Robert H. Starr, during his term as treasurer of the county, lost a large sum of money by reason of the failure of the First National Bank at Keokuk, where he had deposited the funds. On the 6th day of May, 1868, he tendered his resignation to the county court for the following unique reasons:
First, that he had lost money enough, and did not wish to risk any more;
Second, that he had become disgusted with city life, and desired to remove into the county, where he could hear the birds sing and see the grass grow;
Third, that he felt a delicacy about receiving $1,000.00 per year from the over-burdened tax payers of Clark County as the emoluments of an office to which there was attached but little labor and no respectability;
Fourth, because the bridge over Fox River had been washed away and he was compelled to pay ferriage to and from the office, which consumed all the profits.
For these reasons the court accepted his resignation, and appointed C. S. Callihan to fill the vacancy.