JACOB LEONARD STARK was born May 29, 1854 in Wayne, Washington County, Wisconsin to Margaret Schuster and unknown father. She had immigrated from Dalheim, Germany in 1850 settling with many other German immigrants in Washington and Dodge County, Wisconsin. In 1863 he moved to Kasson, Dodge County, Minnesota with his mother and two sisters living on their grandmother Christina and step-grandfather Leonard Stark's farm l 1/2 miles east of Kasson.

Jacob married Sarah Louise Maxson on March 6, 1883 by justice of the peace, August E. Anderson. The witnesses to their marriage were Anna Schlicting, Jacob's sister and her husband Adolph Schlichting. Jacob and Sarah had twelve children born between 1884 and 1906. They lived on several farms in Dodge County, first in Canisteo Township where the first seven children were born: Grant Leonard in 1884, Fannie Amelia in 1886, Mabel Edith in 1888, Adah Margaret in 1891, Haven Jake in 1892, Hattie Mae in 1894 and a baby boy in 1895.

In December 1895 Jacob purchased 20 acres of land in section 36 of Mantorville Township. By 1900 they were back in Canisteo township and had three more children. Laura Lucillle born in 1896, Bernice Elaine born in 1898 and Bessie Leone born in 1899. Before 1905 the family moved to a 100 acre farm one and a half miles north of Mantorville. Lawrence Douglas was born in July 11, 1905 and a baby boy was born in 1906, that baby boy died April 12, 1906 and is buried in the family plot in Maple Grove Cemetery in Kasson in an unmarked grave.

Besides being a farmer, Jacob was a well driller. He was what was called in those days, a dowser. He was able to use divining rods to search for water underground. He drilled wells for many farmers in Dodge County using his horses that he hitched to a turn-around wheel to drill the wells.

In the Mantorville Express Newspaper dated Friday, August 30, 1895 there is an article about Jacob Stark drilling the new city well in Kasson. It was pronounced by the the best experts to be sufficient in capacity and the water was clear, cold and pure. The 84 foot water tower for the Kasson city well was built out of limestone. That tower is now on the National Historic Registry.

Jacob Stark had heart trouble for a number of years, but he was able to be up and around. On Friday afternoon February 6, 1925 he had been to the barbershop to get a shave. He died at his home at 2:30 a.m. on Sunday February 8th at the age of 70 years and 8 months. His funeral was held at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Kasson with Rev. J.W. Ettum officiating. All of his children were there to attend the service. He was buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery, Kasson, Minnesota.

Obituary published in the Dodge County newspaper. Research done with help from Idella Conwell at the Dodge County Historical Museum, Mantorville, Minnesota.

Story of Jacob and Sarah Stark family was researched with the help of many family members and written by their great granddaughter, Nancy Ronningen.