Carroll

"On Mother's Day I will think of you as one of the wonderful mothers I have known. One of your oldest boys, Dr. Orange Starr. In Cherokee it is ..... "

Dr. Starr was very well known and highly respected in Drumright. Babies which he delivered became known as Starr Brand Babies. The Drumright Community Historical Museum today houses the Starr Brand Baby file.

Genealogy of Dr. Orange W. Starr

I found the following site on the Internet that will give you some additional information on the Cherokee doctor. According to this genealogist, Dr. Starr was one-sixteenth Cherokee: Descendants of Nancy Ward

Dr. Orange W. Starr - The Politician

Recently I found this listing on the Political Graveyard:

Starr, Orange W. of Drumright, Creek County, Okla. Democrat. Alternate delegate to Democratic National Convention from Oklahoma, 1956. ...

Another Drumrighter Remembers "Doc" Starr

"I am Doug McAtee. I lived in Drumright/Shamrock communities in the 1930's. My elder brother Walter (deceased) was quite active in Troop 8, BSA, sponsored by the First Methodist Church in Drumright during the mid to late 30's. I accompanied him to a meeting one night and while running relay tag races I caught the inside of my left hand below the thumb on the point of a friends' hunting knife he had stuck in his belt, slicing a deep long gash in my hand. "Doc" Starr met the Scout Master, Walter and me at his clinic. He clamped and dressed it for me and said it was "Free".

Everyone in and around Drumright knew "Old Doc", especially we kids. Of course he was not really old but to 9 and 10 year old's he seemed that way. Seeing your Post Card photo here on the net brought a smile to my face as I recognized "Doc" and it awakened a flood of happy memories....as if it was yesterday. If I recall his father, Blue Starr, lived just at the west edge of Drumright at the time. Thanks for putting the card on the net. I hope others recognize it too. Just
thought you might find it interesting." Doug McAtee E-mail: XRAY127A@aol.com

11-8-02

Just had to tell you how thrilled I was to see the picture postcard my
grandfather, Orange Starr, sent to your grandmother.  I was told he always
sent a personal card to his Starr-brand babies on their birthdays----imagine a doctor doing that today!!  He loved the town of Drumright.........in fact, my mother's middle name is Drumright!!  Thanks again for making my day! 

Kathleen Colley

Here's an article about our Cherokee doctor at another site:
Dr. Orange W. Starr - (OkGenWeb's Creek County Website - Bios - History)

Here's another article "He's the Cherokee Medicine Man" by Mazie Cox Read, Tulsa Sunday World, Aug. 5, 1973.  Courtesy of Ginger Frisbee, Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

Article clipped and preserved by Ginger Frisbie, Sapulpa, Oklahoma - More articles and pictures to be posted as time permits.

Tulsa Sunday World, Aug. 5, 1973 

He's The Cherokee Medicine Man, by Mazie Cox Read

Life began for Orange Starr at Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, on April 22, 1890 - exactly one year from the day of the first Land Run in Oklahoma. 

This man of 83 years has done many things. He has mingled with royalty, placed a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, played football against Knute Rockne, and made a presentation to the President of the United States. 

But, the thing that has brought him the most recognition is his 41-year career as a doctor. Dr. Starr has delivered over 3,200 children. He calls them his "Starr Brand Babies."

Dr. Starr's grandfather, Blue Starr, a full-blood Cherokee with a roving mind and restless feet, had arrived in these parts from Georgia in 1830. Dr. Starr's grandmother, Margaret McDaniels Starr, a half-breed Cherokee, came over the "Trail of Tears." They had one son and name him Blue Starr, also.  The parents died within two years of each other, so Blue Starr, father of Dr. Starr, lived in the Cherokee Orphans' Asylum in Salina and with relatives.  He later became a Pony Express rider, was a deputy marshal, and helped survey the land between Claremore and Tulsa.  Dr. Starr's mother was Jessie Hutchins Starr. 

Orange Starr was the second child in a family of four. A brother, Charley Starr, and a sister, Marin Mumford, live at Claremore. 

Orange Starr attended the very first school started at Inola - when he was 5.  In order to have a school, they had to have 12 students, so they took him - even though he was underage. 

Dr. Starr "grew up" at Claremore and attended high school there. He then went to the University of Oklahoma for one year and on to St. Louis University, St. Louis, Mo. It was Dr. J. C. Bushyhead, Claremore, who had interested Orange Starr in becoming a doctor. 

While at St. Louis University, he played football for three years. Dr. Starr says the best team he every played against was Notre Dame - and its leading player was Knute Rockne.

Dr. Starr served as an intern in the City Hospital at St. Louis for a year before returning to Oklahoma, starting practice in Drumright with Dr. J. C. Stevens on July 5, 1915.  In the beginning, they made calls riding in a buggy. 

During World War I, Dr. Starr served as a doctor in the Air Corps for a year and a half and saw duty in England and France. 

While in England, he met the king and queen.  When Dr. Starr was introduced as "a Cherokee from Claremore, Oklahoma," King George said, "We have a Cherokee from Claremore, Oklahoma, who plays polo with our son, the Prince of Wales. His name is Will Rogers."

While in the service, Dr. Starr received a kidney injury in a football game with the Marines. In later years, the injured organ had to be removed. 

Dr. Starr was in the southern part of France when the Armistice was signed. He was discharged at Little Rock, Ark., in June, 1919. 

Not long after Dr. Starr resumed his practice at Drumright in July, he met a young lady from Lawton, who was on the teaching staff at Drumright. He and Lois May Winn were married that September. 

Two children were born to them. The daughter, Marian Drumright Gholdston, lives in Dallas. A son, Oliver Winn Starr, resides in Sacramento, Calif. There are five grandchildren. 

Dr. Starr is well known for his sense of humor and his generosity. In the early days, he went to a farm home to deliver a baby and spent the biggest part of the night. 

When he was ready to leave, the husband said, "Doc, I don't have the money to pay you, but our hens will soon start laying - and I'll bring you a dozen eggs every time I come to town."

When Dr. Starr started to drive away, he found he was tuck, so the new father hitched up his team and pulled him out. It ended up with Dr. Starr paying him $10!

There were other things Dr. Starr took in place of money for delivering babies - such as a load of feed, horses, cattle and an old-time organ. (After 25 years, he donated the organ to the Historical Museum in Drumright.) One December, he was paid with five gallons of whisky. Dr Starr says, "I had more friends that Christmas than I'd ever had in my life!". 

In 1952, a "Starr Brand Babies Picnic" was held in Drumright - and they came from everywhere. On this occasion, a plaque and many books were presented in his honor, to the Drumright Library. The plaque read: "For Unselfish Community Service."

The most children he ever delivered to one family was eight - to Leo and Dixie Jackson. He has one "Starr Brand Family" - having delivered all of them.  This family is Orville and Billie Linduff, and their children, Kay and Cheryl. Linduff is the postmaster at Drumright. 

Dr. Starr has served as city physician of Drumright, school doctor, and Creek County doctor. 

Dr. Starr was active in politics and attended two Democratic national conventions in Chicago. He served two terms in the State House of Representatives. 

In the '50s, he was chosen by the chiefs of the Cherokee, Creek, Ponca, and Seminole tribes to represent them in the ceremonies of placing a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor the memory of the Indian veterans who had given their lives while serving in the armed services. 

His presidential presentation was a peace pipe to Lyndon B. Johnson. 

Dr. Starr has been very active in civic affairs. He was a charter member of the Drumright American Legion and served as commander of the local, county and district posts. He served as chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board for 25 years, on the local and Creek County Red Cross board of directors, on the executive board of the Cherokee Foundation, president of the Rotary Club, and the Oklahoma Semi-centennial Commission. 

He also is an honorary member of the Pocahontas Club of Claremore. He has served two years as president of the Indian Territory Cowboy and Pioneer Association which has headquarters in Oologah. He is a Mason and a member of the Cushing Christian Church. 

Dr. Starr had moved to Spavinaw in July of 1956 - to enjoy semi-retirement. He found himself in a town without a doctor - so he worked harder than he had at Drumright. It was not until 1966 that he was able to retire - and moved to Cushing. 

Mrs. Starr had died in 1959. The present Mrs. Starr, the former Mary Miles, had been his nurse for 15 years. 

Regarding his horsemanship, it has been said, "Dr. Starr sits a horse well." His first horse "Cuter" was given to him by a cowboy when he was 4 years old. He had never been without a horse until a year ago when his 17-year old palomino, "Comanche" died.

Seven years ago, Dr. Starr went to Texas for a "Trail Ride." He dressed as a Cherokee medicine man and rode 20 miles in a wagon. It almost "did him in," he syas. 

For fifteen years, he wrote a column in the Ranchman Magazine. 

Dr. Starr, listed in the 9160 Indian of Today, is recipient of the first Council of American Indian Award. The engraving reads: "For the outstanding service, kindness, and generosity in helping under-privileged American Indian children."

Life has not been all a bed of roses for Dr. Starr. It was a struggle for him to get money enough for his schooling and when he finished he was heavily in debt. He even lost his 80-acre Cherokee allotment. He had to mortgage it, then couldn't meet the payments. 

In his typical good sense of humor, he says, "I'm glad I lost it. If I hadn't, I'd be over there now milking cows."

Dr. Starr in the 1960's with his wife, Mary Miles Starr (pictures and obituary of Mary Miles Starr below courtesy of Patricia Bond Clark, 2008):

(Double Click on Photo for Larger Version)

Collecting Our Kin: A Family History Collection, copyright 1998-2007, is a not-for-profit, personal, on-line genealogy project, formatted and presented by James H. Carroll, Goodlettsville, TN.  Excerpts and contributions from other sources have been used sparingly and with appropriate credit given. You are welcome to copy information found at this site for personal use and share information with other researchers or genealogical organizations, but this information may not be sold or used in a commercial project without expressed permission.