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Below is a family biography from the book, History of Kentucky, Edition 1 by J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin and G. C. Kniffin and published by F. A. Battey Publishing Company in 1885.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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DR. R. H. STARKS was born about seven miles southeast of Benton, near Wadesboro, Marshall Co., Ky., August 19, 1852. His father, Spence P. Starks, was born in Todd County, Ky., January 16, 1817, is a farmer, and has never been outside of the State of Kentucky. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary A. Skaggs, was born near Bowling Green, Ky., and at the time of her marriage to S. P. Starks, was a widow of a Mr. Stark, by whom she had one son, James M. Stark, who is now engaged in farming and merchandising. To her second husband, Mrs. Starks has borne eleven children, seven of whom are still living. She is now about fifty-seven years of age. R. H. Starks was reared on a farm and attended school in the neighborhood until he was seventeen years of age, when he entered the high school at Benton, and afterward taught in the common schools of the county. His first business experience was as clerk in the drug store of Dr. A. Smith, with whom he studied medicine; in May, 1875, he attended lectures at Louisville, and in 1878 graduated from the Louisville Medical College; he then practiced a year near Wadesboro, and next came to Benton, where he is engaged in practice and is also conducting the drug business. August 18, 1880, he married Izora, daughter of John H. Strow, a merchant. This lady died of typhoid fever March 22, 1882, aged eighteen years and four months, leaving one child, eight months old; Mrs. Starks died a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South; Mr. Starks was once a member of the Christian Church at Wadesboro, but withdrew on account of the disorganization of that body.

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This family biography is one of 32 biographies included in the Marshall County, Kentucky section of the book, The History of Kentucky, Edition 1 published in 1885 by F. A. Battey Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: History of Kentucky, Edition 1

View additional Marshall County, Kentucky family biographies here: Marshall County, Kentucky Biographies

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