Frederick Starr (reverend) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frederick Starr
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| Born | January 23, 1826  Rochester |
| Died | January 8, 1867 (aged 40) St. Louis |
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Frederick Starr (born January 23, 1826 – died January 8, 1867) was an American clergyman and abolitionist. A clergyman is a religious leader, like a pastor. An abolitionist was someone who worked to end slavery.
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Frederick Starr: A Life for Justice
Frederick Starr was born in Rochester, New York, on January 23, 1826. He was the second son of Frederick and Sarah Starr. From a young age, he was involved in his church. At just ten years old, he joined the First Presbyterian Church in Rochester.
Education and Early Career
Frederick Starr went to Yale College and graduated in 1846. After college, he decided to become a minister. He studied for three years at the Auburn Theological Seminary. In 1850, he traveled to Missouri.
He worked for a short time as a missionary in St. Louis. Then, he served the Presbyterian Church in Weston for several months. By the end of 1850, he became the official pastor of that church.
Standing Up Against Slavery
Starr's church in Weston was very close to the Kansas border. This area was a hot spot for arguments about slavery. The Missouri Compromise had tried to balance slave and free states. But its repeal led to the Kansas Border War. This was a violent time as people fought over whether Kansas would be a free or slave state.
Frederick Starr believed that slavery was morally wrong. He openly shared his views, which made him a target. Because of his strong beliefs, he faced a lot of trouble. To avoid violence, he had to leave Weston in the spring of 1855.
Later Work and Legacy
After leaving Missouri, Frederick Starr spent the next seven years in Western New York. He worked for the Western Education Society and the Auburn Theological Seminary. In 1862, he became the pastor of the Presbyterian church in Penn Yan, New York.
From 1865 until his death, he served as the pastor of the North Presbyterian Church in St. Louis. In 1850, he married Helen Mills. They had children together, and Helen outlived him.
Frederick Starr also wrote about important issues. In 1853, he published a pamphlet called Letters for the People, on the Present Crisis. In this pamphlet, he wrote about how slavery affected the development of new territories like Nebraska Territory. He also discussed its impact on building the Pacific Railroad. This writing is believed to have had a big influence. He also published a sermon after President Lincoln's death.
Frederick Starr passed away in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 8, 1867. He was 40 years old. His death was caused by a fever, likely from working too hard.
