STARKEY-Joseph - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

"One of the most active, thorough going and enterprising young farmers of Fulton township, Fountain County is the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this biographical notice, a man who has progressed in his chosen life work because he had been a hard and consistent worker and has been self-reliant no matter in what environment he has been placed, for he realized at the outset that the man who depended solely upon his own resources in his relations with the work, whether in a business or social way, was much more likely to accomplish what he set out to do than the man who shirks his responsibilities, casting them on the shoulders of others. Joseph Starkey, who lives in the town of Cates, but operates a good farm nearby was born in Clark County, Ill, Oct 18, 1876 and is the son of William and Saphrona (Phipps) Starkey. The father was born in Ohio in 1846 and the mother's birth occurred in Indiana in 1854. The latter grew to womanhood in her native state and was educated and married here and spent her life within the borders of the state, her death occurred in Ft. co. in 1899; William Starkey lives at Rob Roy, this county. In the early days he went to Ill., where he remained for some time, later returning to Indiana and settling in Parke county and finally settling in Ft. county where he established the permanent home of his family, which consisted of 6. Joseph Starkey was educated in the common schools and he received a very practical education. He turned his attention to farming when a young man and this has continued his life work. He operates a farm of 73 acres of valuable and productive land, which joins the town of Cates in Fulton township, this county. It is mostly tillable and under an excellent state of improvement. He carries on general farming and keeps some good graded live stock, which furnish no small portion of his income. He has a very cozy home in the town of Cates and from there he operates his farm. Mr. Starkey was married on Sept. 5, 1896 to Margaret E. Barker Cates, widow of Joseph Cates and daughter of Bryant and Annie Sowers Barker, both parents being now deceased. Mr. Barker was an early settler in this county, and he spent his life engaged in farming and died here on July 27, 1896. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Starkey, three sons and three daughters, named as follows: Harry R, William E, Ola Fay, Lola May, Hazel N. and Joseph B. Politically, Mrs. Starkey is a Republican, but he is not a biased partisan and often is independent in his voting. He is at this writing very acceptable discharging the duties of trustee of Fulton township, having been elected to this office in 1908. He was formerly assessor of Fountain county for a period of four years, filling the office to the satisfaction of all concerned. Fraternally, he belongs to Cates Lodge No. 518, Knights of Pythias also to Camp No 8766, Modern Woodmen of America. Religiously, he is a member of the united Brethren Church.