Starr, Frederick

Starr, Frederick, a Presbyterian minister, was born in Rochester, N.Y., Jan. 23, 1826. He was converted when ten years of age; graduated at Yale College in 1846, and at the Theological Seminary at Auburn, N.Y., in 1849. Early in 1850 he turned his steps westward, and, under Dr. Bullard, began his labors as a city missionary in St. Louis; was ordained and installed by Lexington Presbytery as pastor of the Church in Weston, Mo., Nov. 17, 1850. While in Weston the question of the repeal of the Missouri Compromise began to be agitated. On a visit to Auburn he took occasion to lay the facts in his possession, on this question, before the Hon. Wm. H. Seward and afterwards before Horace Greeley, but these gentlemen regarded them "as idle tales." Mr. Greeley, however, admitted into the columns of his paper (the Tribune) two articles which Mr. Starr wrote on this subject. In 1853 Starr wrote a pamphlet styled Letters for the People on the Present Crisis, which his father had privately printed, and mailed from New York to all the foremost men and newspapers of the country. The aspect of the political heavens was becoming day by day more and more threatening. The Missouri Compromise was repealed May 25, 1854. The Platte County Self- defensive Association, composed chiefly of planters, was formed for the purpose of banishing from Weston and the whole surrounding country all the open and suspected friends of freedom. Another association was soon formed and called the Blue Lodge, the sole reliance of which was upon deeds of violence. The elders of his Church now advised him to leave the city, and he and his family left for Rochester, N.Y., where he arrived in the spring of 1855. He now took charge of the interests of the Western Educational Society, and to him the Auburn Theological Seminary is indebted for a very large share of its endowments, and popularity. In June 1862, he resigned this agency and was installed as pastor of the Church of Penn Yan, N.Y.; in April 1865, he became pastor of the North Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, Mo. He died Jan. 8, 1867. Mr. Starr was characterized by his strong conviction of principle and duty. He was thorough, fearless, untiring, and large hearted. See Plumley, Presb. Church, etc. p. 400, Wilson, Presb. Hist. Almanac, 1868, p. 227. (J.L.S.)