Argalus Waldo Starks (March 10, 1804June 28, 1870) was an American farmer, politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served as the 3rd State Prison Commissioner of Wisconsin and later served 6 years in the Wisconsin Legislature, representing Sauk County.

Biography

Born in Williamsburg, Massachusetts, Starks lived in Jefferson County, New York, and then in Albany, New York. He served on the Albany City Council while living in Albany, New York. He moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin Territory, around 1840, and began operating a stage coach line from Milwaukee to Watertown. He became involved with the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

organization in Milwaukee and was appointed City Marshall, and was nominated for Sheriff of Milwaukee County, but was not elected. In the late 1840s, he supported the Free Soil Party, but ultimately returned to the Democratic Party. He moved to Sauk County in 1852, and in 1853 he was chosen as the Democratic nominee for the new office of State Prison Commissioner. Prior to 1853, the state had a board of prison commissioners appointed by the Governor; an 1853 law established the elected position of State Prison Commissioner, which office was temporarily held by an appointee of the Governor until the Fall general election of 1853. His main opponent in the 1853 election was Free Soil candidate Sherman M. Booth, who would—the following year—become famous for his effort to free Joshua Glover in defiance of federal

fugitive slave laws The fugitive slave laws were laws passed by the United States Congress in 1793 and 1850 to provide for the return of enslaved people who escaped from one state into another state or territory. The idea of the fugitive slave law was derived from t ...

. Starks won the election and was regarded as a fair and honest officeholder—in contrast to Governor

William A. Barstow William Augustus Barstow (September 13, 1813December 13, 1865) was an American businessman, politician, and public administrator. He was the third governor and second Secretary of State of Wisconsin, and served as a Union Army officer during the ...

and other state officials of his time, who were implicated in a major bribery investigation. Starks was seen as refusing that influence, and came under attack from Governor Barstow and his allies. Starks did not run for re-election in 1855, and instead returned to his farm in Sauk County. After the outbreak of the American Civil War, however, Starks chose to re-enter politics as a

Union Democrat ''The Union Democrat'' is a newspaper that serves the Sonora and Sierra Nevada foothills area of Tuolumne and Calaveras counties, California since 1854. It was acquired by Oregon-based Western Communications since 1998. Previously, it was owned ...

, and remained aligned with the National Union ticket throughout the war. He was elected to four terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly and one two-year term in the Wisconsin State Senate, running on the Union ticket. He remained a Republican after the war, but died in 1870 of a kidney disease.

Family

In one biography, he is described as a descendant—possibly a grandson—of American Revolutionary War general

John Stark Major-General John Stark (August 28, 1728 – May 8, 1822) was an American military officer who served during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. He became known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Batt ...

, but it's unclear if that's correct. During the Civil War, his son, John Starks, served as a sergeant in Company A,

6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It spent most of the war as a part of the famous Iron Brigade in the Army of the Potomac. Service The 6th Wisconsin was rai ...

, Iron Brigade, and was badly wounded in their first major battle at Gainesville, Virginia. After recuperating, he was commissioned as first lieutenant of Company I,

23rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 23rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 23rd Wisconsin was organized at Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered into Federal service on August 30, 1 ...

, and was later promoted to captain of Company K in the same regiment. He was wounded again at the Siege of Vicksburg, and died of complications from this wound two years later.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Prison Commissioner (1853)

, colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", General Election, November 8, 1853

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Starks, Argalus 1804 births 1870 deaths People from Williamsburg, Massachusetts Politicians from Albany, New York Politicians from Milwaukee People from Sauk County, Wisconsin Wisconsin Democrats New York (state) city council members Wisconsin state senators 19th-century American politicians Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly