State History

This article originally appeared on the Saratoga County History Round Table website.

Starks Desivigna Dake was born May 9,1852. He died on November 10, 1937, at the family homestead in Middle Grove after a long illness. As stated in the Saratogian on November 11, 1937, Courageous to the last, he voted in the November 2 election at a polling place near his home.

Starks was a member of one of the oldest families to settle in Saratoga County. He was the son of Benjamin C. and Mary Jane Carmen Dake. He attended school in Daketown and, in the winter of 1869-70, attended the prominent Ft. Edward Collegiate Institute. In 1870 he won a scholarship to Cornell, where he studied civil engineering. He left college early to teach school in Eddy's Corners, South Corinth, Greenfield Center, Middle Grove, and Chatfield Corners. In 1872 the enterprising Starkstook up land surveying while still teaching. He would continue that occupation for the next 60 years. Read more...