OBITUARY OF T. B. STARKEY- 89-YEAR-OLD PIONEER
- Wellington Leader, March 1955 T. B. Starkey, who came to Collingsworth just after the organization of the county, when the relics of Indian battles could still be found along the creeks, and who was one of the last of the real pioneers to retire from active business life, died Thursday, November 17, 1955 in St. Joseph;s Hospital, Wellington, Texas. He was 89 years of age. His health had been failing since January, when he suffered a light stroke,and in recent weeks, he had no longer responded to treatment. Sunday, November 13, he was brought from Perryton, where he was with a daughter, Mrs. E. B. Morgan, to St. Joseph's Hospital. For many years, Mr. Starkey operated a seed store in Wellington, and it was only after his health began to fail that he gave it up. He continued to drive his car until after he was 85 years old. Mr. Starkey was born on July 25, 1866, near Fort Worth, the son of Napoleon and Matilda Casstevens Starkey. About 1870, they moved to Montague Co. He had vivid memories of life in the North Texas and lower Panhandle frontiers. He recalled the Indians still raided after they moved to Montague Co., once carrying off a boy and girl. As a young man, he lived in Wilbarger County, and here again, the Indians gathered, setting up their tents around Vernon, Texas for days. "If they ever had any business there, I don't know it," he once commented. After he moved to Collingsworth County,he found relics of an Indian battle and years later met an Indian fighter in San Antonio who told him of the battle on that location. About 1887, Mr. Starkey moved to Wilbarger County. The following year, September 5, 1888, he was married to Miss Alice Texas Davis in Montague County. Three years later, in 1891, they came to Collingstworth Co. settling in what was then called Bradley Flat, later Plymouth. He had built a half dugout before bringing the family here. Mr. Starkey was one of the "nesters" but his relations with the ranchers and cowboys was always good. In a reminiscent mood, he could tell of a Collingsworth County where quail and deer and wild turkey were thick. The old road to Mobeetie and Fort Elliott ran through his place and men would go up with deer meat, to sell for 6 cents per pound, and prairie chicken for $2.50 and $3.00 per dozen. Mail was sent to Aberdeen. With neighbors, each took turns going for the mail. Mr. Starkey helped to organize the first Sunday School and church in that part of the county. When land from the Rocking Chair Ranche was sold, he filed on four sections at 50 cents per acre, later he tried to sell one section at that price and couldn't get a buyer. About 45 years ago, with his children growing up, Mr. Starkey moved to Wellington to give them the advantage of the schools. He had been a member of the Baptist Church since early life. He was for many years a Sunday School superintendent and deacon. with the organization of Faith Baptist Church. Several years ago, he transferred his membership from First Church and was serving as a deacon at the time of his death. Funeral services were held Friday at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Bob Evans of Faith Baptist Church officiating, assisted by the Rev. Alvin Hamm of Quail and the Rev. Tom Burns of Lela. Pall bearers were members of his family, Carroll Morgan, Lloyd Morgan, Winifield White, Herman Morgan, Junior Davis and Bill Neeley. Burial was in the family plot of the Wellington Cemetery under the direction of the Kelso Funeral Home. Surviving Mr. Starkey are five daughters and four sons; Mrs. J. W. Brooks of Abernathy, Mrs. W. H. Brown of Levelland, Mrs. E. G. Morgan, Mrs. Raymond Powell of Perryton, Mrs. W. J. M. Boston of Goodnight, Bert Starkey of Dozier, Grady Starkey of Quitaque, Oran Starkey of Wellington, and Charlie Starkey of Quail. Other survivors are a sister, Mrs. Nannie Edmondson of Perryton, 28 grandchildren,and 40 great-grandchildren.

TAKEN FROM "TEXAS AND TEXANS", Vol V- Frank W.Johnson edited by Eugene C. Barker, PhD,Texas University, Ernest William Winkler, M.A.,Texas State Librarian - Publisher- The American Historical Society,Chicago and New York 1916 THOMAS BENJAMIN STARKEY. That Collingsworth County ranks high among the farming and stockraising regions of the Panhandle country of Texas, is largely due to the exertions of such strong and forceful personalities as Thomas Benjamin Starkey, a pioneer of 1891 who, in the isolation and loneliness of his little "half dug-out," drew the horoscope of his surrounding and planned and built- and labored unceasingly that his dream might come true. He came to this locality primarily because here he could find land within reach of his smallmeans; he has lived to see this same land grow to be some of the most valuable in the county and to see his means grow proportionately. Mr. Starkey was born in Johnson County, Texas, July 25, 1866, and is a son of Napoleon B. and Matilda (Castevens) Starkey. His paternal grandfather was Benjamin Starkey,a Georgian by birth, before the war, a slaveholder in his native state, and later a farmer in Texas, where he brought the family....MORE