Feature on Charles Starrett. Topic: PEOPLE &
PIONEER
Written by Barbara Adams & Jim Sayre
in January, 1998
SIDNEY'S FOUNDER MAKES LAND DONATION... Pg 2 |
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| Local genealogists can find no name record
other than simply "Charles Starrett,"
although the known facts of Charles Starrett’s life are meager. In fact, executors of
the will of Mr. Starrett’s father wrote him off as a beneficiary, noting that he
probably died in Kentucky. No, he died In Ohio and was buried in Sidney...at least twice. First laid to rest in the old Presbyterian Cemetery, his body was removed when the high school, now Bridgeview, was built in 1912, according to the late Shelby County historian Paul Sherman. But was Starrett first buried in the old Starrett cemetery, now the triangular Schultz’ Battery Memorial park at the divergence of South Main and South Ohio streets? This is the claim of a Starrett researcher of the same name but different branch of the family, Bill Starrett of Indianapolis and formerly of Sidney. But, for sure, Charles Starrett now lies beneath a Graceland Cemetery memorial of dimensions befitting a town’s father. Local historians believe that a sharp investor like Starrett would have specified his name in the Sidney land agreement if indeed his middle name had been Sidney and had he wanted the town named for him. In short, he covered all the angles. But, there is no such clause. Starrett’s land was chosen for Sidney in 1819 after a short trial seat of justice at Hardin, mainly because the Great Miami River site was more centrally located in the county. And, Mr. Starrett was ready to deal. He offered his land for the town, but he made sure that the county seat would permanently remain there and he wanted half the proceeds from the sale of lots. Agreement came quickly and 113 lots were laid out in the original plat. |
This is a map of the downtown portion of Charles Starrett’s donation. It is the original town plot [Note: Lots #105-113 are not shown on this drawing].
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