Perhaps his middle name is 'Scott'--see the 1862 and 1864 Philadelphia city directories below. [source: 14]
He was born on 19 January 1840, in Pennsylvania, to Henry Stark and Sarah Blake. [sources: 3 (21 at enlistment in 1861), 5 (19 Jan), 8 (14 Jan), 11 (10 in 1850), 12 (30 in 1870), 13 (38 in 1880)]
In 1850, he was living in Tunkhannock Borough, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. He was living with his parents Henry and Sarah Stark, and with others. [source: 11]
In 1861, he was a student living at 719 Brown Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Henry Stark (presumably his father) (14).
On 10 August 1861, he was married to Annie Dobbs, by Alderman D Beitler. She was born on 18 March 1843, in Delaware, to William H Dobbs and [unknown]. They had one child:
[sources: 8 (12 June 1877), 9 (10 Aug 61), 10]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 20 August 1861. He was enrolled for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Starr. He was a private, in company A. [sources: 1, 3, 15]
He was transferred on 4 December 1861 or 8 October 1861 to company I, and promoted to 2nd sergeant. [sources: 1 (4 Dec 61), 2 (8 Oct 61), 3]
He deserted on 8 December 1862. He was a sergeant, in company I. [source: 1, 15]
In 1863, he was living at 719 Brown Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 14]
He may be the W Scott Stark, gentleman (that is, not working), living at 1425 North 8th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylavnia, in 1864. [source: 14]
He is probably the Walter Stark, gentleman (that is, not working), living at 2030 Brandywine in 1866. [source: 14]
From 1868 through 1871, he was a lawyer, working at 520 Walnut Street, and living at 719 Brown Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 14]
In 1870, he was living in ward 13, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was living with his father Henry Stark, and others, apparently including his wife Annie and daughter Florence. He was a lawyer. [source: 12]
In 1872 and 1873, he was a lawyer, at 427 Walnut Street, living at 2030 Brandywine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 14]
In 1874 and 1875, he was a lawyer, at 512 Walnut Street, living at 2030 Brandywine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 14]
On 14 April 1876, his brother, Stanley Stark, died. Stanley's remains were available for viewing at Walter's residence, 2030 Brandywine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was buried at Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. [source: 6]
In 1876 and 1877, he was a lawyer, at 705 Sansom, living at 2030 Brandywine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 14]
In 1878, he was a layer, at 506 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, living in Wilmington, Delaware. [source: 14]
In 1879, he was a lawyer, at 506 Walnut Street, living at 1719 Park Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [source: 14]
In 1880, he was living at 2030 Brandywine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was an attorney at law, at 506 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was reportedly single. [sources: 13, 14]
On 8 August 1885, he died, in Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. He was buried in the Gravel Hill Cemetery, in Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. [sources: 5, 6]
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster) (Walter S Stark)
2 register of transfers, company A (Walter S Stark)
3 company A descriptive roll, entry 52 (Walter S Stark)
4 'Baker-Bramlett family', a gedcom, available on RootsWeb WorldConnect, updated 5 March 2011, contact Robert, accessed 5 March 2011 [note: other gedcom's for him are available on RootsWeb] (Walter S Stark)
5 Find a grave, memorial 19015489, created by Ted Myers, added 19 Apr 2007, accessed 5 March 2011 [the tombstone, pictured on the memorial, reads: "SARAH STARK BORN FEB. 17. 1846; DIED JUNE 9, 1847. - SARAH E. STARK BORN MARCH 23, 1849; DIED FEB. 20, 1850. WALTER S. STARK BORN JAN. 19. 1840 DIED AUG. 8 1885"] (Walter S Stark)
6 death notice, Philadelphia Inquirer 5 September 1885, page 3 (Colonel [sic] Walter S Stark)
7 death notice, Stanley Stark, Philadelphia Inquirer 15 April 1876, page 4
8 Ancestral File, searched 4 May 2011, from FamilySearch (Walter S Stark)
9 marriage notice, Philadelphia Inquirer 16 December 1861, page 5 (Walter S Stark)
10 International Genealogical Index, searched 4 May 2011, on FamilySearch
11 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Wyoming County, Tunkhannock Borough, microfilm series M432, film 838, page 36 verso = 72 handwritten (Walter Stark)
12 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 13, district 39, microfilm series M593, film 1397, page 471 recto = 95 handwritten (Walter Stark)
13 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 272, microfilm series T9, film 1175, page 318 = 12 D handwritten (Walter Stark)
14 various Philadelphia city directories, 1860-1880
15 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Walter S Stark)
Identification is uncertain, based solely on the absence of other candidates. Searching the FamilySearch site for 'Walter Stark' born in Pennsylvania 1838-1842 yielded only the above Walter Stark (in the 1850, 1870, and ` US censuses) (accessed 3 May 2011). The HeritageQuest (head of household) index had no more entries.
While I am reasonably confident that the sources from before and after the war are all about the same person, they are not completely consistent. Note in particular that the Walter S Stark in the 1880 census is supposedly single, and does not include Florence Stark. (Unfortunately, the Ancestral File entry includes an obvious error, with Annie married after her death.)
"MARRIED. ... STARK--DOBBS--At Philadelphia, on the 10th day of August, 1861, Walter S Stark, of that city, and Annie, daughter of William H Dobbs, Esq., of New Castle, Del. Ceremony by Alderman D Beitler."
"STARK.--On the 14th instant, STANLEY STARK, aged 28 years and 6 months.
His friends desiring may view the remains at the residence of his brother, Walter S. Stark, No. 2030 Brandywine street, Sunday evening, from 7 to 9 o'clock. Will leave on Monday per 8.30 A.M. train, L.V.R.R., for interment at Tunkhannock, Pa.
| line | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| Dwellings visited | 512 | |||||||
| Families visited | 519 | |||||||
| Name | Henry Stark | Sarah " | Walter " | Ruth " | Henry " | Stanley " | Scott " | Ann Clinton |
| Age | 52 | 38 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 21 | 18 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F | M | M | M | F |
| Color | ||||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Merchant | Clerk | ||||||
| Real estate owned | 30,000 | |||||||
| Birthplace | Pa | N.J. | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa | Pa |
| Married within year | ||||||||
| Attended school within year | ||||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | ||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| Dwelling-house number | 626 | ||||||||||
| Family number | 709 | ||||||||||
| Name | Stark Henry | - Stanley | - Jas | - Frank | - Rollin | - Walter | - Annie | - Florence | - Ruth | Gallen Mary | Kaffferty Kate |
| Age | 72 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 30 | 27 | 8 | 27 | 50 | 15 |
| Sex | M | M | M | M | M | M | F | F | F | F | F |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Who. Grocer | Bookkeeper | Ret. Grocer | Lawyer | Keeping house | Domestic Servant | " " | ||||
| Real estate value | 50000 | ||||||||||
| Personal estate value | 25,000 | ||||||||||
| Birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna | Delaware | Penna | Penna | Ireland | Penna |
| Father foreign born | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| Mother foreign born | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| Birth month if born within year | |||||||||||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||||||||||
| Attended school past year | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Can't read | |||||||||||
| Can't write | |||||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | |||||||||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 27 |
| street name | Brandywine Street |
| house number | 2030 |
| dwelling visit # | 109 |
| family visit # | 110 |
| name | Stark Walter |
| color | W |
| sex | M |
| age | 38 |
| month born if born in year | |
| relationship | |
| single | 1 [sic] |
| married | |
| widowed/divorced | |
| married during year | Attorney at Law |
| occupation | |
| months unemployed | |
| currently ill? | |
| blind | |
| deaf/dumb | |
| idiotic | |
| insane | |
| disabled | |
| school this year | |
| can't read | |
| can't write | |
| birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania |
Colonel Walter S. Stark, a former Philadelphian, and who practiced law here for many years, died in Tunkhannock, where he has been residing recently. He was a clever writer, a good speaker, and a genial, amiable gentleman.