Biographical Sketch of

Charles G. Starks

Transcribed by Barbara Voss


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 476 - 477
Bassett, Goodrich, Puleifer, Starks
Charles G. Starks, editor and proprietor of the daily and weekly Berlin Journal, was born in Troy, N.Y., on the 9th of 
July 1851 and is a son of David and Charlotte M. (Goodrich) Starks. His father was born in Connecticut, his mother in 
Columbia County, N. Y., and both families were of New England origin. Our subject came to Wisconsin with his parents, 
arriving in Columbia County on the 1st of May 1854. He spent his boyhood days in that county, attending the district 
schools and began learning the printer's trade in the office of the Columbus Banner with D. H. Puleifer. He was also 
an employee in the office of the Columbus Weekly Republican and later in the Transcript office. In 1868 he 
came to Berlin and worked in the Courant office until the Berlin Journal was started by Everdell & Williams 
August 30, 1870, when he was employed in that office. Two months later he became owner of the paper and from that time 
Mr. Starks has been manager of the Journal, which was then published as a weekly. He has been proprietor of the 
office since October 28, 1870. Until 1881 he continued the publication of the Journal only as a weekly paper when he 
began a daily publication. Since 1883 he has done no job work, but has devoted his entire attention to his paper and 
has met with good success in his work. 

Mr. Starks brought the first telephone to Berlin on the 4th of July 1878 and in 1879 set up a telephone exchange, building 
thirty five miles of line between Berlin, Aurora, Dartford, Eureka, Poysippi and Pine River, which were the first toll 
lines in the State. He operated those lines until the fall of 1882, when he sold out to the newly organized Wisconsin 
Telephone Company, since which time he has been the company's manager in Berlin. 

On the 3rd of January 1879, Mr. Starks was united in marriage with Miss Abbie, daughter of Thomas S. Bassett, one of the 
early settlers of Berlin of 1854. By the union of this worthy couple two children have been born, a son and a daughter 
Mary Abbie and Ray S. In political sentiment Mr. Starks is a Republican, but edits his paper in the interests of no party. 
A sketch of the Berlin Journal appears under the heading of "The Press of Green Lake County. "found elsewhere in this 
work. Socially, he is a member of the A.O. U. W.

 




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