ELI F. STARK
Past Master 1913
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Eli Franklin Stark was born August 23, 1873 in Wheatland Township, Will County, Illinois, the son of Jacob S. Stark and Rebecca Hartman. He married Linnie M. Wagner May 26, 1897, and from this union they had two children, Byron Wagner and Irene R.

He learned the printing trade in the print shop of his brother-in-law, who was editor of one of the county’s early newspapers, “The Illinoisan”. He studied in Chicago to learn to operate a linotype machine and was admitted into the typographers union. Finding the trade too confining and the fumes quite toxic, he gave up linotyping in 1899 and bought his brother’s bicycle repair shop which was located on the site of the present Lodge building. He sold Wheeler and Wilson sewing machines as well as athletic supplies and games. He operated a newsstand and employed newsboys to deliver the paper to the outskirts of town. In 1901 he bought a confectionary store, adding photographic supplies, fresh fruits and berries as well as ice cream and candy. He started the town’s first taxi cab business, and had a total of seven taxis at one time. He was an amateur photographer and his photographs of life in early Naperville remain a precious legacy for the town.

He was raised a Master Mason May 21, 1908 in Euclid Lodge and served as Master of the Lodge in 1913. He also served Euclid Lodge as Senior Warden in 1911 and 1912, as Secretary in 1916, Junior Deacon in 1910, and as Junior Steward in 1914. He also served Euclid Chapter No. 13, R.A.M. as High Priest in 1914 and 1915. He was an active member of the Lodge for 58 years.

He died February 13, 1966, in Naperville, DuPage County, Illinois and was buried in the Naperville Cemetery.