James Starrett, retired, Piqua; Mr. Starrett, one of the old residents of Piqua, was born in Clark Co., in 1813; came, when a boy, with his parents to Shelby Co., where his father died in 1829 in 1831, he came to Piqua to learn the cabinet-maker's trade, at which he afterward worked in different places; while in New York he went on a whaling expedition, which occupied about two years, and during which he witnessed some exciting scenes and was conscious of some narrow escapes; in 1839, he engaged in the drygoods trade in Piqua, but, being unfortunate in the choice of a partner, soon sold out; in 1845, he engaged in the drug trade, Judge Mitchell being his partner he continued in the business about fifteen years, then became a partner with Wm. W. Wood in the grocery trade, and also, conducted a cooper establishment in 1863, he sold out here and removed to Indianapolis, where he was a member of the firm of Sawyer & Co., wholesale grocers, until 1866, when he returned to Piqua, and has resided here since, living a quiet, retired life. Mr. Starrett has been identified with the history of Piqua for a half century, and is now one of its substantial citizens; his residence, situated on the southwest corner of Caldwell and Ash streets, is a substantial, commodious building, which, by its surroundings and furnishings, indicates culture and comfort. He married, in 1840, Elizabeth J., daughter of John K. McFarland, who was a pioneer of Lost Creek Township, and owned carding and fulling mills, also a saw-mill on Lost Creek, afterward, became a resident of Troy, and was a leading and influential man in his day; Mrs. Starrett is a native of Miami Co., one of a large family reared in the early days of our county history, and remembers well when her father's carding machine took the place of the old-fashioned hand cards, and now views with pleasure the comforts of modern improvements.