Growing up in Youngstown, you might drive through Starr’s Corner on the way to the Canfield Fair. Starr’s Corner is the intersection of Route 224, Tippecanoe Road and Lockwood Boulevard. This five way intersection was at one time (and perhaps still is) considered one of the most dangerous intersections in the area.

Like many locations around the city and county, its name traces back to an early Youngstown family. I first was put onto this when I wrote a few weeks ago about the Shields family, from whom Shields Road gets its name. James Howard Shields married Lois Starr, the sister of Henry Neff Starr, pictured above. We’ll come back to Henry in a minute.

It turns out that his and Lois’s great grandfather was Ethel Starr (yes, his name was Ethel, married to Sarah). In May 1809, he moved from Newtown, Connecticut and bought land as one of the earliest settlers in Boardman Township. He was one of the founding members of St. James Episcopal Church in 1809 as a member of the Vestry and later Warden of the church, conducting services in the absence of a minister. He lived until December 3, 1861, almost 93 years of age at death.

By contrast, his son Russell, also listed as a subscriber to the newly formed St. James Parish died young, in 1817 at age 28. He had moved with his parents to the Western Reserve, served as a corporal in the War of 1812, and died of a “prevailing fever” in 1817. Before that, he married Mary Ann Fitch. His son, Russell Fitch Starr was born, January 29, 1818, a month and a half after his father’s death. His obituary states:

“Russell F. Starr died at his home in this place Monday evening of infirmities incident to old age. He was born in Boardman, but had long resided in this township. His age was 77 years. Mr. Starr was a very active man in his younger days and held many positions of honor and trust. He leaves a widow and three children – Mrs. J.H. Shields of Youngstown, H.N. Starr of Boardman and John Starr of this place. Funeral services held Wednesday afternoon from his late residence, were conducted by Rev. Wm. Dickson. The remains were laid to rest in the village cemetery.” “Russell Fitch Starr” at Find-a-Grave

H. N. Starr was Henry Neff Starr. He was born September 24, 1851 in Boardman Township. Later, he moved to Canfield Township, acquiring property at what became Starr’s Corner, and was well-known as a farmer and community leader throughout the county. He married Sara Moherman on January 1, 1879. He had a son named Clifford who moved to California and two daughters, Stella, born in 1880 and Maude, born in 1882, who never married. Later, in 1912, he moved the family to a property on the southeast corner of Boardman Center, on the site of the current Southern Park Mall.

He shared many memories of the early days including when passenger pigeons darkened the skies, when a tavern stood on the northeast corner of Boardman Center and when members of the Boardman family lived on the northwest corner. He farmed most of his life, living until March 27, 1941. Stella lived until January 1969, at 88. Her younger sister outdid her. Maude lived until August of 1984, at the age of 101. I can only imagine all the changes she witnessed.

All five generations mentioned here are buried in Canfield Village Cemetery in sections B and C

The Starr family, many of them long-lived, played important roles in the early years of both Boardman and Canfield townships, and the farm property they owned close to the border between the two townships became a busy crossroads that bears the family name.

To read other posts in the Growing Up in Working Class Youngstown series, just click “On Youngstown.” Enjoy!