|
|
|
|
|
  |
Alfred Starks
Born May 26, 1843 |
|||
|
|
ALFRED STARKS, resident manager of the Diamond Creamery, located at Monticello, is one of the most enterprising and progressive business men in the city. The plant is a three-story structure, 52X110 feet in dimensions, with accompanying icehouse, store house, etc. The machinery comprises a forty-horse power engine, seperators and all needful apparatus for making butter, and the company give employment to thirty men and run eight teams.
Mr. Starks was born in Franklin County, NY May 26, 1843, and is the son of H. H. and Nancy (Cowles) Starks, both of whom were also born in the Empire State and are now residents of Monticello. Alfred spent his boyhood and youth in his native state and Wisconsin and was only seventeen at the time of his parents' removal to Iowa.
In October, 1861, a few months after Ft. Sumter had been fired upon, our subject enlisted in Company E, Twelfth Wisconsin Infantry, commanded by Col. George E. Bryant. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and being sent to the front young Starks participated in the siege of Vicksburg, Cornith and Kenesaw Mountain, besides numerous minor engagements. He remained with his regiment during the entire period of the war, and when peace was declared witnessed the Grand Review at Washington, whence he was afterward ordered to Louisville, Ky., where he was discharged and was mustered out at Madison, Wis., in July, 1865.
Returning home at the close of the war, Mr. Starks remained only a short time when he came with the family to Monticello, where he was engaged in various lines of business until 1879, when he entered the employ of the Diamond Creamery Company. He became thoroughly acquainted with every department of work and in 1892 his industry was reworded by being placed in the position of general manager of the concern. He is a shrewd business man, and not only looks after the interests of the company in this city, but has charge of other creameries belonging to the same company in different parts of Jones, Jackson and Delaware Counties.
The Creamery Company ship car loads of butter each week to Boston, where is located their main office, from which city that article finds its way to all parts of the civilized world. It is packed in tubs, after which it is placed in crates all ready for shipment. The creamery is one of the substantial and important industries of the county and the proprietors make their residence in the Hub City, leaving Mr. Starks in full charge of the business, which he is so well competent to transact. The butter manufactured in Monticello is shipped to Africa, Australia, Russia, China and to the Pacific Coast in our own country.
Alfred Starks was married in 1865 to Miss Martha J. Starks of Monticello, and to them has been granted a family of three children, one son and two daughters. Our subject socially belongs to Burns Lodge N. 179, F.&A.M., and also to John O. Duer Post No. 173, G.A.R. With his wife he is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he has served in the capacity of Trustee for the past three years. Mr. Starks is not an active participant in political affairs, preferring to give his attention to his personal pursuits. He is greatly respected, as his merit deserves, by all who are acquainted with his character and attainments and ranks among the well-to-do residents of the city.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa, pp 285 - 286, Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894.
|
|||
© Copyright 1997-2013, The Art Department, © Copyright 2014-2020, Richard Harrison.
| ||||