Marshall in Harrison County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Starr Family Home

Photographed By James Hulse, January 25, 2022

1. Starr Family Home Marker

Inscription.

Starr Family Home. . Four Generations of a Founding Texas Family Called This Place Home. Family patriarch Dr. James Harper Starr was nearing the end of a long and storied career when the Starr family relocated their businesses to Marshall. His son, James Franklin (or "Frank"), built the large home in front of you. Soon, he and his wife filled it with children. Later, more homes were added as their daughters married and had children of their own. , The Lone "Starr" State James H. Starr's know-how helped Texas shine.. , Early Texas was cash poor, but rich in land. The Republic of Texas exchanged land to pay its debts, and sold land at low prices to attract settlers. After statehood, Texas leveraged land to attract railroads and other critical investors. It was a complicated affair. Squatters, murky inheritance, conflicting surveys, and fraudulent claims confused land ownership and created a tangled paper trail. , James Harper Starr's experiences with the Land Commission and as secretary of the Texas Treasury helped him become an expert on Texas' land laws. He and his sons, Frank and Amory, built a successful business as land agents - buying, selling, and managing hundreds of thousands of acres of Texas land. , "Business progresses with us very well, Texas lands are steadily improving-immigrants are coming, money is more abundant, and some day all of this will result in Railroads which will make rich men out of the recent bountiful supply of poor Texas landholders." Frank Starr, November 18, 1869. , Moving On After the Civil War, the economy of former slave-holding states changed drastically. . , The aristocratic plantation system was gone. The Starrs were part of an emerging upper-middle class that made a very comfortable living - but worked for it. The Starrs' businesses reflected the new economy built on commerce, industry, and paid labor. Through their land agency, the Starrs continued to attract immigrants and investors to Texas, easing the transition to a modern economy as an emerging middle class became landowners. , In 1868, Frank and Amory Starr took responsibility for most of the family business. They urged "Pa" to rest, travel, and attend to his failing health. In 1870, they moved the family to Marshall, where they continued to act as land agents and opened Marshall's first bank. The nearby steamboat port in Jefferson made travel and commerce more convenient. , "We must go the Where either Railroad or Steamboats abound. At present Marshall would be a better place than any other in Eastern Texas." Frank Starr, January 13, 1870. , Captions Middle Left Map: More Than Meets the Eye - Today, you can tour Maplecroft and explore the lovely grounds around Rosemont and the Blake House. Yet much has changed, Imagine this sprowling network of family homes as it existed when the Starrs lived here. Lower Left: Starr Family Group Photo, 1890

Four Generations
of a Founding Texas Family
Called This Place Home
Family patriarch Dr. James Harper Starr was nearing the end of a long and storied career when the Starr family relocated their businesses to Marshall. His son, James Franklin (or "Frank"), built the large home in front of you. Soon, he and his wife filled it with children. Later, more homes were added as their daughters married and had children of their own.

The Lone "Starr" State
James H. Starr's know-how helped Texas shine.

Early Texas was cash poor, but rich in land. The Republic of Texas exchanged land to pay its debts, and sold land at low prices to attract settlers. After statehood, Texas leveraged land to attract railroads and other critical investors. It was a complicated affair. Squatters, murky inheritance, conflicting surveys, and fraudulent claims confused land ownership and created a tangled paper trail.

James Harper Starr's experiences with the Land Commission and as secretary of the Texas Treasury helped him become an expert on Texas' land laws. He and his sons, Frank and Amory, built a successful business as land agents - buying, selling, and managing hundreds of thousands of acres of Texas land.

"Business progresses with
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us very well, Texas lands are
steadily improving-immigrants are coming, money
is more abundant, and some day all of this will result
in Railroads which will make rich men out of the
recent bountiful supply of poor Texas landholders."
Frank Starr, November 18, 1869

Moving On
After the Civil War, the economy of former
slave-holding states changed drastically.

The aristocratic plantation system was gone. The Starrs were part of an emerging upper-middle class that made a very comfortable living - but worked for it. The Starrs' businesses reflected the new economy built on commerce, industry, and paid labor. Through their land agency, the Starrs continued to attract immigrants and investors to Texas, easing the transition to a modern economy as an emerging middle class became landowners.

In 1868, Frank and Amory Starr took responsibility for most of the family business. They urged "Pa" to rest, travel, and attend to his failing health. In 1870, they moved the family to Marshall, where they continued to act as land agents and opened Marshall's first bank. The nearby steamboat port in Jefferson made travel and commerce more convenient.

"We must go the Where either Railroad or Steamboats
abound. At present Marshall would be a better place
than any other in Eastern
Photographed By James Hulse, January 25, 2022

2. The Starr Family Home and Marker
Texas."
Frank Starr, January 13, 1870

Captions
Middle Left Map: More Than Meets the Eye - Today, you can tour Maplecroft and explore the lovely grounds around Rosemont and the Blake House. Yet much has changed, Imagine this sprowling network of family homes as it existed when the Starrs lived here.
Lower Left: Starr Family Group Photo, 1890

Erected by Starr Family Home State Historic Site.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical date for this entry is January 13, 1870.

Location. 32° 32.501′ N, 94° 22.261′ W. Marker is in Marshall, Texas, in Harrison County. Marker is at the intersection of West Travis Street and South Grove Street, on the right when traveling west on West Travis Street. The marker is located in front of the Starr Family Home Historic Site by the street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 407 West Travis Street, Marshall TX 75670, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Starr Family Home (a few steps from this marker); Fred Lewis (within shouting distance of this marker); Weisman-Hirsch House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Albert & Katie Van Hook House (approx. ¼ mile away);

The view of the Starr Family Home and marker (left side) from the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, January 25, 2022

3. The view of the Starr Family Home and marker (left side) from the street

The Turner House (approx. ¼ mile away); Arnot House (approx. ¼ mile away); Trinity Episcopal Church (approx. ¼ mile away); Confederate Capitol of Missouri (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marshall.

Also see . . . Starr, James Harper (1809–1890).

James Harper Starr, physician, Republic of Texas treasurer, land agent, banker, and Confederate official, son of James and Persia (Shaw) Starr, was born at New Hartford, Connecticut, on December 18, 1809. The Starr family originally migrated from England in the early seventeenth century. Starr's immediate family moved to Franklin County, Ohio, in 1815, and the elder Starr died in 1824. Source: The Handbook of Texas

(Submitted on January 30, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 30, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 155 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 30, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.