William Henry Stark
Encyclopedia
William Henry Stark was an industrial leader whose contributions helped the city of Orange, Texas
develop financially. Stark was the president of the Lutcher Moore Cypress Lumber Company of Lutcher, Louisiana.
Stark was born March 19, 1851 unto John Thomas and Martha Ann (Skidmore) Stark. Originally from San Augustine County, Stark lived in Burkeville, Texas
and Newton, Texas
before moving to Orange in 1870 to seek employment in the sawmills.
He worked in the early area sawmills and would soon become a leader of the local lumber industry. In 1881, Stark married Miriam Melissa Lutcher (1859–1936), the daughter of Henry J. Lutcher
, a partner in the Lutcher and Moore Lumber Company. In the early 1880s, Stark's expertise in the lumber business would soon land him the position of managing two mills belonging to his father-in-law's firm in Louisiana
. Stark's success in the lumber industry led him to invest in other businesses such as iron
and coal
production, real estate, and ranching. His innovative ideas, including development of the deep water ports on the Sabine River
and an irrigation system that provided needed resources for the region's rice industry, led to increased population growth for the city of Orange.
Stark also served as a regent for the University of Texas System
, 1911–15, an office later held by his son Lutcher Stark, who became chairman of the University Board.
Stark died on October 8, 1936, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Orange,Texas.
The Texas Historical Commission
has constructed a marker to commemorate his contributions to the city.
Orange, Texas
Orange is a city in Orange County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 18,643. It is the county seat of Orange County, and is the easternmost city in Texas. Located on the Sabine River at the border with Louisiana, it is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur...
develop financially. Stark was the president of the Lutcher Moore Cypress Lumber Company of Lutcher, Louisiana.
Stark was born March 19, 1851 unto John Thomas and Martha Ann (Skidmore) Stark. Originally from San Augustine County, Stark lived in Burkeville, Texas
Burkeville, Texas
Burkeville is an unincorporated town in northern Newton County, Texas, United States. It sits at the intersection of State Highways 63 and 87 10 miles west of the Sabine River. The Burkeville Independent School District serves the resident students....
and Newton, Texas
Newton, Texas
Newton is a city in Newton County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,459 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Newton County.-History:...
before moving to Orange in 1870 to seek employment in the sawmills.
He worked in the early area sawmills and would soon become a leader of the local lumber industry. In 1881, Stark married Miriam Melissa Lutcher (1859–1936), the daughter of Henry J. Lutcher
Henry J. Lutcher
Henry Jacob Lutcher was a sawmiller and business partner of the Lutcher and Moore Lumber Company. His business ventures would help establish Orange, Texas as the timber-processing capital of the South in the late 19th century and early 20th century....
, a partner in the Lutcher and Moore Lumber Company. In the early 1880s, Stark's expertise in the lumber business would soon land him the position of managing two mills belonging to his father-in-law's firm in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. Stark's success in the lumber industry led him to invest in other businesses such as iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
and coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
production, real estate, and ranching. His innovative ideas, including development of the deep water ports on the Sabine River
Sabine River (Texas-Louisiana)
The Sabine River is a river, long, in the U.S. states of Texas and Louisiana. In its lower course, it forms part of the boundary between the two states and empties into Sabine Lake, an estuary of the Gulf of Mexico. The river formed part of the United States-Mexican international boundary during...
and an irrigation system that provided needed resources for the region's rice industry, led to increased population growth for the city of Orange.
Stark also served as a regent for the University of Texas System
University of Texas System
The University of Texas System encompasses 15 educational institutions in Texas, of which nine are academic universities and six are health institutions. The system is headquartered in Austin and has a total enrollment of over 190,000 students...
, 1911–15, an office later held by his son Lutcher Stark, who became chairman of the University Board.
Stark died on October 8, 1936, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Orange,Texas.
The Texas Historical Commission
Texas Historical Commission
The Texas Historical Commission is an agency dedicated to historic preservation within the state of Texas. It administers the National Register of Historic Places for sites in Texas....
has constructed a marker to commemorate his contributions to the city.