San Francisco County
Biographies
RALPH STARKE
Ralph Starke has gained notable attention in California both through his successful law practice, now maintaining offices in San Francisco and Petaluma, and through his extraordinarily active participation in fraternal affairs, now being noble grand arch of the grand lodge of the Order of Druids in California, and formerly having held other eminent positions in different fraternal organizations.
Mr. Starke is descended, in both paternal and maternal lines, from authentic pioneer California ancestors. He was born in Walla Walla, Washington, July 18, 1879, and is a son of the late Fred Julius and Eliza (Geohegan) Starke. His grandfather, Augustus Starke, a native of Germany, came to California in 1845, making the trip by sailing vessel around Cape Horn. He was accompanied by his brother, Fred Starke, also a native of the Fatherland. The latter proceeded to Sonoma, California, where he was a member of the historic Bear Flag party and engaged in the memorable events which occurred there during the days when Mexican rule was thrown off. Augustus Starke conducted a store in San Francisco for a short period and then went to Petaluma, Sonoma county, where he erected and operated the first hotel, known as the Union House and situated at the corner of Main street and Western avenue, the site of the present Masonic temple. Subsequently, he settled in San Bernardino, California, and there built and conducted the Starke Hotel. Fred Julius Starke, the father of Ralph Starke, was born in Petaluma, and was there reared. He engaged in the hotel and liquor businesses, and later, for two years, he resided in Walla Walla, Washington, where he was manager of the opera house, brewery and other interests of a Walla Walla capitalist. He then returned to Petaluma to engage in ranching. In 1889, he went to Penngrove, Sonoma county, and there was postmaster and Wells Fargo Express agent. He also conducted a stage line in Mendocino county, California. His death occurred in 1902. Eliza (Geohegan) Starke, mother of Ralph Starke, was also born in Petaluma, where her grandfather conducted the second hotel built in that community.
Ralph Starke finished his grammar school studies in Penngrove and his high school work in Petaluma, having graduated from the latter at the uncommonly early age of fourteen years. He then became connected with his father’s business in Penngrove, and at one time was deputy sheriff of Sonoma county under Frank P. Grace. This was about the year 1904 or 1905. Law appealed to him as a young man, and he was ambitious to acquire an education in this profession. He found opportunity to read law in the office of John P. Rodgers in Petaluma, and also took a correspondence course. Next, he became connected with newspaper work in Napa, and from 1907 until 1910 was city editor of the Napa Journal, and also editor of the Vallejo Times. In the affairs of the democratic party he became one of the strongest local figures, and in 1910 he was elected secretary of the executive committee of the democratic state central committee. He was likewise secretary for Theodore Bell, who was a candidate for the governorship of California, and with whom he came to San Francisco. He was secretary of the Democratic League of California, and also stumped the state in the interests of the California Grape Growers’ Association. He was associated with Mr. Bell in the practice of law in San Francisco, having been admitted to the California state bar in 1916. Three years ago, in 1928, Mr. Starke opened another law office in Petaluma, which he conducts in conjunction with his San Francisco office in the Humboldt Bank building. He is a member of the San Francisco and the California State Bar Associations’, and enjoys the respect and admiration of his many clients and his contemporaries. He has observed the soundest ethics of his profession, and has conducted the litigation assigned to him in a manner reflecting much credit upon his intelligence and wisdom.
In fraternal circles, Mr. Starke has been one of the most prominent members on the Pacific coast. His extensive connection with various orders has not been based on personal exploitation, but on sincere enjoyment and inspiration which he finds in the association and environment of these affiliations. He is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and was worthy president of Aerie No. 61 in 1922-23, during which incumbency the lodge showed a net gain of six hundred and twenty-six members for the year, which was the best record made in the preceding twenty years. He is a charter member of Petaluma Tribe, No. 139, Improved Order of Red Men, and has occupied all the chairs of this order. He joined the Napa Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, January 2, 1907. He was the first dictator of Lodge No. 468 of the Loyal Order of Moose, and attended meetings of the grand lodge in Detroit, Michigan, in 1911, and in Denver, Colorado, in 1920. In the order of Druids in California he has been particularly active. He became a member of Cypress Lodge No. 51, to which his father also belonged. In 1926, he joined Friends Grove Lodge No. 139, and passed through all the chairs. In Sacramento, he was grand trustee of the grand lodge at the meeting held in that city. In 1929, in Mount Shasta, he was elected grand herald of the grand lodge, and in 1930, in Burbank, California, he was elected deputy grand arch. Then, in 1931, he was chosen for his present high office as noble grand arch of the grand lodge of the Order of Druids. He is the first San Francisco man, and the first attorney in twelve years to be elected to this high position in the order. His record in a brief space of years is unsurpassed, and is indicative of the valuable services he has contributed and the sincere loyalty and fine spirit he has shown in his fraternal work.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 3 Pages 380-385.
© 2008 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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