California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 CLARENCE A. STARKWEATHER. Actively identified with the advancement of the agricultural interests of Merced county is C. A. Starkweather, well known as the manager of the Los Banos Creamery. He is wide awake, full of energy, and not only possesses a thorough knowledge of the details of his work, but is a man of excellent business capacity and judg- ment, having inherited in no small measure the substantial qualities of a long line of honored New England ancestors. A son of A. Starkweather, he was born, October 28, 1864, in Whately, Mass., while his mother was there visiting friends and relatives. The immigrant ancestor of the Starkweather family came from England to New England in early colonial days, and settled in Connecticut, from whence his descendants have scattered to all parts of the Union. The grandfather of Air. Starkweather was a life-long farmer, and a resident of west- ern Massachusetts. Born and bred in the old Bay state, in the town of Northampton, A. Starkweather grew to manhood on the ancestral homestead, where he was early trained to farming pursuits. Mi- grating to California in 1851, he located eight miles north of Stockton, where he was employed in tilling the soil for a number of years. In 1858 he visited his old home in Massachusetts, returning the same year to his ranch near Stockton, where he resided the following ten years. In 1868, on account of ill health, he sold his land, and went back to Massachusetts with his family. Not content, however, among the rocks and hills of his native state, he returned to the Pa- cific coast in 1878. locating on a ranch near Farmington. He subsequently bought land in that locality, and was there employed in general farming until after the death of his wife, when he removed to Alameda, where he now resides. Mr. A. Starkweather's wife was Frances Loomis, who was born in Whately. Mass., a daughter of Leonard Loomis, a prominent farmer of that town, and for many years its town clerk. She died in 1899. Three children were born of their union, namely : H. K.. a well known business man of San Francisco; C. A., the special subject of this sketch, and H. R., in business with his brother, C. A., in Los Banos. During the earlier years of his boyhood, from 1868 until 1878, his parents being residents of Massachusetts, C. A. Starkweather attended the public schools of Northampton. Returning with them to California, he took a two years' course at the Stockton Business College, from which he was graduated in 1883. From that time until attaining his majority he remained at home, as- sisting his father in the care of the ranch. Subsequently forming a partnership with J. L. Beecher. Mr. Starkweather was engaged in grain farming from 1886 until 1898, being located in Stanislaus county, and operating from fifteen hundred to twenty-five hundred acres of land. Selling out in 1898, having become discouraged on account of a series of bad crops, Mr. Starkweather gave up farming as an occupation. Going to Stockton, he entered the employ of Fred Arnsberger, manager of the Stockton Creamery, and during the three months that he continued with him he learned the details of the creamery business. Mr. Stark- weather then took charge of the Oakdale Creamery, which, while he was engaged in farming, he had helped to build, serving die company as its secretary and as a director, and remained there as its manager for two years. Going from there to San Joaquin county, he had charge of the Lockeford Creamery from 1901 until 1902. Accepting then a position with Schultz. Niggle & Co., he was for a time head butter-maker at the Hygea Creamery in San Francisco, then spent two months with the Jersey Creamery in Alameda, after which he spent a year in San Francisco with his brother, being city salesman for his brother, then took up his business as butter-maker for the Encinal Creamery Company until it became consolidated with the Jer- sey Creamery Company, when he was made head butter-maker at the Alameda plant. In September. 1903, Mr. Starkweather accepted the position of manager of the Los Banos Creamery for Miller & Lux, the proprietors, and since the leasing of the plant, on June 1, 1904, to the San Francisco cream depot, has continued its management, his work being in every way satis- factory, meeting the approval of his employers and of the patrons of the creamery. The plant, having a capacity of eighteen hundred pounds of butter per day, is furnished with all the latest improved machinery and appliances, including steam power, being up .to date in all- respects. In addition to manufacturing butter of a superior grade. Mr. Starkweather ships cream to San Francisco daily. In Farmington, Cal., Mr. Starkweather married Anna H. Anthony, who was born near there, being a daughter of Simeon H. Anthony, a native of Massachusetts, and one of the early pioneers of California, having come here in 1851, settling as a farmer, after leaving the mines, in San Joaquin county. Mr. and Mrs. Starkweather have two children, namely : Clara A. and Elfleda H. Politically Mr. Starkweather is an earnest supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the National Union and of the California Creamery Operators' Association. Religiously he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.