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Married:
- Apparently there were problems with the marriage. According to information recorded on her death certificate, Louisa was divorced at the time of her death. The name of her former husband was not recorded. The date of the divorce was also not recorded.
Residence (family):
In 1893, a biographical sketch of Henry was published in Portrait and Biographical Record of La Fayette and Saline Counties, Missouri Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies and Portraits of All the Presidents of the United States, published by Chapman Brothers in Chicago, Illinois.
Henry L. Starkebaum, of the firm of Bear & Starkebaum, is one of the leading citizens of Higginsville, and is regarded as one of the most enterprising young business men of the place. He was born in Warren County, Mo., September 3, 1867. His father, Fritz Starkebaum, was born in Lippe-Detmold, where he engaged in farming until he came to America and located in Warren County, Mo., where he purchased a farm of two hundred acres. In 1876, he came to La Fayette [sic] County and located on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, one and one-half miles south of Higginsville, that he improved and on which he still resides. In religious matters, he inclines toward the Evangelical Church of his country. His wife, Wilhelmina Biesemier [sic], was also born in Germany. She bore her husband eight children, of whom our subject is the fifth.
Henry L. was reared in Warren County until nine years of age, when he came to La Fayette County, and remained on the farm until he had attained his twentieth year. His education was received in the common schools of that section. In 1888, he accepted a position as clerk in the furniture store of Mr. Wade, where he remained for two years, and then engaged with Mr. Moiling for one year. His next departure was at La Crosse, where he engaged in the lumber business for one year; he then returned to Higginsville and formed his present partnership, under the firm name of Bear & Starkebaum. They commenced business in a one-room store, 22x80 feet, but soon the stock became too large for that and they rented their present place, where they have a double store, 40x133 feet, in which they carry on an extensive furniture, draping, decorating, upholstering and undertaking business. They also carry the Mason & Hamlin pianos and organs, Standard and While sewing-machines and leading bicycles. The high grade of their goods and work has convinced the people that this firm is one that can be trusted to the fullest extent, and in consequence Messrs. Bear & Starkebaum do a flourishing business.
Our subject was married, October 22, 1891, to Miss Louisa Hoehn, who was born in Franklin, Mo., but reared in this city, a daughter of J. P. Hoehn, a retired farmer of Higginsville, and a stockholder and Director of the Bank of Higginsville. Like his father, our subject is an earnest member of the Evangelical Church. In politics, he votes with the Republican party upon occasion. Mr. Starkebaum is a born musician and plays both the piano and organ as only an artist can. So thoroughly does he understand these instruments, that his aid is invaluable in tuning and repairing either pianos or organs. When young and at home, he built himself a blacksmith shop and manufactured all the tools and did all the work of that nature required on his father's large farm.
Mr. Starkebaum has invented several mechanical contrivances that he uses himself, and is never so happy as when at work at the forge. There is no doubt but that he is a genius, and had he devoted his attention to mechanics, he would without question have made his mark in the world of invention, and he may still do that, as his active brain is always busied in contriving new inventions calculated to benefit the human race. He is the genius of the firm, and his artistic taste is well shown in the decorating and draping department.
The partner of our subject, Mr. Frank R. Bear, was born and reared in Lexington Township, and comes of one of the oldest families in that section of country. He is a graduate of the St. Louis School of Embalming, and understands his business thoroughly. He attends to this branch of the business and every order received by the firm is promptly attended to. Mr. Bear is a member of the Uniformed Rank, Knights of Pythias.
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