Stark, Dale

The following data is extracted from A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans.

Dale Stark is the present postmaster of the Village of Perry in Jefferson County. The Stark family had been primarily identified with this town from its very founding through all the years.

The postmasters' grandfather, N. J. Stark, came to Kansas in 1860 and acquired a tract of land in Jefferson County on which he subsequently platted the Town of Perry. He was a farmer by regular vocation, and he established the first lumber business at Perry. He was born in Michigan in 1812, a date which indicates that he was a member of one of the very earliest families in that territory, and he died at Perry, Kansas, in 1894.

Mr. Dale Stark was born at Perry November 15, 1890. His father, F. M. Stark, who was born at Petoskey, Michigan, in 1855, was brought to Kansas at the age of five years. In the vicinity of Perry he grew up and married, and first became associated with his father in the lumber business and afterward bought the local yard, which he kept until 1901, and then sold it to J. Thomas & Son. Following that for two years he was a merchant and in 1903 removed to Kansas City, Missouri, where he is still living and is assistant superintendent of the warehouse of Jones Store Company. Politically he is a democrat, is an active worker in the Presbyterian Church and formerly was an elder, and had lodge affiliations with Lawrence Lodge of Masons and Perry Lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. F. M. Stark married Etta Armstrong, who was born in 1855 and died at Perry, Kansas, in 1902. Their children, four in number, Dale being the youngest, are: N. D. Stark, an employe with the Forth Worth & Denver City Railway Company, living at Fort Worth, Texas; Guietta, a resident of Oskaloosa and present register of deeds of Jefferson County; and V. B. Stark, who lives in Kansas City, Missouri, and is superintendent of the delivery room of the Jones Store Company.

Mr. Dale Stark attended the public schools of Perry, graduating from high school in 1910. After leaving school he began work in a local store, and was busily engaged with his duties there until his appointment as postmaster in January, 1916. He was appointed under President Wilson, and had well justified the confldence of his friends in the capable administration he had given. On taking the post office Mr. Stark resigned his position in the City Council. He is a democrat, is junior warden of Perry Lodge No. 415, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, and for the past three years had been clerk of Kaw Valley Camp No. 1483 of the Modern Woodmen of America at Perry.

He was married at Perry June 2, 1916, to Miss Ruth Judy, daughter of A. J. and Molly Judy, who residc at Oskaloosa. Her father is a farmer.

Source: A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans

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