STARR, ALBERT AND LULA (PAYNE)

by Leonard Starr

Entry F402 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Albert Starr, October 1982, 100 years old.

Albert Starr homestead house built in 1911. Still on original site
on the Leonard Starr ranch in South Cherry County.

Albert Starr and his wife, Lula (Payne)
Starr were married at Grapeland, Texas on
June 21, 1906. Two sons, Leonard and
Milton, were born in Texas.

In 1911, the family moved to Cherry
County, 22 miles northwest of Mullen, and
filed for a section of land under th Kinkaid
Act. Albert built a small frame house and a
barn. These are still standing at the home
place.

Five more sons joined the family; Homer
in 1913, Gerald in 1915, Lyle in 1917, Murrell
in 1921 and Leroy in 1927. They were all
delivered by a neighbor, Dr. Rollin Roth.
Gerald died in 1941 and Leroy in 1946.

The Starrs raised corn, hogs and chickens
and milked as many as 40 cows. The cream
and eggs were their main source of income.
The children attended a rural school nearby
and some years the teacher boarded with the
Starr family.

In the latter 1930's they quit farming and
started a small herd of cattle, meanwhile
accumulating additional land when available
as homesteaders left the Sandhills.

During the drought in 1937, they leased
10,000 acres of land by the Dismal River
south of Thedford. Albert stayed there for
five years, living in a homemade trailer, to
look after the herd. His son, Leonard, would
bring supplies to him as needed. In 1942, after
the rangeland improved, they moved the
entire herd back to the home ranch.

Only a few trips were made to Mullen each
year for supplies. Mail was delivered to the
Curlew post office, run by Tom Carr. Albert
was instrumental in establishing a mail route
for home delivery three times a week after the
Curlew post office was closed in 1929. In
latter years, he built a telephone line from
Mullen to the south ranch, about 12 miles
north of Mullen, and this was later extended
by other land owners to the north and west.

Albert and Lula retired to a home they
built in Mullen in 1959 and divided the ranch
holdings. Leonard and his wife, Mildred,
acquired the home place, where they pres-
ently reside. Homer now lives in Gresham,
Oregon; Milton and Lyle live in Mullen; and
Murrell at Nebraska City.

Albert remained active after his retirement
by doing carpenter work, building new store
buildings and remodeling others. He was one
of the numerous people from Mullen who
gave many hours of labor and financial
support in order to finish the local hospital.

Lula died in 1972. Albert has resided at the
Mullen Rest Home since 1977. He celebrated
his 105th birthday on April 13, 1987.