History of Wexford County, MI. Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 133 - 134

ISAAC STARKWEATHER

Statistics show that the man who toils lives longer than the man of leisure. It is not the life of ease and comfort that is productive of longevity. The toiler is spared to his toil, while the money changer is separated by death from his millions. Toil should have some reward more than the bare pittance it gets in the way of wages and there seems to be little doubt that nature has provided it with longevity by way of additional compensation. The years of the life of Isaac Starkweather, the subject of this review, have been years of active labor. Throughout the greater part of them he has been blessed with the requisite health and strength to encounter and accomplish every task required of him. There is a homely old saying, that has far more truth than eloquence in it, viz: "God fits the back for the burden." Those doomed to a life of toil are generally endowed by nature with the physical strength to sustain them in its accomplishment. Nature is wise and generally just, if not always generous. Isaac Starkweather, who resides on a part of section 6, Selma township, is a native of Canada. He was born in Kent county, Ontario, January 11, 1846. His parents were Asa and Betsey (Ruble) Starkweather, the father a native of New York and the mother of Canada, both now deceased. The first twenty-two years of the life of the subject were spent in his native county. His education was not neglected, though it was by no means as complete as he could desire. It included a fair knowledge of all of the common school branches and this he has since supplemented with a wide range or reading which has made him a well informed man. Naturally possessed of a taste for mechanics and an aptness and skill in the use of tools, he took very kindly to carpentering and was not obliged to serve at the business very long before becoming quite skillful. In 1868 he came to Montcalm county, Michigan, secured employment in the woods and worked at logging and lumbering for about a year, when he went to Defiance county, Ohio, and followed his calling; of a carpenter for a number of years. In the spring of 1883 he came to Wexford county, Michigan, purchased forty acres of land in section 6, Selma township, where he erected a residence and proceeded to establish a home. This has been his place of abode from that time to the present, al1 though for five years he was employed as a carpenter and builder in the city of Cadillac. On the 18th day of November, 1874, in Defiance county, Ohio, Isaac Starkweather was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Duffey, a native of Paulding county, Ohio, born October 27, 1853, the daughter of Mathew and Almira (McGee) Duffey. Her father was a native of Ireland and her mother of New York, both being now deceased. Mrs. Starkweather was reared and educated in her native county. To Mr. and Mrs. Starkweather three children were born, viz.: Almira, Asa and Hattie, the latter being now a successful teacher of Wexford county. The former became the wife of James Harris, but was called to her eternal rest when she had reached the age of twenty-one years. In all public affairs of the township of his residence Mr. Starkweather has been quite prominent. Next to his individual welfare he prizes the welfare of Selma township. Indeed, the one is so closely identified with the other that the neglect of the one must necessarily reflect injuriously upon the other. He has served the people of his township as supervisor, treasurer and member of the school board. He is a member of Lodge No. 186, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Harrietta, and of the Selma township Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. In his own humble, honest, direct way he has well performed all of the duties of life and has received the commendation and esteem of all who know him, as well as the sanction and approval of his own conscience.