History Of Star City

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Star City, 1859 - 1882

The first part of this web page is taken directly from Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana, F.A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1883, reproduced by Unigraphic, Inc., 1970.

If you become confused while reading this, remember that the book was written in 1883.

Note from the webmaster: This book was written with a curious mixture of full titles and abbreviations, use of numerals and use of written numbers (i.e., 31 vs thirty-one). This information is copied as it appears in the book, so please excuse the apparent inconsistencies.

The author wrote in very long paragraphs, and it is confusing to read. Therefore, many of the long paragraphs have been divided into shorter ones.

Star City was first laid out in August, 1859, and was then christened Scarboro by its proprietors, John Nickless and Andrew Wirick. Lots to the number of 223, in blocks of eight lots each, were laid out on both sides of the railroad track, on the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 9, Township 29, Range 2 west. In 1864, all lots north of Key Street were vacated by the County Commissioners, in accordance with a petition presented by the citizens of the village.

From the start, the name Scarboro was disliked by many, who permitted no opportunity to pass without heaping as much ridicule upon the title as ingenuity could invent. At last, in 1861, a petition, signed by a majority of the citizens, was presented to the Commissioners to change the name to Star City, which was accordingly done, and thus the village still remains.

William Murphey built the first house in Star City in 1859. This is the present hotel building. Work had begun on the railroad, and the building was designed and used as a boarding-house for the workmen on the road. It cost about $700.

The first store was opened by his son, Julian Murphey, who erected a small building, and placed therein a stock of groceries and notions valued at about $500. This was in 1860, and the store was continued some three or four years.  

Baughman & Puterbaugh, of Logansport, opened the first store of any consequence in 1861, with goods worth about $2,500, and continued some six years; Pat Thompson was their clerk. Low & Howard succeeded them, continuing thus until a few years ago, when Mr. Howard purchased his partner’s interest, and is yet in business and doing well.

In about 1867, J. T. Jones opened a store, conducting it until a few years ago. E. T. Blue followed him with drugs. Some two years later, Marshall Phillips succeeded Blue with dry goods, and a short time ago the store was consumed with fire. About nine years ago, Dukes & Adams opened a general store, but three years later sold to E. B. Buchanan, who continued some four years, and was then succeeded by E. T. Blue, who changed the stock to drugs.

About ten years ago, South & Needham opened a general store, but three years later the stock passed to Fred Yount, and two years later to J. G. Rhinehart, who transformed the establishment into a grocery and saloon. John Whitmore began selling groceries in 1881; W. S. Stalnaker is in this building at present.

Among the physicians have been James Osborn, Thompson, J. B. Washburn, H. El Patterson, S. P. Wyant, Kinnan, R. J. Peters & Sons, Ballard, Noland, Wadkins and others.

The first Postmaster was John Nichols, who kept the office in his house, some distance north of town, before the village had an existence. The name of the office was “Two-Mile Prairie.” William Stewart was the first agent of Uncle Sam in Star City, beginning in 1860. He has been followed by D. W. Brown, Hugh Smith and Jacob Wirick, the present agent.

The first Vulcan was C. H. Barker; the first carpenter, William Murphey; the first shoe-maker, Samuel Wirick; first jeweler, F. G. Buck; first saloon, E. T. Harlan. Henry Kahler conducted an excellent cabinet shop during the war. W. R. Brown began buying grain some fifteen years ago, and has continued the business since; he says there is no money in it. M. H. Dunn has been in the same occupation for the past six or seven years.

William Moyer is dealing in live stock quite extensively. A. D. Toner began this business soon after the railroad began working; he was the first shipper. Other live stock dealers have been Peter Troutman, James Cain and John Wirick; M. H. Dunn and W. R. Brown have lumber yards.

The first hotel keeper was William Murphey, who was followed by Nathaniel Routson, John Wirick, Jacob Wirick and I. L. Washburn. Among the milliners have been Mary E. Wirick and Jane Kemp. There are two saloons at present. Jacob Rickard and Michael Rhinehart sell boots and shoes.

The present population is fifty-four families, representing some two hundred and seventy souls. L. Fultz was the first butcher.

The Star City Lodge of Odd Fellows was chartered in May, 1874, and instituted in March of the same year. The charter members were Wesley Noland, Peter Skillen, John Wilson, Eli P. Washburn, B. F. Korner, John A. Wirick, C. G. Stewart, Nathan Fahler and Daniel Martz….The lodge erected a large two-storied frame storehouse, at a cost of $2,200, $1,600 of which it yet owes. The money was raised by means of bonds sold to the citizens. There are sixty-five members at present.

The little village enjoys the luxury of a fine band. This was organized in March, 1881, by E. N. Hughes, W. F. Stewart, Frank Stewart, John Whitmore, H. C. Smith, H. Kaler, William Potter, W. W. Fahler, C. H. Heward, C. W. Dunn and S. P. Trueax.  At this time, the instruments were purchased at a cost of $150. Scarcely any help has been received from the citizens, who are the ones to maintain an organization of this character. Arrangements are being made to procure uniforms, $100 being now on hand for that purpose.

Some of the first members have left, and their places are supplied by Jacob Baker, Isaac Baker, T. J. Fye and T. L. McKinzie. The band took the second premium of $30 at the last county fair. It should receive substantial encouragement from the citizens.

In February, 1869, W. F. Stewart founded a small, local, neutral paper at the village, called the North Star, which he conducted with fair success for about two years. A portion of the time, the paper bore the name of the Star City Independent. The form was folio, and size 8x12 inches and the circulation ran up to about 100, at $1 per year.

On the 1st of February, 1882, Mr. Stewart resumed the business, and issued the first number of the Chronicle, a small three-column folio newspaper, independent in politics, at 75 cents per year. The paper has now a very fair circulation.

It is the design to enlarge the paper within a few months from this date (November, 1882). This is one of the most important enterprises ever started in the township, and is a powerful factor in contributing to the development of the little village.

Star City, Containing Some Of The Above Information - 1921

This portion of the web page is taken directly from the Star City Centennial Book, 1959. This was written by Leah Cosgray, who turned it in as a paper in September, 1921, to her teacher, Anna Noel.

The Elevator was started in 1861 by a company from Logansport. Mr. John Furey was the Manager. Mr. Matt Dunn bought it in 1867 and later sold to Mr. Tom Reid. Then Mr. John Phillips went in as a partner. In 1912 the warehouse burned and was replaced with a much bigger and better one.

The first public school house was made of hickory logs 16 by 16 feet square. It was built in 1851 about half a mile northwest of the Cemetery. Mr. Comfort Stewart taught here two terms for fourteen dollars a term. The next schoolhouse was built about one quarter of a mile northwest of the cemetery. School was held here for two terms and then they built a two story frame building in the same location. It was consumed by fire and in 1898 was built the two story brick schoolhouse in which we are.

There were a few Banks started but did not last long until in 1907 when Mr. Ruben Minton and Mr. W. L. Bott started the "First State Bank," Mr. Minton as President and Mr. Bott as Cashier.

In 1920 the number of inhabitants in Star City was about 525.

The present places of business are, Creameries, Hamilton and Effie Corts; Grocery and Dry Goods Store, Korner and Son, and M. H. Wright; Butchers, Troutman and Fry, Furniture Store, Kahler and Leiter; Bank, Minton, Wirick and Kistler; Pool Room, Jensen; Barber Shop, Smith; Restaurant, Jones; Drug Store, Wyman; Post Office, B. King; Printing Office, Hinton; Garages, Hinton and Marks; Lumber Yard, Blakely; Elevator, Phillips and Jordon; Hardware, Elston; Millinery Shop, Mrs. DeArmond; Doctors, Johnson and Washburn; Store, Simmermaker.

The Theater is owned by the man who has the Isis Theater at Winamac. (Star City Centennial Book Editor's note: probably I. D. Howard.)

Star City, Containing Some Of The Above Information - 1937

This portion of the web page is taken directly from the Star City Centennial Book, 1959. This was written by Don Wirick, grandson of the town's founder, Andrew Wirick, for a school assignment in 1937.

The population in 1883 was 50 families representing 270 people. T. Fultz was the first butcher. The first mill used by the people of Star City was built on Mill Creek in 1870. It was on the east side of the present bridge on the south bank. A man by the name of Way ran it. The power came through the use of a water wheel. The first depot was a small one-room affair built on the south side of the southernmost railroad crossing.

The first passenger train ran through Star City in May, 1861. It carried soldiers from Winamac and Star City. The Methodist Church was built in 1867. The Christian Church was not built until 1914. The present location of Wagner's home was the site of a pond in 1880. Another pond covered the area from Groom's Drug Store to the present location of the post office or the old bank building.

The elevator which was built in 1875 burned down in 1915. The drug store was built in 1890 and remodeled about 1914. William's Restaurant was built about 1896. The Simmermaker Store was built about 1870. The stone block building across from the drug store was built about 1900. From 1875 to 1919 there was a livery stable in the West Side Garage.

The Heward brothers built a brick building in 1889 where Don Wagner's store is now. This building burned and was rebuilt in 1898. The bank building was built in 1906. It was used for furniture and undertaking until it was sold to the bank in 1915. After the bank was closed the post office was moved into the building.

The K. of P. Building was built about 1870. Bishop's Garage was built in 1916. The first telephone came in 1898. It was owned by George Buck who lived where Berkshire's live now. Before this W. C. Heward had devised a telephone from his house to his store of tin cans and wire in 1870. The first automobile came to town in 1904. It was a one-cylinder Cadillac owned by Bill Bott.

Electric light came to Star City in 1927.

Reminiscences From Nellie Dye Edwards, 1959

This portion of the web page is taken directly from the Star City Centennial Book, 1959. This was written by Nellie Dye Edwards specifically for this publication.

When I came to Star City seventy years ago, my father, Horatio Dye, had a grocery and dry-goods store; also owned by the Heward's was another dry-goods store. Jacob Wirick had a grocery. There were two butcher shops run by Jacob Baker and John Rufus; three churches Methodist, Christian, Advents; three Dr's Osborn, Huey, Stephens; three saloons owned by Mr. Fox, Mr. Link and Julius Reinhart; two drug stores owned by E. T. Blue and F. P. (Buckie) Buck; hardware, run by Billy Bott.

Geroge Imler had a livery barn and Hotel, Post office was in the Wirick grocery. Mr. Dunn had grain elevator and lumber yard.

A 3-room schoolhouse was west of cemetery (on, now owned by Hubert Hoesel.) About half of folks in town had a horse and buggy and 1 to 4 cows.

The house (remodeled a couple times) where Mr. and Mrs. R. N. Edwards live is old home place of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew (Uncle Andy and Aunt Mary) Wirick and surrounding land owned by them and where Star City now is.

We could go on passenger trains and back in A.M. and same in P.M. to Winamac. People had no cars or buses those days; neither gravel nor paved roads.

Women baked their bread and other baked goods, made their own butter and most of clothing. For many years more live stock was shipped from Star City than any place between Logansport and Chicago, a lot of stock was driven several miles to load here, as were no trucks then. Korner and Minton bought most of the stock, but some farmers shipped their own mostly to Chicago, some drove to Logansport and sold there.

In 1890 a M. E. minister came to Star City by name of Mathews, was here 4 years as Winamac and Mooresburg were on same circuit, he lived in Winamac with his family. He made his trips around with a horse and cart.

Historical Tidbits Taken from Star City Centennial Book, 1959

Comfort Green Stewart was a Civil War Veteran, school teacher, Justice of the Peace at Star City for 37 years. He was born in 1829 and died in 1917.

Dr. Czar was the fastest pacing horse ever owned in Pulaski County. He was owned by Dr. H. C. Stephens (date?).

The building now occupied by the Post Office used to be a bank building. One night the safe was loaded bodily into a truck by burglars and carted off. It was found later in the Calumet River with a hole burned through the back through which about $3,000 in case was removed. The building was remodeled with a solid stone front and the door built into the south corner of the building. A larger safe was installed that could not be taken through the door. The Post Office is making use of it today.

The Moyer building and Opera Hall, northwest corner of Main and Railroad streets, built in 1900, stood for more than half a century, although the "hall" on the second floor was in disuse for several years. At the burning of the elevator in 1954 the roof of the building was so damaged as to require recovering. Apparently the weight of the new application was too much for the old timbers spanning the brick walls. One quiet Sunday afternoon, a booming noise startled the neighborhood when the entire roof collapsed in a cloud of dust....Paul Ortman, owner of the building, tore the remaining walls down to the first floor level and put on a new roof and also a modern stone front. No more Moyer Hall, but a modern grocery store and hardware operated by Mr. and Mrs. Ortman.

A typical scene before the advent of the automobile (was) when people gathered at the depot to welcome the incoming trains. In those days all trains except "specials" or "fast lines" made regular stops at Star City.

Newt Stewart was the last of the Star City Community Civil War Veterans. He lived past the age of 96 (to at least 1940).

Telephone Service

This portion of the web page is taken directly from the Star City Centennial Book, 1959. The author is unknown.

Around the turn of the century a magneto switchboard was installed in Star City. Any individual or group desiring phone service would purchase a line termination on the switchboard. These people would then build the outside line to their homes or businesses.

In 1905, or thereabouts, Davey Fisher and Bill Jenkins formed a company and issued stock to the people who previously had phones installed. The going rate was $5.00 worth of stock for each subscriber.

Fisher and Jenkins sold out to Charles McClure, William Clark and Gus King. This partnership kept the system for about three years during which time they increased their subscribers substantially, adding the Pulaski area to their territory.

A Mrs. Davis bought the plant from the partnership and sold it in less than one year to Fred Hoover in 1912. Mr. Hoover died in 1916, at which time his sons, Roscoe and Earnest, took over the management. The Hoover family furnished service to the area from 1912 to 1954, during which time the Pulaski exchange was converted to dial service in 1935. It is believed that this was one of the first dial systems in this part of the state.

In 1954 the system was purchased by the Pulaski-White Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc., who have since added the Buffalo exchange area and completely rebuilt the system and converted the entire operation to dial service. The Board of Directors of the Pulaski-White R.T.C. consist of the following persons: Darwin D. Sayers, R. No. 1, Star City; D. Esper Hutton, R. No. 4, Monticello; Wayne Fitz, R. No. 2, Winamac; John Binkley, R. No. 2, Star City; Walter Lanz, R. No. 2, Star City; John Ploss, R. No. 2, Star City; Dale Mitchell, R. No. 1, Winamac; Charles Alma, R. No. 1, Monticello; Bert Moore, R. No. 3, Monticello. Dan O'Conner is the manager of the company.

Electricity Comes To Rural Pulaski County

This portion of the web page is taken directly from the Star City Centennial Book, 1959. The author is unknown.

Back in 1938, a group of farmers in Pulaski County were interested in getting electricity to their farms and their neighbors' farms. John A. Good, Star City; Carl March, Star City; Harry White, Winamac; Fred Fitz, Winamac; and Joseph Yaggie, Francesville, were some of the original farmers who went up and down the highway attempting to get enough memberships signed to organize and REMC in Pulaski County.

They were unable to get enough signers in Pulaski County to have a feasible REMC by themselves and they asked to allow the south one half of Pulaski County signers to join with the White County signers.

After the White County Organization had enough signers, the next step was to incorporate their organization. On the 18th day of January, 1939, [person with] signed memberships, signed the original Articles of Incorporation.

From this group of people nine were elected to the first Board of Directors.

This Board of Directors then made application to the Rural Electrification Administration for a loan of $446,000 to build 450 miles of line to signed members in White, Pulaski, Benton, Carroll, Tippecanoe, Cass and Jasper Counties. The first loan was granted by REA on August 19, 1939.

The first White County REMC office was opened September 4, 1939, in Monticello, Indiana.

The contract for the construction of the lines was let on October 3, 1939, to the Palmer Construction Company, Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Actual construction got under way December 12, 1939, when the first pole was set one mile south of Reynolds. At an impressive ceremony attended by several hundred people, the first pole set was christened by Mrs. Katherine Hair, who crashed a lighted kerosene lantern against it.

Monday, April 8, 1940, will be a day long remembered. Switches were closed connecting lines of the White County REMC with those of the Northern Indiana Public Service Company.

By August 1, 1940, 492 miles had been energized and 1,200 farms connected.

Today - 1959 - the White County REMC has 910 miles of electric line in White, Pulaski, Carroll, Benton, Tippecanoe, Cass and Jasper Counties, serving 4,000 rural farms with electricity.