Reuben Stark was a veteran of the War of 1812. He enlisted in 39 Regiment (Howell’s), New York Militia and served as Lt. Colonel’s Master (waiter). According to his service records, he enlisted June 20, 1813, and served to June 25, 1813. Reuben died March 27, 1877, in Wright Township, age 80 years and 9 months, cause of death, gangrene, according to Wright Township death records. He is buried in Maplewood Cemetery, Lamont, Michigan. He was a farmer and was married at the time of his death. According to U. S. Mortality Schedules 1850-1880, Ebenezer Stark, possibly the father of Reuben, died May 1860 of old age, age 92, in Wright, Ottawa County, Michigan, widowed and born in Connecticut.

Children of Reuben Stark and Mary "Polly" Gentile according to census records.

Andrew Stark, 1822

Isaac Stark, 1823

Amelia Stark, 1824

Hiram Stark, 1827

George Stark, 1829

Pliny Stark, male, 1832, born in New York,

Sidney Stark, 1833, born in New York

Osman Stark, 1835 male, born in New York

Charles Stark, 1837, born in New York, enlisted from Tallmadge, Michigan, in Co. I, 3^rd Michigan Infantry, during the Civil War.

Boersma, Loekie, Loose papers of Tallmadge Township, 1842-1899, Vol. 2, 1998

Page iii-Introduction- There was a need for roads to be built in Tallmadge Township and also a need for overseers to supervise the building of these roads in landowner areas. The overseer’s job was to hire and supervise men who would come with their teams, shovels and wheelbarrows, to build and repair the roads, ditches and bridges of the township. The overseer was the road commissioner of the 1800’s.

Page 80- 58407- Reuben Stark accepted the position of overseer of district 18.