Pike County Missouri - Stark Bros Nursery

In 1816 24-year-old James Hart Stark and his new wife Jane, along with a small group of pioneers, immigrated from Kentucky to Missouri to settle near what would eventually become Louisiana, Mo. Among the possessions they brought from Kentucky were scions from the thriving apple trees they left behind. The orchard begun with those scions flourished and eventually became the basis for what is now known as Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co.

Stark Bro's nursery gained a reputation for both excellence and research. In 1893 the nursery acquired and introduced the Red Delicious apple, originally known as the "Hawkeye" from Perry, Iowa. Legend has it C.M. Stark took one bite of this now-famous apple and proclaimed, "My that's delicious - and that's the name for it!"

Their reputation for research led to an alliance with famed horticulturist Luther Burbank. Over the course of a 55-year career breeding plants, Burbank developed over 800 different strains and varieties. On his death in 1926, he selected Stark Bro's Nurseries to carry on his work and willed over 750 varieties to the company.

In 1914 Paul Stark discovered the Golden Delicious, originally known as Mullins Yellow, in Clay County, West Virginia. Paul bought the original tree and placed a cage around it to ensure no cuttings were taken except for Stark Bro's Nursery. Although the tree died in the late 1950's, its golden fruit is enjoyed around the world today.

In the 1940's Stark Brothers Nursery also provided work for a branch Prisoner of War camp located in Louisiana. Although Missouri only had 4 main base camps, Ft. Leonard Wood, Ste. Genevieve, Neosho & Nevada, there were numerous "branch camps". These "branch camps" were used to put POWs where their labor could be best utilized.

Eventually, Stark Bro's Nurseries became the largest nursery in the world.

In recent years, Stark Bro's Nurseries has survived two changes in ownership, a bankruptcy and a split with a minor division not related to the nursery industry. Today, Stark Bro's Nursery is strong and confident as it faces the 21st century.

James Hart Stark coming from Kentucky

Plaque erected in front of the Stark Cabin
		LOUISIANA Louisiana, early Mississippi River port, known for the Delicious apple developed here and grown throughout the world, was settled, 1817, when John Bryson pre-empted land near the confluence of the river and Noix Creek. A year later Samuel Caldwell and Joel Shaw from Kentucky founded the town on land bought from Bryson. The Pioneer Stark cabin was moved here from the nearby hills, restored, and opened as a museum, 1952, to honor Horticulturist James Hart Stark who built the cabin. The orchard he planted, 1816, with grafted scions brought from the family's Kentucky orchard, considered the first of the grafted apple trees west of the Alleghenies, has become known under his descendants as one of the oldest and largest commercial nurseries in the world. Here are carried on many of Luther Burbank's experiments. The Stark Nursery obtained first patent granted a fruit, 1934. Settlers were in the general vicinity of Louisiana as early as 1810 and some 2 miles southeast a D.A.R. monument marks the site of Buffalo Fort where 25 families took refuge during the War of 1812. (See other side) Erected by State Historical Society of Missouri and State Highway Commission, 1953

		LOUISIANA (Continued from other side) Prominent supply stop for pioneers to the Salt River Country, the city flourished as a river port until the coming of the railroads. Louisiana early became a trade and industrial center. Laid out the year Pike Co. was organized, the town served as county seat until 1824. Centrally located Bowling Green succeeded as county seat. The slang term "Pike" or "Piker" derives from this county and came into use to identify natives of the region who joined the '49 Gold Rush. The county is named for Explorer Zebulon M. Pike. Here lived Lloyd C. Stark, Governor of Missouri, 1837-1941. John B. Henderson (1826-1913), U.S. Senator, promoter of the 13th and 15th Constitutional Amendments, had law offices here. Champ Clark (1850-1921). Speaker of U.S. House of Representatives, had law offices and taught here before making his home in nearby Bowling Green. Scientist R.R. Rowley (1854-1935) taught here. The third Missouri railroad bridge across the Mississippi opened here, 1873. Champ Clark Highway Bridge was dedicated, 1928. Erected by State Historical Society of Missouri and State Highway Commission, 1953

Discovery of a Tree Digging Machine