Herman Starke

Herman Starke (1837-1935) was born in Theten, Grevenbruck Westfalen, Germany. He came to the United States in 1855 with his sister Theresa. They were three weeks in a sailing vessel which landed in New York harbor. They went to Detroit, Michigan where they had a friend. Mr. Starke worked in the woods and for his room and board during the winter months. He went to upper Michigan where he worked in the copper mines for nine years. In 1863 he married Paulina Krause at Hancock Portage Lake, Michigan. Paulina Krause (18471938) was born in Saxony, Germany and came to the United States with her parents in 1869. Her father was a contractor and built many buildings in Fond-du-Lac, Wisconsin. He also was a fur trader with the Chippewa Indians. Leaving the mines, Mr. Starke had a butcher business in Phoenix, Michigan. He lost his right hand in an accident with a circular wood saw. In 1878, Herman Starke, Nick Passmel and Joe Heimes came to Dakota Territory and filed on land in Barnes County. They returned to Michigan for their families. Mr. Starke sold his business and shipped a carload of stock, machinery and household goods by boat to Duluth, Minnesota, and by N. P. Railroad to Worthington (Valley City). Mr. Starke took great pleasure in raising fine horses and had some of the best in the county. When the Catholic Church was built in (Valley City) he ordered a church bell and hauled it from the freight depot and had it installed in the small church tower. Later the same bell was installed in the new church. In 1918 Mr. and Mrs. Starke retired from the farm to a fine new house he built in Valley City. Fourteen children were born to the Starkes:

  1. Theresa (1864-1925) married Julius Ostreich;

  2. Frank (1866-1938) married Lena Cook;

  3. Christina (1868-1908) married Wm. Koecker;

  4. Minnie (18701966) married John C. Ingle;

  5. Marie (1872-1874);

  6. Henry (1874-1874);

  7. Joseph (1875-1962) married Rose Messner;

  8. Anthony (1876-1943) married Lillian Messner;

  9. Herman (1879-1931);

  10. Mary (1881 - 1975) married John Messner;

  11. Pauline (1883 - 1969) married James Reid;

  12. Molly (1886 - 1968);

  13. Adolph (1888 - 1960) divorced;

  14. Julia (1890) married Joe Vandrovec.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 233