My Genealogy Hound

CALEN TERRY STARK, M. D., one of the honored residents of Chilhowee, Johnson County, has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession here for the past twelve years. He has prospered financially and has won an enviable place for himself, both in the opinion of the public and in the estimation of his brother physicians. He is a man of broad and liberal ideas, and by constant study and a perusal of the best medical journals keeps in touch with modern discoveries in the treatment of disease.

The Doctor was born in Logan County, Ky., March 20, 1848, being a son of Terry and Mary (Smith) Stark, the former of whom was born just across the Kentucky line in Tennessee, while the latter was, like our subject, a native of Logan County. A history of the parents may be found at greater length in the biography of the Doctor’s brother, W. H. Stark, which is printed elsewhere in this work. The youth of G. T. Stark was passed on his father’s farm in an uneventful manner, his time being divided between work and play and attendance on the common schools. His summers were employed on the farm until he was about sixteen years of age, when he entered Bethel College at Russellville, the county seat of Logan County. There he pursued his studies for two years, after which he entered the state military school at Lexington, where he remained for another year and a-half The cost of his education was partly met by the proceeds of the property he had inherited from his father’s estate, as he was only about a year old when death deprived him of his natural protector. An elder brother, the W. H. Stark previously referred to, took charge of the old homestead and stood in the father’s place toward the younger members of the family. The mother did not long survive her husband’s death, but passed away some five or six years afterwards.

After leaving the military school, our subject drifted from one thing to another, clerking to some extent in stores, and in 1869 took a trip to the West. In the fall of the same year he began reading medicine with Dr. Hendrickson, of Adairville, Logan County, Ky. In the winter of 1870-71 he took a course of lectures in the State University at Nashville, and would have completed the course, but on account of lack of money was obliged to abandon his plan for the time being. For six months he practiced with his former preceptor, and in the fall of 1871 located at Palma, Marshall County, Ky., where he built up a fair practice.

In the latter place occurred the Doctor’s marriage, December 10, 1874, Mary Liles being the lady of his choice. She was born and reared in Palma, and has become the mother of four children: Lou, who was born in October, 1875; Lena May, whose birth occurred in February, 1879; Edward Galen, born in August, 1882; and Freedom, born March 9, 1887. The three eldest children are natives of Palma, but the youngest was born in Chilhowee.

In 1875 Dr. Stark returned to Nashville, where he completed his medical course and graduated the following year. He then resumed practice at Palma and continued to dwell there until 1883, when he sold out and transferred his family and effects to this place, where he intends to make his future home. He is not a politician, but uses his franchise in favor of the Democracy. In company with his estimable wife, he holds membership with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and takes an active part in religious work. His eldest daughter, who has received an excellent education and is a graduate of the State Normal School at Warrensburg, is now engaged in teaching in the schools in this county. The family are esteemed and respected by their neighbors and many friends, and their pleasant home is always open for their entertainment.