Kalb, who has left a name honored and revered. Hecame to the county in the vanguard of civilization, and by his energyand industry, and the exercise of fine busi-
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ness judgment, he accumulated a comfort- able fortune, giving hischildren a start in life far beyond that which he possessed.
Marshall Stark was born in Luzerne, Pennsylvania, August 12,1S13, and was reared in his native, where he received a goodpractical common school education, and for a time engaged in teaching.He was the son of Oliver and Betsy (Dixon) Stark, both of whom werenatives 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, andlocated a claim near Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois, but made nopermanent settlement. Returning to Pennsylvania, he taught school duringthe succeeding winter, and there remained until the spring of 1837, whenhe came to De Kalb, Illinois, located a claim on what is nowsections 20 and 21, Sycamore township, which he purchased from thegeneral government as soon as the land came into market. On his arrivalhe 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 onthe 5th of October he married Miss Louisa Tyler, a native of Susquehanna4 CONC, Pennsylvania, born December 16, 1820, in the town of Dimock, andthe daughter of Royal and Mary (Southwich) Tyler. A few weeks later hebrought his young bride to his new home, and in the log cabin they livedfor three years, when he erected a comfortable frame house, which wastheir happy home for many long years. From that time he began thatprosperous career that stamped him one of De Kalb county's mostenergetic and thrifty men. No little credit for his success in life wasdue to his faithful wife, who, coming from the refined east, contentedherself in the lowly cabin, making it as comfortable as possible underthe circumstances, and who naturally stepped from that humble abode tothe more pretentious one. She was ever a helpmeet to him, indeed, andpossessed many of the same qualities with which he was endowed. Fewwomen have ever shown more energy and executive ability than Mrs. Stark.During the trip of her husband through the country, by her vigorousmanagement affairs at home went on as smoothly as if the head of thehouse was there. By 1848 Mr. Stark had risen to sufficient prominence tobe called upon to fill the office of sheriff of the, whichposition he filled for three years. During his incumbency of the officehe opened a hotel in Sycamore which he conducted for six years, and thenreturned to the farm, which was his home during the remainder of hislife. By the citizens of his township he was honored with several localoffices, serving as assessor, school commissioner and supervisor, andwas a member of the county board at the time of his death.
Mr. Stark was a man of versatile business qualifications. While farmingwas his principal business through life, he became interested in thestock and grain business and for years was engaged in buying andselling, doing a large and profitable business. Later in life he turnedhis attention to the lumber trade, spending; two winters in the pineriesof Michigan. In partnership with his son Theron, he opened a largelumber yard in Sycamore and developed an extensive and profitablebusiness.
To Mr. and Mrs. Stark ten children were born: Harmon M. is a farmerresid-
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ing in Kingston township. Martha S. married Hosea W. Alwood, and livesin Jasper county. Iowa. Mary E. married Curtis Harris, of Genoatownship. Jefferson O., Henry J., and Theron M. comprise the firm ofStark Bros., dealers in grain, hay and stock, at Sycamore, Illinois. AdaL. married James Maitland, and they reside in Sycamore township. Ella A.married A. W. Brower, of Sycamore. Emma J. married Charles Wiggins, ofStory, Iowa. Hattie M. married Burton W. Lee, of Sycamoretownship.
Of the ten children, all survive, and it was the parents' pleasure tosee them all well married and settled in life. It was a comfort to bothin 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 hisown. Mr. Stark was called to his rest December 26, 1882, while Mrs.Stark died July 1, 1892. They were members of the Methodist Episcopalchurch of Sycamore — having contributed very materially to its erection,also assisted in building two other churches in this locality.