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Woman of the Century/Jennie O. Starkey

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2293755Woman of the Century — Jennie O. Starkey

STARKEY, Miss Jennie O., journalist, born in Detroit Mich., 29th July, 1863. She is the youngest daughter of the late Henry Starkey, of Detroit Her father was a journalist and prominent in municipal affairs, and from him she inherited her intellectual vigor and literary talent, showing those qualities while yet a school-girl. In April, 1878, before her graduation from the Detroit high JENNIE O. STARKEY. school, she joined the staff of the "Free Press" of that city, taking under her control the department known as " The Puzzler." Her analytical and inventive mind was turned to so good an account that she gained for the department a wide reputation. Her abilities outgrew those narrow limits, and she was soon made editor of a department known as "’The Household,' later of "Fair Woman's World." "The Letter-Box;" and "The Sunday Breakfast-Table." Her duties became so onerous that she was finally forced to drop the first mentioned of these departments. The others she still conducts. She was the first woman in Detroit to adopt journalism as a profession. She has given fourteen years of her life to her work. She was one of the charter members of the recently organized Woman's Press Club of Michigan, and has contributed much to the success of its meetings.